Aromatic Basil Tomato Syrup
Crafting Refreshing Summer Tomato Basil Syrup: Your Guide to Delicious Homemade Tomato Basilade
Summer is the season for delicious tomatoes! Do you often find yourself with a few tomatoes left over from a bunch, unsure of what to do with them? Instead of eating them plain, are you looking for a more exciting way to enjoy them? Introducing ‘Tomato Basil Syrup’ – a delightful creation that’s perfect for kids and impressive enough for guests. This syrup transforms your leftover tomatoes into a wonderfully flavorful drink, especially when enjoyed as a refreshing basil tomatoade. Elevate your summer beverages with this easy and elegant homemade treat!
For the Tomato Basil Syrup
- 700g cherry tomatoes
- 2 handfuls of fresh basil (approx. 10-15g)
- 450g sugar (Xylose sugar or regular granulated sugar)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the star of our homemade Tomato Basil Syrup: cherry tomatoes. Today, we’re using 700g. Don’t worry if some tomatoes are small or not perfectly shaped; they’ll taste just as delicious. Select fresh, ripe tomatoes for the best flavor.
Step 2
Gently remove the stems from all the cherry tomatoes. Next, wash them thoroughly under running water. It’s crucial to drain them well on a colander, ensuring all excess water is removed. Residual moisture can affect the shelf life of your syrup.
Step 3
To make peeling easier, lightly score the top of each tomato with a shallow cross-shaped cut using a knife. Aim for a cut that just breaks the skin, rather than going deep into the flesh.
Step 4
Now, we’ll blanch the scored tomatoes in boiling water for about 3 minutes. The goal here isn’t to cook the tomatoes through, but simply to loosen the skins for easy removal. Rotate them gently in the boiling water to ensure even blanching.
Step 5
Carefully remove the blanched tomatoes from the water and begin peeling. You can gently pull the skin away from the scored cut. For tomatoes that are well-ripened, you might find the skin slips off easily with just a gentle rub.
Step 6
Next, prepare the fresh basil, which will add a wonderful aroma to your syrup. We’re using about two handfuls today. If the basil leaves are large, finely chop them for better distribution. If you don’t grow your own basil, you can easily find fresh basil at most grocery stores or online – it’s worth buying a generous amount!
Step 7
After peeling, the tomato weight reduced from 700g to approximately 600g. This variation is normal due to the tomato’s water content and variety. To the 600g of peeled tomatoes, we’ll add 450g of sugar. Today, I’m using Xylose sugar for its digestive benefits, but regular granulated white sugar works perfectly fine too.
Step 8
While you can mix the tomatoes and sugar directly and place them in a jar, I prefer a method that ensures the sugar dissolves more evenly. I combine the tomatoes and sugar in a bowl and mix them. Once the sugar has partially dissolved and formed a syrup, I transfer it to a jar using a ladle. This way, the sugar is already incorporated, and you won’t need to repeatedly invert the jar to dissolve the remaining sugar.
Step 9
This homemade Tomato Basil Syrup is ready to be enjoyed! Approximately 500g of the syrup yields about 4-5 servings of a delicious Tomato Basilade. Simply add it to sparkling water for an instant refreshing drink! Savor the harmonious blend of fragrant basil and sweet tomatoes.
