Cucumber Mint Sparkle Recipes

Steps:

• Blend the cucumbers, sugar, lemon juice, mint, salt and 4 cups cold water in a blender until as smooth as possible (a fair amount of solids will remain). (If all the ingredients do not fit in your blender, use half the water to puree, transfer the puree to a larger container, then stir in the remaining water.) Refrigerate to chill, at least 1 hour.
• Before serving, strain the cucumber-mint water through a fine strainer. Use the bottom of a ladle or wooden spoon to help push the liquid through the mesh. Discard the solids. Serve over ice. Add gin or vodka to taste if using.

Steps:

• Muddle the cucumber in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, then add the pineapple juice, mint, agave, lemon juice and bitters. Shake well.
• Strain the drink into a short glass filled with ice. Top with seltzer. Garnish with cucumber slices.

Steps:

• Make the mint simple syrup: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, sugar, and roughly chopped mint leaves. Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mint is fragrant. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Store remaining mint syrup in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
• In a cocktail shaker, combine the cucumber rounds, lime juice, whole mint leaves, and 1 tablespoon of the mint simple syrup. Muddle for 1-2 minutes, until the cucumber and mint have released their flavors, but are not mushy.
• Pour in the vodka and fill the shaker halfway with ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
• Fill a Collins glass with ice and pour in the strained cocktail.
• Garnish with the cucumber ribbons.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Peel and cut 1 1/2 of the cucumbers into large chunks (set the remaining unpeeled 1/2 cucumber aside).
• Combine the cucumber chunks in a food processor with the yogurt, sour cream, olive oil, mint, salt, garlic and plenty of white pepper. Pulse, scraping down the sides, until completely smooth.
• Ladle the mixture into cold bowls or refrigerate until serving. Chop the remaining cucumber into fine dice and divide among the bowls. Swirl some sour cream into each bowl, drizzle with a bit of olive oil and scatter with mint and almonds.

Steps:

• Peel, seed and chop 6 English cucumbers. Puree, then strain through a sieve into a bowl, pressing to extract the juice. Chill. Combine 1/3 cup lemon juice, 8 sprigs mint and 1/4 cup sugar in a pitcher; muddle with a wooden spoon. Stir in 2 cups gin, the cucumber juice and some cucumber and lemon slices. Divide among 6 to 8 ice-filled glasses.

Steps:

• Rub the rim of a rocks glass with 1 lime wedge, then dip the rim in coarse salt.
• Muddle the mint and cucumber in a cocktail shaker with a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon until the cucumber is broken up and the mint is bruised, 5 to 6 times. Add the Cointreau, tequila and lime juice. Fill the shaker three-quarters of the way with ice and shake well. Pour into the prepared glass and garnish with the remaining lime wedge.