No-Waste Ginger Shots and Ginger Syrup
If you’ve ever made ginger shots at home, you know the process leaves behind a heap of vibrant, fragrant ginger pulp—too good to toss, but often without a clear second use. That ends today. In this post, we’re turning that leftover ginger into liquid gold with a no-waste approach that gives you not only immune-boosting ginger shots but also a delicious ginger honey simple syrup you’ll want to drizzle on everything from toast to tea.
This recipe is all about maximizing flavor while minimizing waste, making it perfect for anyone trying to live more sustainably without sacrificing taste. The ginger shots are sharp, invigorating, and perfect for a morning boost, while the syrup is mellow, sweet, and warmly spiced—ideal for cocktails, desserts, or a soothing nighttime drink. With just a few ingredients and a little time, you’ll end up with two powerful products from one root.
Ginger is a powerful natural remedy known for its numerous health benefits. Consuming ginger can help alleviate nausea, reduce muscle pain and soreness, and support digestion by speeding up the emptying of the stomach. Additionally, ginger has immune-boosting properties, making it a helpful addition to the diet and a powerful ingredient to support overall wellness.
The best part? It’s incredibly easy. All you need is fresh ginger, water, and honey. No fancy equipment, no hard-to-find ingredients—just a blender, a strainer, and a pot. Whether you’re a wellness enthusiast or just someone who hates food waste, this two-for-one recipe is a keeper.
To make your no-waste ginger shots, start by roughly breaking up some fresh ginger. Add the ginger to a blender along with water, then blend on high until the mixture is smooth and frothy. Once blended, pour the liquid through a fine mesh sieve, nut bag or cheesecloth into a jar, using the back of a spoon or your hands to press or squeeze out as much juice as possible. Set the vibrant yellow liquid aside—that’s your ginger shot—and don’t throw away the pulp, because that’s the star of the next step.
To turn the leftover pulp into a ginger honey simple syrup, transfer the pulp to a small saucepan. Add one cup of water and one cup of honey to the pot, stirring well to combine everything. Turn the heat to low and let the mixture gently simmer for about 20 minutes. This slow simmering allows the ginger’s spicy warmth to infuse into the syrup while the honey sweetens and thickens it slightly.
Once the syrup has simmered, remove the pan from the heat and strain the mixture through the same fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the remaining pulp. Let the syrup cool, then store it in a jar or bottle in the refrigerator. Now you’ve got two delicious, versatile ginger-based creations—zesty shots for a quick pick-me-up and a soothing syrup for everything from drinks to desserts—all with zero waste.
Recipe:
Ginger Shots:
Approximately one cup fresh ginger
2 Cups water
Simple Syrup:
1 cup water
1 cup honey
Ginger pulp from ginger shots
Instructions:
Break up or roughly chop ginger. Add ginger to a blender with water and blend on high until frothy and mostly smooth. Strain through a nut bag, or fine mesh sieve into a jar. Save the pulp and set it aside for later. Add water and honey into a small saucepan on medium heat. Allow that to come to a simmer, add ginger pulp and turn the heat to low. Allow that to simmer for 20 minutes. Strain this into a jar using the same sieve or nut bag. Allow the syrup to cool and store in the refrigerator.
Enjoy!