Red wine citrus sangria in the middle of summers , looks like a perfect drink for now, and more so after my recent trip to Spain. After reaching any city, we would stroll our bags , pull ourselves, looking not so strange in the new city and looking for our Air BNB address through the Google maps , sometimes looking at the cafes around , and people enjoying their Sangria, we mislead each other carelessly worth a wrong turn, only to find many more, indulging with the drink. Telling ourselves, that soon we shall dump our bags and come back for this fun….We will walk ahead like souls moving in hope.
Sangria is a gift to the world from Spain, and they have done justice by keeping t simple. Where long conversations over coffee is popular amongst intellectuals, conversations over Sangria sound Romantic, Soulful and connect better for a person like me. Give me a glass of Sangria and some music and I am all good for the evening.
In Spain I saw Sangria as a local drink, present from almost any cafe to any food flee as an essential like water. Tapas and Sangria seem to be Spain’s Trademark food. I also liked the fact that they don’t fiddle too much with the sangria, and keep it simple, citrusy , and offcourse Boozy…..
It can’t get better than this lush fruity beverage, here also in Delhi Heat.
My better half ‘S’ is a beer person when it comes to summers. And to me its a little on an indulgant side if I end with a few cans of beer as I feel bloated. I know , its not an Anti Beer campaign, but It’s all for my love for wine and More for Sangria.
Sangria is one cocktail which is a No Brainer for me when a party is to be planned, that too on the scorching Delhi heat. A large batch that can be prepared ahead and forgotten, and will surely sweep off all the ladies in the house, at the party. Also, summers are for juicy fruits available at their best. So I like to make use of them and stir up a Sangria almost for all my parties.
Comes summers and my parties are either dominated by beer or sweet cocktails. Though I try to stick to fresh fruit juices as a base to most of my cocktails. In any of the version I chose for my sangria, I like to keep it simple. A bottle of wine, some fruit juices( preferably extracted fresh) and loads of melange of fruits. I make my wine and the fruits shine through my Sangria pitcher. An additional Liquor is added either for a punch or an extra hint of flavour.
The magic in perfect Sangria, is the selection of fruits and letting the wine soak in the flavours while chilling away for a good 8-10 hours or more, but still keeping the fruits non mushy. As I like to bite in my fruits after the drink is over. I know It sounds a bit greedy, but that’s how it is, and the wine dunked fruits are no less than God sent Greetings !!
This recipe of Red wine Sangria will surely set you in a party mood, as it super easy and can be prepared ahead of time. Just dunk fruits in wine, add some alcohol of choice and top up with some fruit juice. In fact, prepare it and then make your special guest list with whom you would like to share your sangria with.
In Spain Sangria is accompanied with Tapas. Its a simple way of an easy evening, as Tapas usually consists of small portions of no-fuss simple appetisers, from olives and cheese to fried croquette.
I was restricted to mostly vegetarian Tapas, my two favourite through the trip being A grilled Mushroom, which was like an artists imagination translated on food..And the grilled cheese served with berry sauce. I usually prefer t have some cheese cubes and grilled tofu or roasted herbed potatoes along with my pitcher of Sangria… And yes sometimes a fusion of sangria with cauliflower fritters( Gobhi Pakoda) is a way to celebrate the present monsoon, here in Delhi.
| Prep Time | 20 Minutes |
| Passive Time | 5-6 Hours |
| Servings |
servings
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- 1 bottle Wine Red wine
- 200 ml Orange Juice
- 200 ml Pomegranate Juice
- 30 ml Rum/Brandy
- 2 cups fresh fruit slices Pineapple, Mandarin, whole pitted cherries
- fruit slices to granish
- 1/4 cup sugar syrup optional
Ingredients
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|
- Take fresh fruits slices and cherries in a glass jar.
- Add wine and rum and allow the fruits to soak for about 5-6 hours in the refrigerator.
- Now add orange and pomegranate juices before serving and mix.
- Serve it in glasses with some fresh fruits to garnish.
I like to add rum/ brandy as per the availability. Brandy gives a caramel-like punch to the sangria. whereas Rum adds a bit bold flavour ( a bit masculine) to sangria.
I do not like to add extra sugar. If you like it sweet add sugar syrup.
Also try to use fresh fruit juices to avoid extra artificial sugar going into the sangria.
Choice of fruits depends on the season, availability and choice. Citrus fruits are a classic combination, with the red wine.
This may be prepared much ahead of the party( almost a day in advance). Just add some fresh fruit slices as the ones soaked might look mushy.
Also, I have observed thatMandarin/oranges can lend a bitter taste to the wine, so remove piths before soaking.
