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Homemade 'Fanta' from Zucchini Juice with Orange and Lemon for Winter
Instructions
Prepare the young fresh zucchini (1.2 kg) – the BASE of the 'Fanta'. I buy firm fruits with no dark spots or bruises, in season (July to September). From 1.2 kg of raw zucchini you get about 600 ml of zucchini juice – the 'base' of the concentrated drink.
Wash the zucchini thoroughly under running water. With YOUNG zucchini I DO NOT peel the skin – it is thin and tender, and squeezes out easily with the juice. With older zucchini that have thick skin and large seeds, be sure to peel the skin and remove the seeds along with the loose core. Cut off the stems and tips, halve each zucchini and cut the halves into large 3–5 cm pieces, which is convenient for the juicer; for a centrifugal juicer the pieces can be even larger.
Squeeze out the juice through a juicer (centrifugal or auger type). I get about 600 ml of zucchini juice – a bright green-and-white colour with a neutral, mild taste. This juice is the 'base' for the homemade 'Fanta'; the citrus will give the 'Fanta' aroma and colour.
Meanwhile prepare the citrus part. Wash the orange thoroughly with a kitchen sponge and hot water – this removes the waxy coating from shop-bought citrus. This is a CRITICAL STEP: using a FINE grater, remove the ORANGE part of the zest from the orange. Try not to touch the WHITE part of the peel (the pith) – it is bitter and would spoil the taste of the drink.
Carefully remove the YELLOW zest from the lemon with the fine grater as well, again without the white part. Mix the orange zest with the lemon zest in a small bowl. You get a fragrant mixture with an intense citrus smell – the 'secret' of the drink's 'Fanta' aroma. Set it aside for later.
Halve the peeled orange and lemon and squeeze out the juice with a hand citrus juicer. You get about 100–150 ml of mixed juices – an extra 'citrus' taste for the drink. Strain the juice through a sieve to remove the pips and pulp.
Pour all the zucchini juice (600 ml) into a large heavy-bottomed saucepan and add all the sugar (90 g). Place over medium heat and bring to the boil, stirring constantly with a silicone spatula to dissolve the sugar.
Once the zucchini juice and sugar come to the boil, add the prepared orange-and-lemon juice (100–150 ml). Stir well – the colour of the mixture changes from green-and-white to a bright yellow-orange, just like real 'Fanta'.
Add the grated citrus zest (the mixture of orange and lemon) to the boiling juice. Stir – the zest releases its essential oils into the hot juice and the aroma becomes intensely 'Fanta'-like. Skim off any foam that forms with a slotted spoon, as it would make the finished drink cloudy. Cook the juice with the zest for 3–4 minutes over low heat – no longer! Prolonged boiling would 'kill' the characteristic citrus aroma and the vitamins. The finished drink is bright yellow-orange, fragrant and clear.
Meanwhile prepare the glass jars for preserving. Wash 0.7 l jars (1 pc.) or 0.5 l jars (2 pcs.) thoroughly with warm water and dry mustard powder – grandmother's 'secret' for sterilising, better than any washing-up liquid. Rinse under running water and sterilise over the steam of a kettle for 5 minutes, or in the oven at 100°C for 10 minutes. Boil the metal lids in a separate small pan for 5 minutes – essential for an airtight, long-term seal; use new lids with no traces of rust. Have the sealing key or twist-off lids ready in advance, as sealing must be done quickly while the jars and the drink are hot. Pour the hot drink (together with the zest – you can strain it through a sieve for clarity) into the sterilised jars right to the top. Seal the jars airtight straight away with the boiled lids using the sealing key, or screw on the twist-off lids. Turn the jars upside down to check the seal – there should be no leaks around the edges. Wrap them snugly in a thick throw or blanket for 12 hours until completely cool – an 'extra sterilisation' by the steam of the drink itself. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.
The fresh concentrate does not yet have a pronounced 'Fanta' aroma – but once it has stood in the jars with the zest for 1–2 weeks, it takes on the characteristic citrus taste and aroma of real 'Fanta'. Before drinking, always DILUTE the drink with plain sparkling water 1:1 (it is a concentrated 'Fanta' syrup). The homemade 'Fanta' from zucchini juice with orange and lemon is ready!
Tips
- 1
Always remove the zest from the citrus before squeezing out the juice – the 'secret' of that intense 'Fanta' aroma.
- 2
Take only the BRIGHTLY COLOURED part of the zest, without the white – the pith is bitter and would spoil the taste.
- 3
Use young zucchini with thin skin – they give more juice. I follow a similar principle when I make zucchini juice for winter.
- 4
Before drinking, dilute with water 1:1 – this is a concentrated syrup, not a ready-to-drink beverage.
FAQ
Why add zucchini juice to 'Fanta'? +
Zucchini juice is the 'secret' wholesome base of homemade 'Fanta'. Its advantages: 1) useful vitamins and minerals (A, C, B group, potassium, magnesium); 2) low calorie content (12 kcal per 100 g); 3) a neutral, 'clear' taste that does not 'drown out' the citrus aroma, unlike apple or grape juice; 4) a cheap seasonal product – a way to use up a big garden glut of zucchini; 5) the clear juice does not make the finished drink cloudy. Without zucchini juice you would have to make 'Fanta' from citrus alone, which would be too sour and expensive. Zucchini juice is the 'neutral' base on which the citrus aroma is 'layered'.
What can replace zucchini juice in this recipe? +
Suitable options are: pumpkin juice (a more 'autumnal' version, rich in vitamin A), cucumber juice (more 'green', with a delicate aroma), clear apple juice (more 'fruity', with a sweet note), pear juice (gentle and summery), carrot-apple juice 50/50 (for a wholesome 'children's' Fanta), or plain water with the sugar increased to 150 g (a budget 'lemonade'). Each substitute gives its own character. Zucchini juice is the 'classic' of thrifty Soviet preserving, born from the question of 'what to do with all the zucchini from the garden'. Pumpkin is the alternative for those who do not like zucchini.
How long does homemade 'Fanta' keep? +
Properly sterilised and sealed jars keep in a cool, dark place (5–15°C, a cellar or larder) for up to 1 year. Keep an opened jar in the refrigerator under its lid for up to 7 days (the taste weakens after opening). Signs of spoilage: a bulging lid (fermentation), cloudy juice, an unpleasant smell – throw such jars away. On a flat balcony (without frosts) it also keeps for up to 1 year. For the best taste, open it 1–2 weeks after preserving – the zest will have given its aroma to the drink as fully as possible. It is ideal to make it 'in advance' in August, so that by winter the drink is fully 'matured'.
What to serve homemade 'Fanta' with? +
It is an ideal refreshing summer drink for the family. Dilute the concentrate with sparkling mineral water 1:1 in tall glasses with ice and a slice of lemon or orange – served 'restaurant-style'. For snacks – with pizza (a classic of American cafés), with home-made shashlik, with burgers and nuggets (a fast-food menu), with Caesar salad, with chicken wings. For a children's party – with cake and pastries as a 'children's lemonade without harmful additives'. For a picnic or a garden lunch – in a large jug with ice and fruit. In winter, warm it gently with cinnamon and cloves as a 'non-alcoholic punch'.
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