As the British summer unfurls its warm embrace (pedants, we realise it’s not 20th June, but it’s 21°C out the!), the time will soon be ripe to indulge in the upcoming season’s bounty. The sun-drenched days call for refreshing sips that not only quench your thirst but also celebrate the vibrant produce of the Isles. Enter the summer slushie: a frosty concoction that’s as playfully silly as it is satisfying. 

Here, we’ve curated five delightful recipes that spotlight British seasonal fruits and vegetables, transforming them into icy treats that are perfect for sipping in the garden, at a picnic, or simply as a pause in your day. So, grab your blender, and let’s take a big, thirsty gulp of chilled bliss with these five summer slushy recipes. Aaaaaahhhhh…

Strawberry & Mint Majesty

Nothing heralds the British summer quite like the arrival of strawberries. These ruby-red jewels are the star of Wimbledon, sure, but really they’re ready to grace your glass a little earlier in the year, with beautiful British strawberries beginning to crop up in mid-May. 

Our Strawberry & Mint Majesty slushie is a regal affair, blending the classic flavours of British summertime with a minty freshness that dances cooly on the palate.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of fresh British strawberries, hulled
• A handful of fresh mint leaves
• 2 tablespoons of honey or to taste
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 cup of crushed ice

Method:

Blend the strawberries, mint leaves, honey, and lime juice until smooth. Add the crushed ice and pulse until you achieve a slushie consistency. Serve immediately, garnished with a sprig of mint and a strawberry slice.

Cucumber & Elderflower Elixir

The cucumber, with its crisp and cooling qualities, is a quintessential part of the British vegetable patch (or Pimms jug!). 

Paired with the floral notes of elderflower, this slushie is a sophisticated refresher that’s perfect for those increasingly balmy afternoons in the countryside or city park.

Ingredients:

• 1 large British cucumber, peeled and chopped
• 4 tablespoons of elderflower cordial
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 cup of crushed ice
• Sparkling water (optional)

Method:

Puree the cucumber, elderflower cordial, and lemon juice until smooth. Add the crushed ice and blend until slushy. For an effervescent twist, top with a splash of sparkling water. Serve with a slice of cucumber and a lemon twist.

Raspberry, Blackberry & Beetroot Blast

Raspberries, blackberries and beetroot are an unlikely duo that create a slushie with a stunning hue and a nutritional punch. The earthiness of the beetroot is beautifully balanced by the tart sweetness of the raspberries, making this slushie a conversation starter at any summer gathering.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of fresh British raspberries
• Quarter cup of British blackberries
• 1 small cooked beetroot, peeled and chopped
• 2 tablespoons of maple syrup or to taste
• Juice of 1 orange
• 1 cup of crushed ice

Method:

Combine the raspberries, beetroot, maple syrup, and orange juice in a blender and whizz until smooth. Add the crushed ice and blend to a slushie consistency. Pour into glasses and garnish with a few whole raspberries.

Apple & Blackberry Twist

As the summer wanes, blackberries begin to stud the hedgerows, and apples weigh down the orchard boughs. This slushie pays homage to the classic British crumble, with a tangy twist that’s as refreshing as a walk through the fields.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of British apples, cored and sliced
• 1 cup of fresh British blackberries
• 2 tablespoons of golden syrup
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 1 cup of crushed ice

Method:

Blend the apples, blackberries, golden syrup, and lemon juice until smooth. Add the crushed ice and blend until you reach a slushie consistency. Serve in tall glasses with a blackberry and apple slice garnish.

Pea & Mint Cooler

For something truly unique, this Pea & Mint Cooler is a celebration of the humble garden pea, elevated to new heights with the addition of mint and citrus. It’s a verdant, velvety slushie that’s as surprising as it is delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of fresh British garden peas, blanched and cooled (frozen is fine as a replacement)
• A generous handful of fresh mint leaves
• 2 tablespoons of agave syrup or to taste
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 cup of crushed ice

Method:

Blend the peas, mint leaves, agave syrup, and lemon juice until smooth. Add the crushed ice and blend until you have a fine slushie texture. Pour into glasses and garnish with a sprig of mint and a few whole peas.

Equipment

To transform these British fruits and vegetables into the quintessential summer slushies, you’ll need the right blender. While a commercial slushy machine is ideal for churning out consistently smooth and icy drinks, it’s not a practical option for everyone at home. Here’s what you can use to make these recipes at home:

High-Powered Blender

A high-powered blender is the cornerstone of any slushie-making setup. It needs to be robust enough to handle the crushing of ice to achieve that perfect slushie consistency. Look for blenders with strong blades and a sturdy motor. Features like pulse mode and variable speed control can also be helpful for fine-tuning the texture of your slushie.

Immersion Blender

For those with limited kitchen space, an immersion blender can be a good alternative. While it may require a bit more effort to get the ice perfectly crushed, it’s a great tool for quickly blending up the fruit and vegetable bases of your slushies.

Ice Crusher

If your blender isn’t powerful enough to crush ice finely, consider investing in a dedicated ice crusher. This tool can help you prepare the crushed ice before adding it to your fruit and vegetable mixtures, ensuring a smoother blend.

A Note On Measurements

You might have noticed that in our slushie recipes, we’ve used cups. When it comes to crafting the perfect summer slushie, the ease and speed of preparation are key. You want to be out there enjoying the sun, not stuck inside fiddling with scales and weights. Using cups is convenient here, especially when dealing with less precise ingredients like crushed ice. It’s about getting the proportions right without getting bogged down in the nitty-gritty.

Indeed, when you’re in the throes of slushie-making, often with ice melting at the speed of light, a quick scoop of a cup is much more practical than weighing each ingredient. It’s about keeping the process as cool and breezy as the slushies themselves!

The Bottom Line

Each of these summer slushies offers a unique way to enjoy the fruits and vegetables that grow on this green and pleasant land. They’re not just drinks; they’re a celebration of British summertime, in all its fleeting, sun-soaked glory. So, raise your glass and toast to the start of the season – with a slushie in hand, of course!

Or, with one of these iced summer coffee recipes, if you need a proper pick-me-up…