Although Singapore temperatures don’t drop to the lows seen in Europe and the United States during the winter months, that’s no reason to deny yourself the spicy, fruity warmth of traditional mulled wine. This speciality winter warmer has a unique taste and aroma that’s particularly appreciated during the festive season. Spiced, mulled wine has been popular since the Roman era, and you can opt for alcoholic or non-alcoholic versions of this drink. If you fancy trying out making your own mulled wine this Christmas, check out the following simple recipe.
What you need to make mulled wine
- Two small clementine oranges
- One lemon
- One lime
- Six whole cloves
- One cinnamon stick
- Three bay leaves
- One nutmeg
- One vanilla pod
- Two star anise
- 200g caster sugar
- Two bottles of Chianti or similar Italian red wine
How to make mulled wine
1. Peel large sections of peel from your clementines, lime and lemon, then place all the sugar in a large, heavy-based saucepan, add all the peel and squeeze in the juice of the clementines. Set the pan to medium heat and leave to warm through.
2. Add the cloves, bay leaves and cinnamon to the mix alongside between ten and 12 gratings of your nutmeg. Cut the vanilla pod in half along its length, then add enough red wine to the mixture to cover all ingredients.
3. Allow this mixture to simmer and infuse for a few minutes, so all the sugar is fully dissolved. Then turn up the heat and boil the mix for around five minutes to create an aromatic, thick syrup. This forms the base of your mulled wine and is the most important step in the process as it creates the required flavours. Using just a little of the red wine to make the syrup ensures that most of the alcohol is retained in this recipe, as boiling will burn off the alcohol content.
4. Finally, simply add the star anise and the remaining red wine and lower the heat to allow your mulled wine to simmer gently for around five minutes. Use a ladle to serve your spiced drink into heat-proof glasses and enjoy all the traditional flavours of Christmas!
Enjoy the perfect Christmas celebrations with foodpanda
Find all the finest seasonal recipes and foodie tips in the foodpanda magazine, so you’re never at a loss when entertaining friends and family. Mulled wine should be served immediately, but only takes about 20 minutes to prepare. It’s the perfect accompaniment for mince pies, Christmas cakes, or any other desserts.
