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Salty Grapefruit Refresher

5.0

(1)

Tall grapefruit drink with a yellow background.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca

Nonalcoholic mixed drinks are often quite sweet because the antidote—bitterness—is tough to add without a spirit or liqueur. Here we tap into that balancing flavor profile with a combination of preserved lemon purée (made from whole preserved lemons, bitter rind and all) and grapefruit juice. The salt in the preserved lemon also helps to keep things from tilting into soda territory; the result is like a grown-up Gatorade you’ll want to sip all summer long.

Preserved lemon purée is available in some specialty stores and online, but you can also always make your own by blending preserved lemons in a food processor until smooth. Also, go ahead and use tonic water instead of club soda if you like your drinks on the sweeter side.

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What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1½ cups fresh grapefruit juice
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
2 tsp. preserved lemon purée (such as NY Shuk)
Club soda and grapefruit and lime wheels (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Stir 1½ cups fresh grapefruit juice, 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice, and 2 tsp. preserved lemon purée in a small pitcher to combine.

    Step 2

    Divide juice mixture among 4 highball glasses filled with ice; top off with club soda. Stir gently and garnish each drink with a grapefruit wheel and a lime wheel.

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