Cucumber Ginger & Sake Sangria

By draingal

Ingredients

• 1 large (1-lb) seedless cucumber (usually plastic-wrapped)
• 2 cups water
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste
• 1 (720-ml) bottle chilled dry sake
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped
• crystallized ginger (optional)

Preparation

Step 1

► Cut cucumber crosswise into three equal pieces. Peel and chop 2 pieces, then put into a blender. Peel 4 lengthwise strips from remaining piece, leaving stripes of green, then halve piece lengthwise and core. Thinly slice crosswise.
► Add water, sugar, fresh ginger, and lemon juice to blender and puree until smooth. Pour through a medium-mesh sieve into a pitcher, then stir in sake, crystallized ginger if using, and cucumber slices. Chill, covered, until ready to serve, up to 2 hours. Serve over ice.