There’s something about the combination of strawberry and rhubarb that feels like the very best of early summer — tart and floral, rosy and bright. Our Strawberry Rhubarb Soda takes that classic pairing and turns it into something effortlessly elegant: a silky strawberry purée and a gently spiced rhubarb compote, shaken together with a touch of simple syrup and topped with your favourite sparkling wine or soda.
The Strawberry Rhubarb Soda is the kind of drink that looks like it came from a cocktail bar but comes together in under half an hour, most of which is hands-off. Make the components ahead of time, keep them in the fridge, and you’ve got the perfect warm-weather drink on demand — brilliant for entertaining, but just as good for a quiet evening in the garden.
Strawberry Rhubarb Soda – Ingredients
Strawberry Puree
- 200g (about 2 cups) rhubarb, trimmed and cut into 2cm pieces
- 3 tablespoons caster sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 strip of orange peel (optional)
Simple Syrup
- ¼ cup caster sugar
- ¼ cup water
To Serve
- Sparkling wine, Prosecco, or soda water, to top
- Ice
- Fresh strawberry slices, to garnish
Strawberry Rhubarb Soda – Method
Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely before using. The syrup can be made ahead and stored in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Place the hulled strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice into a blender or food processor and blitz until completely smooth, about 30 seconds. Pass the purée through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing gently with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the seeds and pulp. The purée should be silky and deeply coloured — you should end up with roughly ½ cup. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Add the rhubarb, sugar, water, and orange peel (if using) to a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir to combine, then bring to a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb has completely broken down and the mixture is thick and jammy, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the orange peel, then transfer the compote to a blender and blend until smooth. Pass through a fine-mesh sieve for a cleaner result, or leave it slightly textured if you prefer. Allow to cool completely before using.
Fill four glasses generously with ice. Into each glass, spoon 2 tablespoons of strawberry purée and 2 tablespoons of rhubarb compote. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of simple syrup to each, depending on how sweet you’d like it. Give the mixture a gentle stir to combine, then top with sparkling wine or soda water. Garnish with a few slices of fresh strawberry and serve immediately.
Strawberry Rhubarb Soda – Recipe Notes
Both the strawberry purée and rhubarb compote can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in separate airtight containers or jars in the refrigerator. This makes the spritz very quick to assemble when entertaining.
For a non-alcoholic version, top with sparkling water or a good quality elderflower pressé — the latter adds a beautiful floral note that works particularly well with the rhubarb.
The amount of simple syrup you use will depend on the sweetness of your strawberries and your own preference. Start with a teaspoon per glass and adjust from there.
Rhubarb varies quite a bit in tartness depending on the variety and the time of season. If your compote tastes very sharp, add an extra teaspoon of sugar while it’s still warm and stir to dissolve.
Looking For More Recipes?
Check out Salt & Honey’s Youtube channel for more recipe, meal prep, and even a behind-the-scenes look of S&H!
Find the Elderflower Lemond Pound Cake recipe here!
Meal Prep Guides
Not only do we empower your recipe bank with gems like the Breakfast Smoothies and Beef Bourguignon but we have also developed a monthly meal prep guide. We utilize seasonal ingredients and the entire guide is centered around dishes with similar components.
Through the use of batch cooking, we want to make cooking easy, delicious and affordable. You can create the entire meal prep guide to plan your whole week or simply pick and choose which dishes resonate with you!
Make sure to check out our Youtube to find which we meal prep guide dishes we’re cooking for the week!
Check out our latest meal prep here: March Lego Meal Prep!
Additional Resources
Pinterest Board: Check out our mood board designed to provide even more inspiration for hors d’oeuvres. Here you can find more photos and videos covering our wide range of catering and event planning expertise. Whether you’re searching for food inspiration, food recipes, homemade decor, wedding planning ideas, and more, our mood boards will have your creativity soaring!
Instagram: Our feed provides a plethora of photo inspiration as well as DIY’s and tutorials on projects you can embark on at home. Whether it’s food recipes or even home decor, we will have what you’re searching for!
Substack: Monthly notes on slow living and seasonal flavors from Salt & Honey Catering and Events. Discover the recipes, garden tasks, and hosting tips that define our own event production. Here we will provide exclusive recipes, tips, and tricks only available on our free Substack!
Youtube Vlog: Ever wonder what the Catering and Event Production side of world looks like? Our “Beyond The Banquet” vlog series provides a peak through the curtain! We drop monthly short videos of the chaos and serenity behind the business. Come check it out now!