Asian Pear Martini

A refreshing fruity cocktail with an Asian twist

We received a beautiful bar cabinet for our apartment a few months ago and have been actively stocking it with nice booze and other fancy drinking essentials ever since. I’d be lying if I said that we haven’t been having a few more cocktails since it’s arrival, but it’s sort of impossible to pass by our gorgeous alcohol shrine everyday without being tempted to make a drink. To that end, I’ve been experimenting with new drink recipes at home and this Asian pear martini is definitely my best attempt thus far. Multiple drinks can be prepared in advance and then shaken to order, making it the perfect low-maintenance cocktail to serve at a party. Or, if you’re like me, you’ll prepare a batch to keep in the fridge and have an instant pick-me-up when you arrive home after a long day of work.


Related Recipes:
- Kumquatinis
- Miso Asian Pear Salad
- Jalapeno Margaritas


Asian Pear Martinis:

• Heat 1/2 c. water and 1 c. sugar in a small saucepan until boiling. Lower heat to a simmer and cook until sugar just dissolves, about 3-5 minutes.
• Let simple syrup cool for at least 15 minutes.*
• Meanwhile, peel, remove the stem and core, and chop 2 large Asian pears.**
• Combine pears with 2 c. high-quality vodka, 1/4 c. vermouth, 1/2 c. freshly squeezed lime juice, and simple syrup in a blender. 
• Blend until smooth, then transfer some of the mixture to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until ice forms around the outside of the shaker.
• Strain into martini glasses and garnish each with a slice of Asian pear.

Serves six - eight
*Can be done the day before and kept in the fridge.
**Asian pears are crunchy and look like apples but taste more like juicy pears. I usually buy them at my farmer's market, but they should be available at some grocery stores.