The holiday cocktail
Middle Eastern Spiced Eggnog with Locally Crafted Spirits
I never liked eggnog, or so I thought. Year after year I politely declined the holiday concoction, happy not to have to endure its bland ...
There is a certain amount of nostalgia infused into any homemade spice mix, and I can't deny that is the case with my Middle Eastern-inspired eggnog.
My countless journeys to that part of the world, discovering spices both sweet and savory, attest to my love of this region. Locally crafted spirits enhance these spices, adding a natural sweetness to the eggnog and infusing it with warmth.
The spices and spirits need ample time to meld into the dairy and egg base, so remember to make your eggnog at least 24 hours prior to serving.
Ingredients
SERVINGS: Approximately ½ gallon
- 4 green cardamom pods or ½ teaspoon of ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns or 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cinnamon stick (Ceylon preferred) or ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 whole nutmeg or ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup raw sugar
- 7 large eggs (fresh, local and pasture-raised strongly preferred), separated
- 2 cups organic whole milk
- 3 cups organic heavy cream
- ⅓ cup bourbon
- ⅓ cup aged rum
- ⅓ cup brandy or cognac
Preparation
Prepare the spice blend first. If you are using pre-ground spices, mix them together in a small bowl. If you are using whole spices, remove the seeds from the cardamom pod and place the seeds in a mortar with pestle with the whole black pepper. Grate in ½ teaspoon of cinnamon (I use a Microplane grater) and ½ teaspoon of nutmeg. Pulverize the spices with the pestle until finely ground.
Place the egg yolks, spices and sugar in a large bowl. Using a hand mixer on the low setting, beat until smooth and creamy. Slowly add the milk and cream and blend on low until smooth and silky, about 2 minutes. Add in the booze and stir.
Place the eggnog in a gallon Mason jar with lid, or a pitcher and cover with plastic wrap. Whatever container you use should have ample room to fold in the egg whites.
Beat the egg whites in a large bowl until semi-stiff peaks form, about 5–6 minutes. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the base. Chill, covered, for 36 to 48 hours before digging in.
Eggnog will keep for at least 2 weeks in the refrigerator, and it does get better with age.
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