When I research foods from various countries I try to get my hands on as many cookbooks as I can… old, new, popular, obscure, I love them all. I had to chuckle when I was reading an old Australian cookbook that said that if you walked into a bar or restaurant and ordered a lemonade, you’d be given a drink that was half lemonade and half beer. Those Aussies don’t mess around, do they?
During all of my recipe testing for the beer damper I found myself with a bunch of half bottles of beer. Not a bad thing of course, but when you’re making bread at 9:30 or 10:00 in the morning, there’s some level of shame in downing the rest of the bottle so many hours before noon. My solution? Trying this Australian lemonade, or Shandy, which I hear is also popular in the U.K.
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect but I’m definitely a fan. Tart, refreshing, with just a hint of sweetness, it’s a super easy drink option for summer entertaining. Throw a couple lemon slices in and it’s one good looking drink as well.
Shandy
* 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
* 1 Tablespoon sugar, or to taste* 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
* 3/4 cup water (or sparkling water for more fizz)
* 3/4 cup beer
* ice
* lemon slices for garnish (optional)
Combine the lemon juice, sugar and water and stir to combine. Add ice and then pour the beer over the lemon mixture and stir gently to combine. Garnish with lemon slices, if desired.
Serves one.
Now that is my kind of lemonade! I'm definitely going to have to try it.
ReplyDeleteI love your incredibly complex recipe for a Shandy! The tradtional recipe here in the UK and in Oz is open a bottle of lemonade and a bottle of beer and mix! It's actually best from a pub where both the beer and the lemonade are on draught. Depending where you are, the norm is either lager shandy or bitter shandy and it's available everywhere pre-mixed in cans. Kids take it to school with their packed lunches.
ReplyDeleteAhem. Above "anon" is pulling your leg. The kids don't take it to school, nor do they ride there on kangaroos, nor do they fall peril to drop bears.
ReplyDeleteThe rest is legitimate though.Open a can of beer. Open a can of sprite. Mix. Done and dusted.
Kids DO like to get the froth off the top of Dad's beer though.
Hilarious. But what about the dingos?
ReplyDeleteI totally forgot that Australians also call lemon-lime soda (like Sprite and 7-Up) lemonade. I normally don't have soda around the house but I'll definitely give that a try sometime. I've also heard of people mixing ginger ale and beer 50/50... that sounds pretty good too.
Yep, also feel free to use store bought lemonade if you have it. I like to be able to control the amount of sugar so I wanted to make mine from "scratch". It took no longer than 30 seconds.
The shandy kids might take to school in the UK is just shandy flavoured soda, non-alcoholic. I'm not sure you can even buy it ready mixed there...
ReplyDeleteMy nan likes her shandy with sarsparilla. Don't know what it tastes like, but she seems to enjoy it, thats for certain!
ReplyDeleteEver tired a dark and stormy, Ginger Beer (not Jamaican Style, Australian Style) and Rum, best way to drink rum
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly I haven't. But I love ginger beer so I'm sure I'd love it :) I'll have to give it a try soon!
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