Tequila Mocking Goat

Looking for a refreshing cocktail with a hint of heat? This spicy lime and ginger recipe from Stephanie Izard features a syrup made with ginger, fish sauce, makrut lime leaves, cilantro, and Thai chiles. The fresh ginger is slightly sweet and gives the syrup a kick, but it’s the Thai chile pepper that brings the real heat. Makrut lime leaves perfume this drink with a hint of their citrus floral flavor. Lime leaves can be found in the produce sections of grocery stores, and are almost always available at Asian food markets. The fish sauce is the surprising inclusion here, but its funky salty flavor balances the sweetness of the syrup. And cooking with cilantro stems is a great way to reduce your food waste — the stems have lots of flavor.

You can make this syrup ahead of time, and then mix it with the tequila, lime juice, and soda water anytime you are ready. It makes for a refreshing cocktail you’ll want to sip all summer long.