Charred Peach and Basil Sparkler with Honey and Ginger

Brush the peach halves lightly with olive oil and grill cut-side down over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes until deeply caramelized with char marks. Set one half aside for garnish wedges.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 ripe peaches, halved and pitted
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1 thumb fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• 120ml water
• 12 fresh basil leaves, plus 4 sprigs for garnish
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 750ml chilled sparkling water
• Ice cubes

Instructions

1. Brush the peach halves lightly with olive oil and grill cut-side down over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes until deeply caramelized with char marks. Set one half aside for garnish wedges.
2. Make a quick ginger-honey syrup: warm the honey, ginger slices, and water in a small saucepan for 5 minutes, then let it steep off the heat while it cools. Strain.
3. Roughly chop the remaining grilled peaches and blend with the syrup, lemon juice, and basil leaves until smooth.
4. Push the purée through a fine sieve for a silky base — you should have about 400ml of fragrant peach nectar.
5. Fill four tall glasses with ice and divide the peach base among them.
6. Top each glass slowly with chilled sparkling water and give one gentle stir to lift the purée into the bubbles.
7. Garnish with a basil sprig and a wedge of the reserved grilled peach on the rim. Serve immediately, while it fizzes.
8. Peaches and basil are a quietly classic pairing from Italy's north, where peach-based drinks have a noble history — the Bellini was invented at Harry's Bar in Venice in 1948 with white peach purée and Prosecco. This alcohol-free sparkler takes the Bellini's soul and runs it over the grill first, an idea any Italian nonna cooking ferragosto lunch outdoors would approve of: fire deepens the peach's sweetness the way sunshine deepens the fruit itself. The basil and ginger keep it grown-up — fragrant, barely sweet, and made for hot afternoons.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

• Calories: 110 kcal
• Protein: 1g
• Fat: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 27g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 24g
• Sodium: 10mg