This recipe yields more ginger syrup than you'll need for the fruit salad. Add a spoonful to a glass of club soda, sparkling water, or iced tea for a refreshing summer drink.

　　Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr (includes chilling)

　　

Ingredients

Makes 4 servings

　　

For ginger syrup

3 cups water

　　2 cups sugar

　　2 cups thinly sliced fresh ginger (1/2 lb; from a 10-inch piece), left unpeeled

　　

For fruit salad

4 cups (1-inch pieces) summer fruit (such as mixed berries, melons, peaches, and/or nectarines)

　　3 tablespoons small mint leaves

　　

Make syrup:

Step 1

Bring water, sugar, and ginger to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan, then stir until sugar is dissolved. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove from heat and let steep 15 minutes. Pour ginger syrup through a sieve into a bowl, discarding ginger. Chill, covered, at least 2 hours.

　　

Make fruit salad:

Step 2

Toss fruit and mint with 1/4 cup syrup, or to taste.

　　Cooks' note:

　　Syrup keeps, covered and chilled, 2 weeks.