Tomato Sujeonggwa: A Refreshing & Healthy Drink
Macaron Lady’s Recipe: How to Make Refreshing and Healthy Tomato Sujeonggwa
Introducing Tomato Sujeonggwa, a unique healthy beverage that combines the sweetness of cherry tomatoes with the fragrant spice of traditional Sujeonggwa. Enjoy a smooth texture as the skins are removed, and easily create a special homemade drink with these simple steps.
Key Ingredients- 500g cherry tomatoes
- 125ml homemade plum syrup (maesilcheong)
- 300ml water
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1-2 bay leaves
- 1-2 cinnamon sticks
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, thoroughly sterilize the glass jars you’ll use to store the finished Tomato Sujeonggwa. Submerge the jars upside down in boiling water and allow them to fill with steam to ensure proper sterilization.
Step 2
After taking the jars out of the boiling water, let them air dry on the counter at room temperature. This allows any remaining moisture to evaporate, keeping the jars hygienic.
Step 3
Measure out 500g of cherry tomatoes, the main ingredient. Using a kitchen scale ensures accuracy, but a slight variation is acceptable. (e.g., 505g including stems)
Step 4
Wash the cherry tomatoes thoroughly under running water and remove the stems. Choosing fresh, firm tomatoes is the first step to a delicious Sujeonggwa.
Step 5
To make peeling easier, you can make a small cross-shaped incision at the stem end of the tomatoes. However, to minimize the loss of juicy pulp, I opted to just snip off the very tip of the stem end.
Step 6
Be careful not to cut too deep, as this can cause the fresh juice from the cherry tomatoes to escape. Just a tiny snip at the stem end is enough to facilitate peeling.
Step 7
Now it’s time to peel the cherry tomatoes. While you can make it with the skins on, peeling them results in a much smoother texture. This is ideal for a drink-like beverage, ensuring a pleasant mouthfeel and allowing the Sujeonggwa spices to infuse better. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil, then carefully add the prepared cherry tomatoes to blanch them briefly.
Step 8
After blanching for a short time, gently stir the tomatoes with a spatula and immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice-cold water. This rapid cooling helps loosen the skins for easy removal.
Step 9
It’s known that cooking tomatoes can increase the bioavailability of nutrients like lycopene compared to eating them raw. If you’re already making healthy Tomato Sujeonggwa, taking this extra step to enhance its nutritional benefits makes it even better.
Step 10
The blanched cherry tomatoes will now peel effortlessly. Carefully place the peeled tomatoes into the sterilized glass jars.
Step 11
The vibrant red tomatoes look beautiful in the jar, hinting at the deliciousness to come. This visual appeal also sparks ideas for future recipes, like making sun-dried tomatoes. Just looking at the tomatoes in the jar gives a sense of accomplishment.
Step 12
Let’s now prepare the flavorful Sujeonggwa liquid. Use 125ml of homemade plum syrup (maesilcheong). Homemade syrup adds a deep, natural sweetness unlike artificial sweeteners.
Step 13
In a saucepan, combine the 125ml of plum syrup, a pinch of salt, 1 Tbsp of sugar, and 300ml of water. Stir well. It’s a good idea to taste the liquid and adjust the sweetness by adding more sugar or plum syrup to suit your preference.
Step 14
The recipe recommends whole cinnamon sticks, but I only found pre-cut pieces at the store. I used about 6 small pieces to substitute for 1-2 whole sticks. After tasting, I found that this amount of cinnamon flavor was perfectly balanced and delicious.
Step 15
Bring the prepared liquid to a gentle boil. The wonderful aroma of Sujeonggwa filling your home is a delightful sign of what’s to come! Isn’t this simpler than you thought? Besides peeling the tomatoes, the rest is quite straightforward.
Step 16
Before pouring the liquid, divide the cinnamon pieces between the two jars and place them among the tomatoes. The warm color of the cinnamon complements the red tomatoes beautifully.
Step 17
Now, carefully pour the hot Sujeonggwa liquid over the tomatoes in the jars. At this point, the anticipation to taste the unique blend of tomato and Sujeonggwa flavors is high!
Step 18
Once the jars are filled with the liquid and tomatoes, seal them with lids and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Enjoy this refreshing and healthy Tomato Sujeonggwa once it’s cold!
