With Summer upon us, it is time to lighten up our weekend cocktails. Sometimes, we want something other than a mojito or Vanilla Limoncello Lemonade to drink. At those times, a sangria often fits the bill. This alcoholic drink of Spanish origin is a wine punch, usually made by adding fruit and sugar to the wine, often with a touch of brandy or other liquor added, then lightened up with the addition of carbonation.
Good friends of ours shared their favorite sangria recipe with us after we enjoyed it while having dinner at their house. The recipe came from a coworker of Bob’s who had traveled extensively. Bob has been making his friend’s version of sangria for more than 4 decades. He still uses this original diagram as the recipe.
Diagram of making the sangria.
What makes this sangria recipe unique is the addition of bananas to the punch. They add a subtle extra touch of sweetness and depth to the recipe.
Citrus & Red Wine Sangria
Citrus & Red Wine Sangria (my version of Bob’s Sangria) Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 ounces brandy or cognac
- 2 ounces Triple Sec or Cointreau
- 1/2 lemon
- 1 orange
- 1/2 banana, sliced
- 1 750ml bottle dry red wine
- 8 ounces club soda
Directions:
Combine the sugar with the brandy and the Triple Sec in the bottom of a large pitcher. Stir it together to dissolve the sugar.
Add the juice of 1/2 a lemon to the mix, cutting up the juiced peel and adding it to the pitcher. Add the juice of 1 orange to the mix, also cutting up the peel and adding it to the pitcher. Add the banana slices to the pitcher.
Combine the sugar with the brandy and Triple Sec then add the juices & peels.
Slowly pour the red wine into the pitcher, then stir the sangria. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate the sangria for at least 2 hours.
Add the wine to the pitcher.
When ready to serve, add the club soda to the pitcher and gently stir before pouring the drinks. Serve over ice if desired.
It’s gonna be a great Summer!~Linda
Citrus & Red Wine Sangria (my version of Bob’s Sangria) Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 ounces brandy or cognac
- 2 ounces Triple Sec or Cointreau
- 1/2 lemon
- 1 orange
- 1/2 banana, sliced
- 1 750ml bottle dry red wine
- 8 ounces club soda
Directions:
Combine the sugar with the brandy and the Triple Sec in the bottom of a large pitcher. Stir it together to dissolve the sugar.
Add the juice of 1/2 a lemon to the mix, cutting up the juiced peel and adding it to the pitcher. Add the juice of 1 orange to the mix, also cutting up the peel and adding it to the pitcher. Add the banana slices to the pitcher.
Slowly pour the red wine into the pitcher, then stir the sangria. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate the sangria for at least 2 hours.
When ready to serve, add the club soda to the pitcher and gently stir before pouring the drinks. Serve over ice if desired.