Recipe: Mojito

Mastro’s Steakhouse mojitos set the standard for my wife

My wife rarely drinks alcohol, but she does enjoy a good mojito. So I decided to learn how to make one. I learned a new term with this project: muddle. I didn’t have a dedicated muddler so I used the thick tip of a spatula handle instead.

This recipe serves two. For one serving, just reduce everything by half.

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp sugar (4 if you like things a little sweeter)

3 Tbsp water

20 fresh mint leaves

1 lime cut into small wedges

4 fl oz white rum

4 oz club soda (or seltzer?)

Directions:

Make a syrup by putting the water and sugar in a small saucepan and warm on the stove over medium heat, stirring intermittently until sugar dissolves. Just takes 1–2 minutes. Set it aside to cool.

Put the mint leaves in the bottom of a small pitcher or large thick glass (I used a 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup) then add the lime wedges.  Muddle together gently for 20–30 seconds until the juice is released from the limes.

Add your syrup, rum, and club soda to the container holding the mint and lime. Stir briefly.

Fill two large glasses (2-cup capacity) with ice and pour half of your mix into each. Top off with additional club soda if desired. Enjoy responsibly.

Steve Parker, M.D.

Revised May 14, 2018