Summertime without a perfect drink is incomplete, right?  This Orange Crush Cocktail Recipe will unravel the perfect blend of sweetness with a tang of savory taste – a complete fiesta for the tongue. We all have had our favorite drinks, and this beverage will surely make it to most of these lists.

This recipe will be ready in three steps- just shake, blend, and pour. We are talking about the simple but tasty orange crush, the good old drink that never goes out of vogue.

It tastes great at any time of the day, be it a welcome drink or a cocktail. Served at breakfast, the orange crush will make the day more energetic. However, when served at a party, it will help you with your boost of adrenaline.

If you love vodka cocktails, you will surely enjoy Espresso Martini and this Pink Whitney Drink!

Orange Crush Cocktail

The specialty of this cocktail is that the oranges used here are ripe, pulpy, and freshly picked. In any part of the world, orange has its own identity. It somehow manages to squeeze its place either in desserts or in drinks. Apart from their good taste, oranges are also highly nutritional, especially freshly squeezed oranges.

For all the health enthusiasts, it may be their go-to drink. With its low-calorie levels, this drink can give them their daily dose of citrus.

In some parts of the world, the word, crush or drink is supposed to be orange crush only, as there is no other flavor. In Indian households, orange drinks are patented childhood refreshments. As we grew up, we moved on to give it a modern twist in both ways – virgin and non-virgin.

Pin the image below if you like this orange cocktail!

Orange Crush Cocktail Recipe

With a prep time as minimal as 10 minutes, this set of ingredients will serve 1.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of ice (cubes or crushed)
• 1 big fresh orange
• 2 ounces of vodka
• 1 ounce of Grand Marnier (preferably orange flavored)
• 3-4 ounces of any lime soda Sprite or 7 UP
• Orange wedges for garnishing
• Fresh Mint leaves

Instructions

• Procedure to make orange crush (Virgin)
• As a first step of the process, we will first need to extract fresh juice from the orange. Do not use pre-squeezed orange pulp or juice, as the taste may vary, causing the drink to turn bitter. Take one orange, cut it in half and with the help of a juicer or merely by using your hands squeeze out its juice. Make sure to add some pulp to the drink to add a zesty flavor.
• Next, take 2 cups of ice to be added to the drink. You can use crushed ice or cube-shaped ice. You can choose the type of ice that you prefer at your convenience.
• Add the ice and the orange extract with the pulp to any of your favorite glasses. You could ideally choose a tall one with a big mouth to mix the drink well. Add to it any lime soda of your choice. The most used sodas in this recipe are 7 Up or Sprite.
• Garnish it with a sprig of mint leaves, or you can also add crushed mint leaves to the top of the drink. This will give added aroma and give the drink an enhanced taste.
• Take another orange and cut a sphere horizontally from it. You can top the drink with an orange wedge sticking at one end of the glass. Drizzle some sugar on the edges of the chosen glass to give the drink some richness and elegance.
• Serve cold with a straw.
• Process of making orange crush (Non-Virgin)
• The preparation time for this process is around 15 minutes and will yield one serving.
• We will first need to extract fresh juice from the orange. Do not use pre-squeezed orange pulp or juice, as the taste may vary, causing the drink to turn bitter. Take one orange, cut it in half and with the help of a juicer or merely by using your hands, squeeze out its juice, and make sure to add some pulp to it to add a zesty flavor.
• Next, take 2 cups of ice. You can use crushed ice or cube-shaped ice. It completely depends on how you prefer it.
• In another glass, pour 2 ounces of vodka. To this, add 1 ounce of orange-flavored Grand Marnier. Adding flavored Grand Marnier can be skipped if you don’t like it. Non-flavored Grand Marnier lives up to the taste as well as the flavored version. Stir or shake this mixture well.
• Add the ice and the orange extract with the pulp to any of your favorite glasses. You could ideally choose a tall one with a big mouth to mix the liquid well. You can now add any lime soda of your choice ( 7 Up or Sprite) to this liquid.
• Garnish it with a sprig of mint leaves, or you can also add crushed mint leaves to the drink to give it an additional aroma and give an enhanced taste.
• Take another orange and cut a sphere horizontally from it. Top the drink with an orange wedge sticking it at one end of the glass. You can also drizzle some sugar on the edges of the chosen glass.
• Serve cold with a straw.

Some alternatives to try this cocktail with

• Instead of lime or lemon soda, you can use any bubbly liquid with a neutral base or flavoring. Tonic water, seltzer water, sparkling water, or flavors of sparkling water will all replace lime soda well.
• You can use grapefruit instead of oranges to make a crush, following the same procedure as a bitter or strong alternative.
• You can use jiggers to measure the amount of alcohol.
• If you’re allergic, you can skip mint leaves.
• Cointreau, Triple Sec, and Orange Curacao are some popular additional liquor types that can be used instead of Grand Marnier or flavored Grand Marnier.

And Voila! Just within minutes, you would have created an amazing beverage for any occasion. Oranges are not just summer drinks. Everyone enjoys them at any given hour, season, or gathering. This orange crush cocktail recipe will add the spark to your meal or party with its eminent flavor and exuberant color. Present it anywhere – while playing cards with friends or while sitting on a beach. It is sure to become your next go-to drink. This new way to present the traditional oranges will surely liven up your mood with a feeling that hits home.

If you are looking for a simple but flavorful recipe to relish on weekend nights, the homemade creamy Rasta pasta recipe is a great choice. The dish has its origin in the Caribbean Islands (Specifically Jamaica), which explains the colors and flavors in it. Though you can prepare this in just about 30 minutes, you will be surprised to note that this dish gives out a rich, creamy and spicy taste at the same time.

What is Exactly Rasta Pasta Recipe?

True to its Jamaican culture, Rasta Pasta is dominated by many colors, thanks to the colorful bell peppers used in it. Though pasta has its origins in Italy, the Rasta Pasta was first prepared in the Caribbean Island of Jamaica. Most of them believe that this dish was named Rasta Pasta, an ode to the Rastafarianism social movement prevalent on the island in the 1930s.

This dish was served as a vegetarian option in the initial days as people following this social movement didn’t eat meat or poultry.

However, as time evolved, most of the people of the Caribbean Islands started enjoying this dish along with jerk chicken or shrimp. Looking for a simple recipe to cook this creamy and comforting dish? You have come to the right place, then.

Some Alternatives to Rasta Pasta Recipe

• If you want to add more spice to your dish, you can also add a tablespoon of sliced jalapeno to the sliced bell peppers.
• If you want the traditional coastal flavors of the sea, you can use 1 cup of full-fat coconut milk instead of heavy cream.
• You can also add a cup of canned or fresh or roasted tomatoes for additional colors and flavors while adding the onions.
• Instead of using chicken breasts, you can cook a pound of shrimp, just as we explained with chicken in the recipe above.
• You can make this dish completely vegetarian as well. All you need to do is skip the chicken part completely and use vegetable stock instead of chicken broth while cooking the ingredients.
• It is important to cook pasta in salted water and take it out al dente, which means it shouldn’t be cooked entirely. The pasta will get cooked in the later stages of the recipe, so overcooking should be avoided. Please follow the instructions exactly to get your pasta cooked in the right consistency.
• If you love to experiment with different flavors, you can add both chicken breasts and shrimp to the pasta. You can reserve this rich dish when you are calling friends over or on special weekend nights.
• You can get authentic Jamaican Jerk Seasoning in almost all retail stores. However, you can make this at home when you have time. Store it in airtight jars so that you can use the seasoning whenever you need it. Almost all spices like cinnamon powder, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, salt, cayenne pepper, garlic, onion, thyme, and nutmeg, thyme, etc. make a part of this seasoning.
• Though penne pasta works best for this recipe, you can also use other types like Fusilli, Fettuccine, Rigatoni and more.
• If you don’t have green onions, you can substitute them with shallots for unique flavors.

Ingredients

• Penne Pasta – 1lb
• Boneless chicken breasts – 3
• Jerk seasoning – 2 tablespoons
• Salt – as needed
• Olive oil – 2 tablespoons
• Sliced bell peppers – 1 each of green, red and yellow (or orange)
• Sliced green onions – about 1/3 cup
• Minced garlic – made from 3 cloves
• Chicken broth – ½ cup
• Full–fat cream – ¾ cup
• Grated parmesan – ½ cup

Directions

• The first step of making Rasta Pasta is to ensure that you cook the penne pasta well. Usually, the instruction for the quantity of water to be used and the time for cooking would be mentioned in the packet. Follow these instructions strictly.
• Once pasta is cooked to the right consistency, drain all the water from it, and set it aside in a bowl.
• It is now time to season the chicken breasts so that all flavors seep into the meat well. Season it with 1 tablespoon of jerk seasoning and the required quantity of salt.
• Now, cook these seasoned chicken breasts on a skillet on medium flame for about 8 minutes. Before placing the breasts, apply about 1 tablespoon of olive oil on the skillet. Ensure you turn the sides at regular intervals. Switch off the flame when the breasts turn golden brown and the meat no more looks raw. Set aside the cooked chicken breasts to be relished along with the Rasta pasta that you are about to cook in the next step.
• In a pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sauté the sliced bell peppers. Don’t overcook them, as they need to be crunchy but soft. The bell peppers would be done in about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the minced garlic and some green onions to this mixture and sauté well. Save some green onions for garnishing the recipe at the end. Cook the garlic and onions for a minute before adding the remaining jerk seasoning to the pan.
• Once done, you can add the chicken broth and heavy cream to the mixture. Stir the contents well and allow them to simmer on medium-high flame for about 5 minutes. You will notice that the mixture becomes nice, thick, and creamy at this stage.
• Once the mixture reaches this consistency, add the pasta, freshly-grated Parmesan cheese and cooked chicken breasts in the pan. Stir the contents well. Switch off the flame and give all the contents a nice toss so that you get to taste all the flavors in a spoon.
• For the toppings of the Rasta Pasta, you can use the leftover green onion slices and more Parmesan Cheese.
• Original Jamaican-flavored Rasta Pasta is now ready to be relished!

Chicken Kiev recipe is a  dish made from chicken fillets rolled with bread and eggs. These can be fried or baked. In simple words, a chicken kiev is almost like chicken cutlet. Butter, eggs, bread, and chicken breast are the main ingredients used to make this super-hit main course dish.

While the taste is all classic and traditional, chicken kiev gives you a lot of room to try out different types of stuffing, as per your creativity.

How hard is it to make Chicken Kiev?

Before we proceed to tell you how to make the classic chicken kiev, here is a disclaimer. This dish is not suitable for beginners because it is slightly complex to make it. Making a perfect chicken kiev can only be mastered by professional chefs that have lots of experience. If you want to taste the goodness of chicken, garlic and butter in their finest forms, preparing a chicken kiev is the best solution.

Chicken Kiev Recipe

Ingredients:

1. Garlic cloves: 2 (minced or crushed)
2. Salt: as needed
3. Fresh parsley: 2 tablespoons (chopped)
4. Unsalted butter: 6 tablespoons (be generous for better taste)
5. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: 4 pieces (total 8 ounces)
6. All-purpose flour: 1 cup
7. Freshly ground pepper: 2 teaspoons
8. Eggs: 2 (beaten)
9. Bread crumbs: 2 cups
10. Cayenne pepper: 1 pinch
11. Oil: as needed (for frying)

Instructions:

1. Prepare Garlic Butter Mixture:
   • Crush garlic, salt, and parsley using a pestle and mortar.
   • Mix in butter until well combined.
   • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to blend.
2. Prepare Chicken Breasts:
   • Season chicken with salt and pepper.
   • Flatten the breasts and place ¼ of the butter mixture in the center of each.
   • Fold the ends over the butter, creating a tight pocket.
   • Roll sides to form a ball shape, ensuring the top is smooth and the bottom gathered.
   • Wrap each breast tightly in plastic wrap.
   • Freeze for 30 minutes to firm up.
3. Coating Process:
   • Prepare three bowls: one with flour and salt, the second with beaten eggs, and the third with bread crumbs.
   • Coat each chicken breast in flour, then egg, and finally bread crumbs.
   • Place on a plate, cover, and freeze for another 15-20 minutes.
4. Frying and Baking:
   • Heat oil in a deep frying pan to 350°F (177°C).
   • Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
   • Fry chicken in oil until golden brown on each side.
   • Transfer to the baking sheet, season with salt and cayenne pepper.
   • Bake for 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), indicating doneness.
5. Serving:
   • Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes on a serving plate before serving.

Chef’s Tips:

• Butter Mixture: The garlic butter is the heart of this dish. Ensure it’s well mixed for the best flavor.
• Chicken Folding: Proper folding is key to keep the butter inside. The top should be smooth, the bottom gathered.
• Coating: Ensure a thorough coat for a crispy exterior.
• Frying: Fry just until golden; they’ll continue cooking in the oven.
• Baking: Listen for the sizzle – it means the butter is melting inside, creating juicy flavors.
• Resting: Let the Chicken Kiev rest to allow the juices to settle, enhancing the taste and texture.

Pin the image below if you like this recipe!