Turn overripe berries into a refreshing Italian soda with a simple homemade strawberry syrup
Recently I’ve rekindled my love of Italian sodas—not San Pellegrino but the kind made by flavoring seltzer water with a few pumps of Torani syrup (and, if you’re feeling wild, a splash of heavy cream). A strawberry Italian soda was my go-to coffee shop order as a child, but I still consider the creamy, sparkling drink to be a special treat, especially on a hot summer’s day. Making one at home is surprisingly easy. I use a syrup made from fresh strawberries, which is ten times better than anything sold in a bottle, plus it can be used to make milkshakes, cocktails, and even strawberry matcha in addition to this refreshing pink soda.
You’ll begin by making your own strawberry “syrup”—this one’s actually closer to a compote, since I prefer not to strain out the fruity solids. I start by boiling diced strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice until the berries completely cook down into a thick, juicy, ruby liquid. Some larger pieces of fruit will remain, which you can mash with a fork or blitz in a blender. I think the odd small bit of syrupy strawberry is a delightful treat, especially when slurping this drink through a straw, so I take care not to blend it too thoroughly. The end result is almost jamlike in texture, which may seem a bit thick, but it ensures a bold strawberry flavor in the finished soda.
To assemble the drink, I prefer a two-to-one ratio of soda water to strawberry syrup. I start with a tall glass filled with ice and spoon in about 2 ounces (or ¼ cup) of strawberry syrup, then pour in about 4 ounces (½ cup) of soda water. I recommend using something that’s known for being extra bubbly, like Topo Chico, which will retain more carbonation once it’s diluted. Briefly stir, then serve as is or topped with a hearty splash of cream (1 to 2 tablespoons per glass, according to your preference). I recommend drinking this soda through a straw so you can slurp up all the delicious pieces of strawberry at the bottom of the glass. It’s those bits of real fruit that make this homemade version of Italian soda 100 percent worth the effort.