Lychee Keen

Lychee - holiday cocktail recipe   ’Tis the season for cocktail parties… and willpower seems to go out the window when hostesses whirl by with trays of drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Lucky for us, we’ve noticed lychees popping up on menus and even in people’s yards, as the soil here is especially conducive to their growth. The native Chinese fruit that looks almost like a large raspberry has a thick red skin; peel it back and underneath you’ll find a sweet and juicy white nibble. Remove that fleshy nut from its tough covering, and you’ve got an excellent source of vitamin C, a boost of B vitamins and minerals, and some experts say, a natural substance that can help prevent cancer. For these reasons, the lychee is considered a superfood and is also why its Chinese name translates to “gift of joyful life.”

 

 

 

The skinny on this cocktail…
An entire cup of fresh lychee nuts weighs in at only 125 calories, and St-Germain is an artisanal elderflower liqueur with a natural sugar content nearly half of other liqueurs (sold at Total Wine, 239-649-4979). With no added sugar or sugar substitutes, this nightcap is a perfect micro splurge for yourself or a house full of guests.Lychee Martini - Maguro Sushi & Steakhouse Or you can enjoy the Real McCoy at the new Bonita Springs hibachi and raw bar restaurant, Maguro Sushi & Steakhouse (239-591-0003), which has more enticing low-cal yummies, like yellowtail rolls and sea bass with bok choy.

Lychee Martini

  • 1.5 oz. Grey Goose vodka
  • 1 oz. St-Germain
  • 2 oz. fresh lychee juice
  • 1 lychee, peeled
  • 1 mint sprig

1. Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with a lychee nut and mint sprig.

 

Recipe courtesy of Maguro Sushi & Steakhouse
 

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