Recipe #30: Caipirnha with Carambola

For starters, I'd like to suggest a cocktail -- Caipirinha, which is the "national drink of Brazil." Now, I realize I'm probably committing blasphemy by listing an alcoholic beverage on a supposed "health food recipe blog," but we can't all live like monks day in & day out. Otherwise, we'll all go diving headlong into a 10 lb. chocolate cake & devour the entire thing in one sitting. ;-) Plus, it's my blog & I can do with it what I want. So, if I want to list a cocktail recipe on my blog, or an occasional dessert that's not entirely low-fat or low-anything, then I'm bloody *#@$% well going to do it. So there!

While I'm admittedly more of a "once in a blue moon" kind of drinker & make a practice of abstaining while training (for obvious reasons!), I never claimed to be a teetotaler either. After all, a little enjoyment of spirits here & there is something of which most of us like to partake. And now for that cocktail recipe:

Caipirinha

Ingredients:
1 lime
1 tablespoon sugar
8 ice cubes
4 oz. cachaça

Directions: Wash the lime, roll it on a cutting board (or clean countertop) to loosen its juices, & then cut it in half from stem end to bottom. Slice away the stringy pith that runs down the center of each half. Slice each lime piece in half crosswise, & then into small slices. Place half of the sliced lime in each of two rocks glasses, crush the pieces (pulp side up) with a pestle, & then add a tablespoon of sugar to each glass, stir, & mull until the sugar dissolves. Crack 8 ice cubes & add half to each glass. Pour 2 ounces of cachaça into each glass, stir vigorously, & serve.

For A Drink Garnish, Try This Very Cool Idea: Even though the carambola (or star fruit) is probably not a traditional garnish for a cairpirnha, you could try it anyhow, as it's a very cool & clever idea for a drink garnish, & happens to taste really good with this particular cocktail.

So, just slice up a carambola (i.e., star fruit). For each slice, make a small slit on one side & place on your glass. Et le voilà. An instant garnish for your drink.

Carambola are grown natively in Brazil, & are said to relieve hangovers. So they are probably a good combination! ;-)

Yield: Makes 2 drinks.

Cook's Notes: In Brazil, the pestle that's used to crush the limes are long, wooden ones, made specifically for this purpose. When you mash the limes with the pestle, crush them just enough to release the juice, but do not overcrush. Otherwise the drink will taste too bitter.

You can also make a pitcher of caipirinha. Calculate the number of people you wish to serve and just multiply the amounts in the recipe accordingly.

Also, please keep in mind that while the drink is certainly delicious, it's also packs quite a punch. This drink is a potent concoction, so easy does it!

Other Useful & Creative Ideas: So if, after purchasing that big bottle of cachaça, you are now wondering what you'll do with it -- that is, other than make more caipirnhas (!), you'll be happy to know that this alcoholic spirit has lots of other great uses: You can use it to flambé bananas and other fruits; it can be used to flavor hot chocolate or coffee; or, alternatively, you can use it to marinate meat.

So get creative & have fun!
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Please see this recipe for a continuation of our "travels" to Brazil. You can serve Caipirnhas for starters, & then proceed to the next recipe for dinner!