Written by Stephanie Siam

Mocktail (noun): Any alcohol free, non-alcoholic beverages, and specifically the non-alcoholic versions of typically alcoholic beverages like cocktails.

I don’t know about where you live, but it’s starting to get hot here in Oman. And when the weather gets hot, I don’t feel much like eating (amazingly, there IS something that curbs my appetite). However, no matter who you are, resisting the temptation of a chilled fruity drink is futile.

So, today we thought we’d turn it down a notch by sharing a couple of amazing mocktail recipes that will leave you refreshed and fulfilled on those hot summer nights or warm spring afternoons.

First things first: you may be wondering how to create a tasty but uniquely palatable drink that doesn’t just involve mixing some grenadine (pomegranate syrup) with a Coca-Cola. Granted, the following recipes do include grenadine. However, it’s not the main ingredient.

My suggestion is to think of the flavors you like. You can find anything from coconut-flavored mixer to chocolate to my personal favorite, non-alcoholic margarita mix (a wildly tart lemon-lime flavor). Let your creativity go wild!

What you may not be aware of is that the majority of “mixers” for cocktails have no alcohol in them. They are merely flavoring. So, feel free to stock up on various flavors and know you’re not doing any haram in using them. But be sure to check the ingredients list.

There are several brands, like Monin^©, that offer non-alcoholic mixers in a variety of choices. You could even purchase Italian shaved ice flavoring and use it with your other ingredients.

In general, there are two different kinds of mocktails: on the rocks and frozen. On the rocks is a simple term that means “over ice”. Basically, the ingredients are shaken in a mixer or stirred in a pitcher and poured over a glass of ice. Frozen can be one of a couple choices; either a freezer-made slushy consistency (like an ICEE^© or Slush Puppy^©) or blended together in a mixer with ice to create a less homogeneous mixture. Frankly, any way you make them, they’re going to be delicious, so experiment with different styles to see which is your favorite.

Today’s recipes will feature one frozen and one on the rocks creation. Remember, either can be modified to fit your preferences, appliances, or tastes.

Pucker Punch

Ingredients

2 cups cubed ice
2 cups no-added sugar ruby red grapefruit juice
1 ½ cups no-pulp orange juice
¼ cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1 cup ginger ale
2 Tbsp grenadine
2 Tbsp coarse sugar
Fruit slices for garnish

Directions

Combine grapefruit juice, orange juice and lemon juice in pitcher. Take used lemon wedge and run it around the rim of your glasses. Turn the glasses over onto a plate covered with coarse sugar. Dip them into the sugar.

Carefully turn the glasses back over. Pour the contents into each of the glasses.

Pour 1 cup of ginger ale over each drink, careful to leave about 1 inch at the top of each glass.

Holding a Tbsp over each glass, close to the surface of the liquid, float 1 Tbsp of grenadine on top of each drink.

Garnish with lemon or orange slices.

Makes: 3 servings

Rita’s Frozen Fauxjito

Ingredients

4 cups ice (crushed, if possible, but not necessary)
3 cups non-alcoholic margarita mix
1 ½ cups Sprite
¼ cup grenadine
Maraschino cherries for garnish
Lime wedges for garnish

Directions

Combine ice, margarita mix, Sprite, and grenadine in mixer. Pulse 2-3 seconds at a time until reaching preferred consistency. If the mix becomes too liquefied, add more ice.

Pour the contents into glasses. Garnish with a lime wedge and cherry.

 

Makes: 6-8 servings

 

Enjoy with your friends, or indulge alone – nobody’s going to tell! And even if they do it’s 100% halal. They go great with chips and salsa, salad or by themselves. (My daughter enjoyed them with pretzels … she also enjoyed the entire jar of maraschino cherries before I could get around to making these drinks!)
Have an inspired recipe concoction? Let us know!!

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