By Rebecca Melley
Traditionally Sangria is a wine punch typical of Argentina, Spain and Portugal. It normally consists of wine, chopped fruit, a sweetener, and a small amount of added brandy.
Over time recipes have evolved and altered ingredients. On this week’s Top Five you will find five great recipes that may not be traditional but certainly get the job done. Enjoy these recipes solo on a lazy afternoon or to bring flare to a summer gathering.
Check out the low calorie cocktails that are easy to prepare and won’t make you stress over your beach body.
Tequila lovers do not worry; there is even a special treat for you on here. Relax, enjoy, and sip away!
Sparkling Sangria
- 1 cup brandy
- 1/2 cup orange liqueur
- 1/4 cup sugar, super fine
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- 1 pint raspberries
- 1 lime, thinly sliced
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 2 bottles sparkling wine or cava, chilled
In a large pitcher, combine the brandy, and orange liqueur. Pour in the sugar, stir or shake the pitcher thoroughly to mix until the sugar dissolves. Add all the fruit at once. Add the cava and serve as is or on ice.
Total Time= 10 minutes
Tequila Sangria
- 2 to 3 pineapple slices
- 2 to 3 orange slices
- 2 to 3 blackberries
- 2 to 3 lime wedges
- 2 ounce or 1/4 cup tequila
- 1 ounce or 2 tablespoons elderflower-flavored liqueur*
- 1 ounce or 2 tablespoons simple syrup
- 2 ounces or 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- Splash orange juice
- Ice, as needed
- Red wine, as needed
In desired drinking glass, add the pineapples, oranges, blackberries, and lime wedges. Note: If you don’t like the fruits suggested here feel free to use whichever fruits you desire.
Next add the tequila, elderflower-flavored liqueur, simple syrup, pineapple juice, and orange juice. Add ice to glass and stir to mix ingredients. Top glass with red wine and enjoy.
Total Time: 5 Minutes. Serves: 1
Rose and Summer Fruit Sangria
- 3 bottles rose wine
- 1 1/2 cups brandy
- 3/4 cup orange liqueur (recommended Grand Marnier)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 apricots, sliced thin
- 2 plums, sliced thin
- 2 peaches, sliced thin
- 1 pint raspberries
- 1 lime, thinly sliced
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- Ice cubes
In a large pitcher, combine the wine, brandy, and orange liqueur. Pour in sugar, stir or shake the pitcher thoroughly to mix. Add all fruit at once. Allow the mixture to sit for 1 hour before serving to allow the fruit flavor to come through.
Serve in glasses filled with ice.
Total Time= 10 minutes. Servings = 8-10
Tropical Sangria
(215 calories)
- 1 (750-ml) bottle red wine
- 1/4 cup orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Grand Marnier
- 1 orange (unpeeled), thinly sliced
- 1 lime (unpeeled), thinly sliced
- 1 (8- ounce) can pineapple chunks packed in 100% juice, with juice
- 2 cups naturally flavored lime or lemon-lime seltzer or club soda
- Sliced citrus fruit, for garnish
1. Combine the wine, orange liqueur, orange and lime slices, and the entire can of pineapple, including the juice, in a large pitcher. Stir, and store in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (or overnight).
2. To serve, strain out the soaked fruit if desired. Pour the chilled seltzer into the pitcher, and stir to combine with the wine.
3. Serve over ice, and garnish with fresh sliced fruit.
Servings = 4
Pretty In Pink Sangria
(134 Calories)
- 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen sliced strawberries, thawed
- 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
- 2 (750 milliliter) bottles chilled rose wine, such as white Zinfandel
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 1 liter ginger ale
Stir the strawberries, lemonade concentrate, rose wine, and pineapple juice in a punch bowl until combined. Stir in the ginger ale just before serving.
Total Time= 5 minutes. Servings = 20
Top photo © Claudio Franco via Creative Commons