Fruity Sangria ~ A Delicious Spanish Drink

Summer is here. The sweltering heat gets on you, the sun is blazing hot, hitting you hard. Plenty of cool drinks, and you are sorted. We both sampled Sangria, a Spanish Wine-based drink few months back at a gourmet restaurant and became instant fans upon tasting. The boozy flavours of fruits treated with a heady concoction of red wine and fruit juice takes a whole new meaning when they all come together. Husband was too eager to try it out at home. At at a paltry sum, you can get the same flavours at home with the fruits and spices of your choice. I relish the Spanish appetizers or snacks or finger food, called as 'Tapa' which in Spanish means 'to cover'; bite-sized pieces of food, usually vegetables or meat, that you can nibble, infused with Olive oil and spices of choice. I am always on the pursuit of trying recipes which are a pleaser for the soul and have a home-style flavour.

Sangria is a Spanish drink made out of fruits, choicest spices and the best of red or white wine. Mix and match your savoury, favorite fruits, spices, citrus flavours to create a Sangria of choice. The process used here is called 'steep'. Prepare a wine-fruit-punch mix as per your taste, allow the fruits to soak and thereby 'steep' them for hours desired. When you are ready to serve, the fruits absorb the liquids and are dunked and soaked in the concoction flavours. This beverage is great crowd-puller for parties, get together events and a 'pleaser' for sure. My husband is a great fan of Sangria and now with the heat up in the air, we make it often with a splash of Apples and Pear and some Cinnamon sticks thrown in.

Preparation time: 24 hours

Processing time: 5 minutes

Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

Dry Red Wine ~ Cabernet Sauvignon - 4 cups

Fruit Punch of any brand - 4 cups

Sugar - As per taste

Red Apple (sliced) - 1

Pear (sliced) - 1

Lemon (sliced) - 1

Lime Juice (optional) - 1-2 teaspoon

Cinnamon stick - 2

Ice cubes - As per taste

Contraption used ~ A Serving Pitcher

Method:

Mix in Dry Red Wine and Fruit Punch in a Serving Pitcher. Add slices of Apple, Pear and Cinnamon sticks. Adjust for taste with addition of sugar and lime juice. I prefer the natural taste so preferred not to add any. Mix well. Cover with a foil or a wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours to steep. Serve next day after 24 hours, chilled over ice cubes along with the fruits. If you appreciate boozy flavours, try munching on the fruits soaked in the delectable liquer, you will be floored.

Note: Adjust flavours as per taste. If you wish for more wine flavour, add more wine, if you prefer fruity flavour to be dominant, add more fruit punch. Balance is key as you do not want flavours overpowering each other.