Saffron-Scented Gibson with Pickled Cocktail Onions
Recipe created by Rori Trovato
A gold-hued Gibson gets its sunny color—and heady fragrance—from pearl onions pickled in champagne vinegar and a mixture of saffron, bay leaves, and juniper berries.
This recipe is part of our fresh spring dinner party menu.
This recipe is part of our fresh spring dinner party menu.
Servings: Makes 1 cup onions, enough for 8 to 10 drinks
Ingredients
Cocktail onions:
- 1 cup white pearl onions
- 2 cups champagne vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- Pinch of saffron threads
- 4 bay leaves
- 2 tsp. juniper berries
Gibson:
- 2 1/2 ounces gin
- 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
- Splash of cocktail onion liquid
- 2 or 3 cocktail onions
Directions
Note: The directions here show how to make a single drink. Increase the amounts depending on how many cocktails you plan to serve.
Boil 3 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Add onions and boil 1 minute; strain. Peel when cool enough to handle.
Put vinegar, sugar, saffron threads, bay leaves, and juniper berries in the saucepan over medium-low heat; stir until sugar dissolves. Add onions, increase heat, and bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, remove from heat, and cool in pan. When room temperature, transfer contents to a container and chill in the refrigerator. It's best to marinate onions for at least 1 week. They can be stored for up to 2 months.
To make a drink, place ice in a cocktail shaker. Add gin, vermouth, and onion liquid. Shake and strain into a glass. Spear 2 or 3 onions on a pick, and add to glass.
Boil 3 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Add onions and boil 1 minute; strain. Peel when cool enough to handle.
Put vinegar, sugar, saffron threads, bay leaves, and juniper berries in the saucepan over medium-low heat; stir until sugar dissolves. Add onions, increase heat, and bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, remove from heat, and cool in pan. When room temperature, transfer contents to a container and chill in the refrigerator. It's best to marinate onions for at least 1 week. They can be stored for up to 2 months.
To make a drink, place ice in a cocktail shaker. Add gin, vermouth, and onion liquid. Shake and strain into a glass. Spear 2 or 3 onions on a pick, and add to glass.
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