Vegetarian Classic Berry Shrub
Shrubs — the old-fashioned drinking vinegar kind — are having a serious moment, and this berry version is the perfect place to start. Fresh mixed berries get muddled with sugar and left to macerate in the fridge for 48 hours, slowly releasing a jewel-toned, jammy syrup that tastes like summer concentrated into a jar. A splash of apple cider vinegar then transforms that sweetness into something bracingly complex — fruity and bright with just enough tang to keep you reaching for another sip. The whole thing is built from four pantry-friendly ingredients with zero animal products involved, so it fits naturally into a plant-based lifestyle without any substitutions or workarounds. Once you strain the solids and bottle the finished shrub, it keeps in the fridge for up to four weeks, meaning you have a sophisticated mixer on hand whenever the mood strikes. Just pour a couple tablespoons over ice, top with sparkling water, and finish with a sprig of fresh mint for a drink that looks and tastes far more impressive than the effort required.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 cups fresh mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries), hulled and halved if large
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
For serving
- sparkling water, for serving
- ice, for serving
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the berries and sugar in a medium bowl. Use a muddler or the back of a fork to crush the berries thoroughly, releasing their juice and working the sugar into the fruit until a wet, jammy mixture forms.
- 2
Stir in the kosher salt, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to a glass jar. Refrigerate for at least 48 hours, stirring or shaking once or twice, until the sugar has fully dissolved and the mixture has released a deep, syrupy liquid.
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