Beef Free Cucumber Mint Sparkling Cooler
This sparkling cooler is the kind of drink that makes you feel like you're sitting on a shaded patio somewhere warm, even if you're just standing at your kitchen counter. Fresh cucumber gets blended and strained into a silky, pale green base, then brightened with real lime juice and a homemade mint simple syrup that steeps long enough to turn genuinely fragrant. The maple syrup adds just enough sweetness without tipping into candy territory, and the whole thing gets lifted at the last second by a pour of chilled sparkling water. Every single ingredient here is plant-based and naturally free from any animal products, so there's absolutely nothing to second-guess. It's a great option when you want something that feels a little fancy but comes together with a blender, a saucepan, and about half an hour of mostly hands-off time. Serve it over a big pile of ice with a lime slice tucked in for a drink that looks as good as it tastes.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the mint simple syrup
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed, plus more for garnish
For the cucumber base
- 1 medium english cucumber (about 12 oz), peeled and roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 cup cold water
To finish
- 2 cups sparkling water, chilled
For serving
- ice cubes, for serving
- lime slices, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the maple syrup and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the syrup dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add the mint leaves, and stir to submerge. Let steep for 20 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bowl, pressing the leaves to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the spent mint. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.
- 2
Add the chopped cucumber and 1 cup cold water to a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour through the fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, pressing the solids with the back of a spoon to extract all the liquid. Discard the solids.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!