Active Time

　　10 minutes

　　Total Time

　　1 1/2 hours

　　"Strawberries and Sambuca are such a wonderful combination," says author Gina Marie Miraglia Eriquez. "Add a little vanilla in there and you can't go wrong. And it's beautiful, too." We totally agree.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 8 servings

　　1 cup water

　　1/2 cup sugar

　　3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

　　1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

　　1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Sambuca

　　2 pound strawberries, trimmed, then halved or quartered if large

　　

Step 1

Bring water, sugar, and lemon juice to a boil in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into saucepan using tip of a paring knife and add pod. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then boil until reduced to about 1 cup, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in Sambuca.

　　

Step 2

Transfer syrup to a bowl and let cool completely. Stir in strawberries and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes to 1 hour. Discard pod.

　　Cooks' note:

　　Syrup can be made 2 days ahead and chilled. Bring to room temperature before adding strawberries.