The fact that alcohol can be used not only for banal drinking has been known for a long time. On their basis, they prepare various hot cocktails that help to warm oneself with body and soul during the winter cold. These include mulled wine, grog and, of course, punch. The recipe for the latter has ancient Indian roots. It was from this country that the punch “came” to Europe. Translated punch means "five", that is, it should have five ingredients. These include wine, rum, spices (cloves and cinnamon), honey or sugar, fruit juice or strong tea.
Today, the number of possible ingredients has increased markedly. Pineapples, oranges, eggs and milk began to be added to it. But some basic rules and recommendations on how to prepare a punch remain unshakable. For example, red wine needs to be added at the very end and in small quantities. And the main condition is that the drink is consumed hot.
Maybe this drink can be non-alcoholic. There are also many recipes for such a punch. The main ingredients here are fruit juices and canned or fresh fruits. Non-alcoholic punch is not made too sweet or strong. And sometimes you even have to cool it, so it becomes much tastier.
And now about how to cook a classic punch. For it, you need to mix 0.5 liters of white wine, a glass of water, 0.25 liters of light rum, burnt sugar (two tablespoons) and grated lemon zest. This mixture must be heated to a temperature of no higher than 80 degrees, while stirring constantly. At the last stage, a little champagne and lemon juice in the amount of one teaspoon are added to the punch. You can sweeten this drink to your liking.
But the egg punch, the recipe for which is quite simple. For this drink you will need the following components:
- red wine - 0.8 liters;
- one lemon;
- cognac - 0.3 liters;
- tea infusion - 1 liter;
- egg yolks - 6 pieces;
- icing sugar - 200 grams;
- ground cinnamon;
- cloves - three sticks.
Lemon zest, cloves and cinnamon are added to the tea infusion. This mixture should be infused for one hour. Then you need to strain it and add lemon juice, red wine and brandy to it. Now the punch needs to be warmed up. For these purposes, you can not use aluminum utensils, as it can oxidize the drink. Cook the punch over low heat. And in the final, powdered sugar and egg yolks are added to it.
There are many holidays that can not do without drinking alcohol. For example, New Year. And the New Year punch, the recipe for which is given below, is quite suitable for the festive table. For him you will need:
- dry black tea - 2 teaspoons;
- red wine, dry - 0.75 liters;
- cloves - two buds;
- one lemon;
- two oranges;
- sugar - 125 grams;
- ground cinnamon - one pinch.
Tea is mixed with cloves and cinnamon. All this is poured with half a liter of boiling water. This mixture is infused under the lid for 6 minutes. Then it must be filtered and add wine and sugar to it, mix and warm to 60 degrees. Freshly squeezed citrus juice is added at the very end. The drink can be poured into glasses and nicely decorated with cherry for a cocktail, a slice of lemon and mint leaves.
“Northern” punch, recipe for ten servings. For this cocktail you will need:
- cognac - 0.25 liters;
- water - 0.25 liters;
- rum - 0.25 liters;
- eggs - 4 pieces;
- sugar syrup - 50 grams;
- nutmeg, grated.
Egg yolks need to be separated from the proteins and beat separately from each other. Then they should be combined and sugar syrup added to this mixture, mixed, added cognac, rum, nutmeg. Then hot water is poured into this mixture with continuous stirring. Everything, the punch is ready. It should be poured into cups and consumed immediately.
And these are just a few recipes for such a healthy drink that can add a good mood during any holiday.