From En Mi Cocina Hoy: The Pisco Sour de Rica-Rica

The rica-rica plant of the Atacama desert. From Jaunted.com: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2013/10/24/165037/61/travel/Foreign+Grocery+Friday%3A+The+%27Rica-Rica%27+Herb+of+the+Atacama+Desert

I am going to let En Mi Cocina Hoy write this one for me. We were over there for a party the other night, and the host made these fabulous Pisco Sours with a spice called rica-rica. I had never heard of it, and I imagine most of you here in the United States haven’t heard of it, either.

It grows in the Atacama desert, and it’s a little like lavender mixed with cirtrus. The smell and taste are fairly slight, but it offers whatever it touches a slightly different, citrusy herbal accent.

Pisco sour de rica-rica
The Pisco Sour de Rica-Rica. From http://www.enmicocinahoy.cl/2014/09/pisco-sour-de-rica-rica/

For this Pisco Sour, our host steeped the pisco in rica-rica and let it set for a day. Then she made a traditional pisco sour. To make your own, combine with ice:

  • 1 1/2 oz pisco
  • 1 oz lemon juice
  • 3/4 oz simple syrup
  • 1 egg white (use a small egg. If you only have big ones, make two at a time.)

and dry shake before shaking with ice. Then float a few dashes of Angostura bitters and some more rica-rica on top.

The rica-rica didn’t change the flavor dramatically, but it added hints of sweet and herbal lemon that made me appreciate it even more.

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