Sekanjabin Recipe
Sekanjabin is a sweet-and-sour Persian mint syrup that you mix with cold water, ice, and grated cucumber for the most refreshing summer drink. Ready in 20 minutes and keeps in the fridge for up to a month.
Servings: 12
Ingredients
For the syrup:
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 cup fresh mint loosely packed
To serve per glass:
- 1-2 tbsp sekanjabin syrup adjust to taste
- 1 large glass cold water and ice
- 1 medium cucumber grated (optional but highly recommended)
To serve as a dip:
- Romaine or butter lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off the heat. Add the vinegar and mint. Cover the pan and let everything cool completely at room temperature, at least 1 hour.
- Strain and store. Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove the mint, then transfer to a sealed jar. Refrigerate for up to one month.
To serve as a drink:
- Grate one medium cucumber directly into the glass and stir 1 to 2 tablespoons of syrup into the same glass with ice and water. Taste and add more syrup if you prefer it sweeter.
To serve as a dip:
- Pour the syrup into a small wide bowl and serve with whole romaine or butter lettuce leaves for dipping.
Notes
Sweetness: My family uses 1 to 2 tablespoons per large glass for a lightly sweet, refreshing drink. If you like it sweeter, start with 3 tablespoons and taste from there.
Vinegar: Distilled white vinegar gives the cleanest, most traditional flavor. Apple cider vinegar works but adds a slightly more complex, less neutral taste.
Mint: Use fresh mint, not dried. The syrup is infused off heat so the mint steeps gently and gives you a clean herby flavor without turning bitter.
Storage: The vinegar acts as a natural preservative. Stored in a sealed jar in the refrigerator, sekanjabin keeps for up to one month.
Nutrition
Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.001g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 22mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 159IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.2mg