Best Ginger Beer Recipes

HOMEMADE GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Take a 1.5-liter plastic bottle of spring water and empty it into a clean pitcher. Use some of it to make simple syrup by stirring 1/2 pound sugar into 1 cup hot water until fully dissolved.
• In a large measuring cup, mix all ingredients and stir well. Funnel back into the plastic bottle and cap tightly. Store in a warm, dark place for 24 to 48 hours. (I put mine inside a box, to contain it if it should blow.) The top of the bottle will expand and become tight. Check it and very slowly release the pressure if it's looking groaningly tight. Some people ferment it with no top, or with the top on loosely, to allow gas to escape. I suppose if you wanted to get fancy you could spend $1.50 on a fermentation lock and stop worrying about it. If the temperature is quite warm, above 80F, a single day may be sufficient. The longer you let it ferment, the drier the final mix will be.
• After 48 hours, refrigerate it to stop the fermentation. Once chilled, you can strain out the pulp and dead yeast, which will have made a sediment on the bottom. Makes 1 liter and will keep up to a week in the refrigerator.

HOMEMADE GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Put the ginger in a saucepan set over a low heat with the lemon peel, sugars and 500ml water and stir until the sugars have dissolved. Increase the heat to medium, then simmer for 15-20 mins, or until reduced and syrupy. Remove from the heat and leave to cool completely.
• Strain the syrup into a jug through a sieve lined with muslin. At this stage, you can transfer the syrup to a small sterilised bottle or jar and keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
• Pour the ginger syrup into a large serving jug. Tip in the lemon juice, fill with ice and top up with the soda water. Serve garnished with a few mint sprigs.

JAMAICAN GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Remove 1/2 cup of the boiling water and set aside to cool to lukewarm.
• Combine remaining boiling water, 2 cups sugar, ginger, honey, and lime juice in a large plastic container.
• Mix the 1/2 cup lukewarm water, 1 cup sugar, and yeast together in a separate bowl. Let stand until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy paste, about 5 minutes; stir into ginger mixture. Cover container and let sit for 3 days. Skim foam from top, strain liquid, and pour ginger beer into clean storage containers; chill.

REFRESHING NON-ALCOHOLIC GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups plus 2 1/2 tablespoons water, 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, and 1 3/4 plus 1/8 teaspoons yeast in a container. Mix together to make the bug. Cover loosely and let stand in a warm place for 24 hours.
• "Feed" the bug daily for 7 days by adding 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon ground ginger.
• Strain the bug through muslin cloth, pouring the liquid into a separate large container.
• Mix the strained liquid with 3 quarts cold water. Add lemon juice to the brew.
• Dissolve 3 1/4 cups plus 2 1/4 tablespoons sugar in boiling water; add to the brew. Mix in grated ginger. Bottle the ginger beer. Let stand until fizzy, at least 1 week. Refrigerate before drinking.

GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Wash ginger root but do not peel. Chop roughly and process in food processor until reduced to a textured paste. Put ginger in a large non reactive container and pour boiling water over it. Stir in the lime juice, zest and cream of tartar. Cover and stir occasionally as mixture cools. When lukewarm, mix the yeast with the warm water, pressing out lumps, and add to container. Cover and let stand for 6 hours. Stir the sugar into the ginger beer until completely dissolved and immediately pour into sterilized bottles, making sure the stoppers are well sealed and airtight. The ginger beer will keep for 3 to 4 days in a cool place. To keep longer, add rum.
• To serve, strain and pour into glasses (over shaved ice if desired), with a sprig of mint and thin slice of lime.

HOMEMADE GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Grate enough ginger using Microplane to measure 3 1/2 tablespoons, then put in a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl to collect juice, pressing on solids and then discarding.
• Place funnel in neck of bottle and pour in 3 tablespoons ginger juice (reserve any remaining for another use). Add sugar, lemon juice, yeast, and a pinch of salt.
• Fill bottle with water, leaving about 1 1/2 inches of space at top. Remove funnel and screw cap on tightly. Gently shake bottle to dissolve sugar.
• Let stand at room temperature until plastic feels hard and no longer indents when squeezed, 24 to 36 hours.
• Chill ginger beer until very cold.

PORK TENDERLOIN WITH PEARS AND GINGER-BEER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a flameproof, ovenproof roasting pan. Season the pork with 1 teaspoon of the salt and pepper, and place in the pan. Cook until browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Remove the pork from the pan and set aside. Add the potatoes to the pan and season with the remaining teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 15 minutes.
• Add the pears to the pan and roast with the potatoes for 5 minutes longer. Push the potatoes and pears to the edge of the pan and place the pork tenderloins in the center. Roast until the pork is only slightly pink in the center, about 15 minutes. Remove the pork, potatoes and pears from the pan and place the pan over medium heat. Add the ginger beer and cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan. Let reduce to 1/2 cup, about 5 minutes.
• Cut the pork into inch-thick slices. Divide the pork, potatoes and pears among 4 plates and spoon sauce over each. Serve immediately.

HOMEBREW GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Take about a half-cup of warm water, and mix with sugar. Then sprinkle yeast on top. Let sit.
• Boil about 2 litres of water.
• Peel the ginger root and cut into smaller pieces.
• When water has been brought to a boil, add the ginger root, cloves, and anise. I like to put the cloves in a small tea ball so i can remove them easily later.
• Boil for 30 minutes. Then remove ginger root and cloves.
• Dissolve 3/4 - 1 cup of sugar in the brew.
• Let the brew cool until it is tepid (ie won't kill the yeast). Then add they yeast mixture to it.
• Now pour the mixture into a 2 litre plastic bottle. Top up with water. Make sure you leave between 5-8cm of air in the top. Play with this amount -- you'll find you get more pressure if you leave the air inches.
• Now leave in a warmish place for about 1 day. Watch it carefully the first time - wait until the pressure has built up, then refrigerate.
• Leave in the fridge for at least 2 days. If you leave it in longer, you'll get more pressure -- I usually leave it at least 2 weeks, but it can stay in there for 2 months. Still, it will continue to gain pressure in the refrigerator.
• When you open the bottle, be very CAREFUL! The pressure should be very high by this time. It's best to do it over the sink or outside, and do NOT aim at anyone! If you cover the cap while you open it, it will muffle the "pop". Instead, don't cover the top of the cap, but only touch the sides of the cap while you open it. In this way, it will fire like a gun.
• If you've got good pressure, it will bubble out like champagne, so have glasses on hand ot pour right away!

HOMEMADE GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Place ginger in the bowl of a food processor, and process until finely chopped. Transfer to a large pot or bowl, and add the boiling water. Allow to standfor 1 hour. Drain through a fine sieve lined with a double thickness of damp cheesecloth. Discard solids. Add lime juice and sugar, and stir to dissolve.

GRILLED GINGER-BEER CHICKEN

Steps:

• Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Toss the ginger with 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Sprinkle half of the mixture on the chicken; reserve the rest. Refrigerate the chicken, uncovered, at least 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Pour the ginger beer into a wide skillet; cover and bring to a boil. Uncover and cook over high heat until reduced by half, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags and steep 10 minutes; discard the tea bags. Add the onion, tomatoes, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and thyme. Return to high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 50 minutes, using a potato masher to crush the tomatoes during the last 5 minutes. Remove the thyme. Set aside half of the sauce for serving.
• Bring the chicken to room temperature about 30 minutes before grilling. Preheat a grill to medium with indirect heat: On a charcoal grill, bank the coals to one side; on a gas grill, turn off half of the burners.
• Brush the chicken with some of the butter and sprinkle with some of the remaining ground ginger mixture. Place skin-side up on the cooler side of the grill; cover and cook until it starts browning, about 18 minutes, basting with more butter and sprinkling with more ground ginger mixture halfway through. Brush the chicken with a thick layer of sauce. Cover and cook until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 160 degrees F, about 20 minutes, basting with more sauce halfway through.
• Brush the chicken with more butter, then turn skin-side down and place on the hotter side of the grill (over direct heat). Cook, uncovered, until marked, about 2 minutes. Rotate the chicken to make crisscross grill marks and cook 2 more minutes. Transfer to a board and let rest about 10 minutes. Season with salt and serve with the reserved sauce.

GINGER BEER & TANGERINE GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• Put the gammon, onion, tangerine zest and star anise in a large pan. Pour over all but 100ml of the ginger beer and, if necessary, top up with water so the gammon is just covered. Bring to the boil, skim the surface to remove any fat, reduce to a simmer, then cover and cook for 3-3½ hrs or until the meat is tender. When the gammon is cooked, remove it from the pan. Reserve the cooking liquor and use to cook lentils (see 'Goes well with'). Cool, cover and chill at this stage if you want to prepare ahead - bring back to room temp before continuing.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Carefully cut the skin off the gammon, making sure to leave a layer of fat, then lightly score the fat into diamond shapes. Place in a roasting tin lined with foil. Warm the honey, mustard and reserved 100ml ginger beer in a pan and boil until it thickens. Spoon over the fat, then stud a clove into the middle of each diamond. Bake for 20-25 mins or until the glaze has caramelised. If you did prepare ahead, add another 10 mins to the cooking time. Slice and eat warm or cold.

TUDOR RECIPE FOR GINGER BEER

Steps:

• In a sterile 2 quart jar, blend together the yeast, 2 teaspoons of castor sugar, and 2 teaspoons of ground ginger. Stir in the cold water until well blended. Cover with a clean cheesecloth, and let sit in a convenient corner at room temperature where it will be out of the way for the next seven days.
• Every morning for the next seven days, feed the yeast mixture by stirring in 1 teaspoon of castor sugar, and 1 teaspoon of ground ginger.
• On the eighth day, give the mixture a good stir, then strain it through a clean tea towel into a large new plastic bucket, bin, or glass carbuoy. Wring all of the liquid out of the cloth, and set aside. You will be dealing with this later.
• Dissolve the white sugar in 5 cups of boiling water by stirring vigorously. Pour the cold water into the bucket with the ginger juice, then stir in the sugar syrup and lemon juice.
• Siphon the mixture into sterile screw top bottles, filling to within 2 inches of the top. Old cleaned out soda bottles will do. Screw on the tops tightly. Store the bottles of ginger beer in a cool dark place where they can remain undisturbed for 7 days. Be very careful upon opening as the beer is very fizzy.
• Go back to the cloth now. The residue looks disgusting! However, lay the towel out flat with the disgusting side up. Use a knife to scrape the stuff to the center, then divide in half, and place each half into a separate sterile jar. Top each jar with 2 cups of cold water, and you are ready to go again. Twice! Begin with step 2 for subsequent batches. Unless you are very thirsty, I suggest you give one of them away.

GINGER BEER PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Combine garlic salt and ginger; rub onto all sides of roast. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown roast on all sides, 5-8 minutes. Add onion; cook until softened., Transfer pork, onion and drippings to a 4-qt. slow cooker. Stir in next seven ingredients., Cook, covered, on low until meat is tender, 6-8 hours. Remove roast; cool slightly. Skim fat from cooking juices. Shred roast with two forks. Stir 1-1/2 cups cooking juices into shredded meat; mix well. Serve on buns with cheese.

GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Finely shred ginger into a bowl. Zest lemons and add zest to ginger. Mix sugar and juice from the lemons into ginger-lemon zest mixture.
• Combine ice and mint leaves in a large jug or pitcher. Strain ginger mixture through a sieve directly into the jug; stir in sparkling water.

GINGER BEER CHICKEN & RIBS

Steps:

• Toss the chicken and ribs in the ground ginger, allspice and lots of seasoning. Cover and marinate for 1 hr (or up to 24 hrs).
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Tip the meat into a deep roasting tin, add the star anise, ginger beer and sliced ginger, then top up with enough water to just cover the meat. Cover with foil and cook for 1 hr 30 mins. Uncover, pour away the cooking liquid and pat the chicken pieces and ribs dry with kitchen paper. Chill until ready to use.
• Meanwhile, to make the glaze, pour the ingredients into a saucepan and boil until thick and sticky - this will take about 30 mins. Can be made 2 days before up to this point.
• Heat up the barbecue and let the flames subside. Brush the sticky glazecall over the meat, making sure each piece is well coated. Place on the barbecue and cook for 15-20 mins, brushing with the glaze from time to time, until hot and charred in places. Serve with extra lime wedges for squeezing over.

CARIBBEAN GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Wash and scrape the skin off the ginger. Grate or blend the peeled ginger (grating brings out the flavor more, but to save time it can be blended).
• Put ginger, lime juice, cloves, cinnamon stick and 3/4 cup of the sugar into a wide mouthed gallon glass or ceramic jar.
• Add 10 cups boiling water to jar and stir until sugar dissolves.
• Set ginger mixture aside to steep and cool to room temperature.
• Cover jar tightly and refrigerate for 1 week.
• Line a large strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth.
• Strain ginger mixture through strainer into another wide mouthed gallon glass or ceramic jar, firmly pressing on solids with the back of a spoon to extract as much flavor as possible.
• Throw away the solids.
• Add the remaining sugar to ginger beer and stir until it dissolves.
• Serve in glasses over crushed ice, garnished with mint sprigs.

STEAMED SEA BASS IN HOT BEER AND GINGER LIME SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the bass: Either drape some of the ginger and spring onion strips across the fish or tuck them within the scores in the skin. Then, stuff the rest inside the cavity of the fish. Set the bass on a heatproof plate or dish and pour over the rice wine or sherry. Place the plate inside a large bamboo steamer and cover. Then, secure the steamer on top of a pan of boiling water, making sure the water does not touch the base of the steamer. Steam the fish for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of the fish, until its flesh flakes when poked with chopsticks. Turn off the heat and leave the fish in the steamer.
• To make the sauce: Heat the groundnut oil in a large pan or wok. Add in the ginger, and stir-fry for a few seconds, then add the lime zest, followed by the beer, and soy sauce. Stir and, as the liquid comes to the boil, add the spring onions and cilantro. At this point, switch off the heat immediately.
• Remove the plate and fish from the bamboo steamer, pour the sauce over the fish, and serve immediately with some steamed rice.
• If you don't have a large enough steamer, place the fish on a heatproof plate, and put on a roasting rack in a pan. Put the pan in the oven, and carefully pour boiling water into the pan. Cover with foil, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees F, or until the flesh flakes when poked and has turned opaque.

BRAISED PORK BELLY WITH JUNIPER AND GINGER BEER OVER STONE GROUND GRITS

Steps:

• For the pork belly: Combine the olive oil, juniper berries, rosemary, sage and thyme in a mixing bowl. Add the pork belly, cover, and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or up to 6 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Remove the belly from the marinade (reserve the marinade) and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Coat the pan with the vegetable oil and carefully sear on both sides until well browned. Remove the belly and reserve.
• Add the celery, bay leaves, carrots, garlic, onions and reserved marinade into the pan and cook until the vegetables are lightly browned. Pour in the wine to deglaze, followed by the ginger beer, and then scrape the pan to release the browned bits. Add the stock and the belly, cover, and braise in the oven until fork tender, about 3 hours (time will vary depending on the size of the belly).
• For the grits: Combine the milk and stock in a pot. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer and slowly whisk in the grits. Simmer, stirring often, until tender, about 45 minutes. Stir in the butter, and season with salt and pepper.
• Remove the pork belly from the braising liquid. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve into a saucepan. Skim all the fat from the surface, and then cook over medium-high heat until reduced by 40 percent.
• Before serving, gently reheat the pork belly in the jus. Serve over the grits and pour a little jus over. Toss the arugula with a little lemon juice and olive oil and place on top.
• This recipe was provided by a chef, restaurant or culinary professional and may have been scaled down from a bulk recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

LIBERIAN PINEAPPLE GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Wash the ginger root. Cut it into 1/2 " pieces.
• Move half of cut ginger into the blender. Add 1 cup of water. Cover and set blender to high. Blend until ginger coarsely chopped and mixed well into the water. Transfer this mixture to a large pot(8 quart).
• Repeat with the rest of the ginger. Add this mixture to the pot.
• Wash the pineapple. Use a sharp knife to remove the peeling. Slice the peeling off so that you also remove a half-inch of pineapple along with the skin.
• Cut the peeling into one-inch pieces. Transfer half of the cut pineapple peeling to the blender. Add 1 cup of water and blend on high until pineapple is in small pieces and mixed in the water. Move to the pot of ginger.
• Repeat with the rest of the cut pineapple. Add to the mixture in the pot.
• Add 10 more cups of water to the pot. Half-cover the pot with the top. Bring to a boil on high and boil on medium for about 30 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the stove. Cover the pot completely and allow the mixture to sit for 8 hours or overnight at room temperature.
• Pour the mixture through a metal strainer to remove the larger pieces of ginger and pineapple peel. Use a wooden spoon to press the liquid through the strainer.
• Use a clean cotton kitchen cloth(or clean wash cloth) to strain out the finer particles. Use your hand to squeeze the ginger beer out of the cloth.
• To sweeten, first add 1 cup of sugar and stir. Add more sugar to desired taste. Chill and enjoy.
• Store in the fridge.

GINGER-PEACH BEER COOLER

Steps:

• Combine the beer, peach nectar, peaches and syrup in a large pitcher; stir to blend. Serve immediately.
• Place 1/2 cup water, the sugar and ginger in a small saucepan. Bring the syrup to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Let the syrup cool completely, about 20 minutes. Strain before using.