Active Time

　　10 min

　　Total Time

　　10 min

　　

Ingredients

Makes 8 to 10 drinks

　　1 large (1-lb) seedless cucumber (usually plastic-wrapped)

　　2 cups water

　　2/3 cup sugar

　　1 tablespoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger

　　2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste

　　1 (720-ml) bottle chilled dry sake

　　2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger (optional)

　　

Step 1

Cut cucumber crosswise into three equal pieces. Peel and chop 2 pieces, then put into a blender. Peel 4 lengthwise strips from remaining piece, leaving stripes of green, then halve piece lengthwise and core. Thinly slice crosswise.

　　

Step 2

Add water, sugar, fresh ginger, and lemon juice to blender and purée until smooth. Pour through a medium-mesh sieve into a pitcher, then stir in sake, crystallized ginger if using, and cucumber slices. Chill, covered, until ready to serve, up to 2 hours. Serve over ice.