Limoncello
Here’s the perfect way to spread the lemon
love!
What You’ll Need
10 lemons
1 (750 ml) bottle vodka
3-1/2 cups water
2-1/2 cups sugar
2 quart container with lid or
plastic wrap to cover
Strainer
Coffee filter
How to Make It
1. Wash
lemons with a vegetable brush and hot water.
Pat dry.
2. Using
a zester, zest all lemons into a bowl. Do not use whites of lemons or your Limoncello
will be bitter.
3. Place
zest in 2 quart container. Pour in
vodka. Cover with plastic wrap or lid. Steep for four days at room temperature.
4. Stir
water and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves,
about 5 minutes. Cool completely. Pour sugar syrup over vodka mixture. Cover
and let stand at room temperature overnight. Strain Limoncello by placing
coffee filter in strainer. Discard
peels. Transfer Limoncello to bottles. Seal bottles and refrigerate until cold,
at least four hours and up to one month.
NOTE: If you have the time, let your Limoncello steep for a very long time. One batch I let it steep for 4-6 weeks (I can't remember exactly when I started it). My garden group did a little taste test and said the one that steeped longer was way smoother...
Suggested uses for Limoncello –
Great with soda or tonic water, champagne or mixed with juice as a cocktail.
Drizzle over ice cream, fruit
salads or fresh strawberries.
Place the Limoncello in a planter, an ice bucket or a container that's just perfect to fit a bottle of Limoncello, some lemons, a couple of cute cordial glasses and you can even stick in a couple little branches from a lemon tree to add a special touch.
