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    Home » Drinks » Rambutan Martini Recipe

    Rambutan Martini Recipe

    Sep 24, 2012 · by Valentina · 20 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Serving a guest a Rambutan Martini (AKA Rambutini), at your next dinner party, will make you a star! The exotic rambutan fruit lends itself to this refreshing, festive rambutan cocktail.Rambutan Martini, a Rambutini, in a martini glass with fresh rambutan and finger limes.

    A Rambutan Martini Recipe -- I'm calling it a Rambutini.

    Have you ever seen a rambutan? Tried one?

    Inspiration for the Rambutan Martini

    Many moons ago, I learned about these jewels, and recently I was sent a bundle of this super cool, exotic fruit from Melissa's Produce.

    A big pile of bright red rambutans.

    What is a rambutan? 

    It's a very beautiful and unique looking fruit that's closely related to a lychee.

    On Rambutan on wooden surface.

    What does a rambutan taste like?

    While its delicious sweet taste is similar to that of a lychee, it's slightly firmer in texture and a bit less sweet -- though still quite sweet!

    So, it's somewhat like an extra sweet grape, without the skin and a with a pit in the center.

    One partially peeled Rambutan.

    Where to find them?

    You should be able to find rambutans in Asian markets, and in many specialty produce sections of major grocery stores.

    When are rambutans in season?

    Their season seems to vary, depending on where they're grown, but it's roughly July through October.

    I haven't seen too many rambutan recipes, and I'm pleased with my first creation using them.

    One peeled Rambutan.

    This is a delightful tropical cocktail to serve at your next dinner party!

    Recipe Tips and Notes

    • You can also make a lychee martini, simply substituting them for the rambutan. You can likely find both fruits canned, and that will work, too. However, it's much more fun to use fresh, if you can find them.
      If you can't find rambutans at your local Asian market, you can order them here.
    • Did you happen to notice those pretty, unusual limes? Those are Finger Limes.
    • Please use a good vodka -- I like Ketel One or Belvedere.
    • Fun fact: Though rambutan may look prickly, they're not at all -- they're soft! Their name comes from the Malaysian word for hair, "rambut".

    Fresh peeled Rambutan with pit showing.

    Cheers with a Rambutan Martini! 

    I hope to make more rambutan recipes in the future, and when I do, I'll be sharing them with you here.

    More recipes using rambutans:

    • Tropical Rambutan Smoothie Recipe
    • Summer Rambutan Curry from Saveur
    Rambutan martini in a martini glass with a finger lime and rambutan on the rim

    Rambutan Martini Recipe

    Valentina K. Wein
    Serving a guest a Rambutan Martini (AKA Rambutini), at your next dinner party, will make you a star! This exotic fruit lends itself to this refreshing, festive cocktail.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print
    Prep Time 14 mins
    Cook Time 1 min
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2
    Calories 132 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ¼ cup sugar
    • ¼ cup water
    • 8 fresh rambutans
    • 4 to 5 ounces vodka
    • 2 teaspoons lime juice
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 cup ice

    Instructions
     

    • Make simple syrup. Add the sugar and water to a small sauce pan and place it over medium-high heat. Heat just until the sugar has dissolved, then pour this into a small bowl to cool. (This is called simple syrup.)
    • Prepare the rambutans. Peel and pit the rambutans. A ripe rambutan should be easy to peel with your fingers. (You might need to make a small cut at the top to get you started.) Be very gentle as you carefully remove the thin skin from the fruit.  It will likely come off in just a few pieces.
      Now use your fingers to dig into the flesh of the rambutan to remove the pit. It should very easily slide right out. Now use your fingers to dig into the lychee a bit to remove the pit.
      You’ll notice a very thin, white layer from the white pit, that will remain on the the inside of the fruit.  Don’t try to remove this — it’s very soft and doesn’t detract from the flavor of the fruit. (If you try to remove it, you might loose a lot of juice in the process.)
    • Mix all of the ingredients. Place the rambutans in a cocktail shaker. Add the vodka, lime juice, vanilla, ice, and cooled simple syrup. Cover and shake fairly vigorously for about 30 seconds.
    • Strain. Strain into two martini glasses and add a few of the pieces of the rambutan flesh that you strained out as well.
    • Garnish. Garnish each glass with a small lime wedge and part of the rambutan skin. (Use a paring knife to make a small slit in each, to attach it to the rim of the glass.)

    Notes

    Calorie count is only an estimate.
    Keywords fall apple granola, drinks for party
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

    Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda K. Smith

      September 25, 2012 at 9:29 pm

      TRY TITO'S HANDMADE VODKA TOO. IT'S OUTSTANDING!

      Reply
      • valentina

        September 26, 2012 at 6:40 am

        Oh, I will definitely try Tito's! Thank you, Linda! xoxo

        Reply
    2. madamelaw

      September 26, 2012 at 12:16 am

      Wow! This looks good. As an asian descendant, I think this is a must-try recipe. Your pictures look great too. I am definitely following you. 🙂

      Keep it up!

      Reply
      • valentina

        September 26, 2012 at 6:40 am

        So happy to have you following my recipes! Thank you! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Diana

      November 29, 2012 at 8:05 am

      i live in Indonesia, and I have Rambutan tree planted in my front yard! It's now in season, so it's really cool coming across your recipe 🙂 Never have Rambutan look so chic.. haha
      definitely going to try this! thank you.

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 29, 2012 at 3:31 pm

        Thank you, Dinana! You are so fortunate to have a Rambutan tree! Must be beautiful! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Natalie

      February 05, 2019 at 9:42 pm

      I never tasted Rambutan before, but it sure looks and sounds so interesting!

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 06, 2019 at 7:34 pm

        It's so good, Natalie - you'll love it!

        Reply
    5. Veena Azmanov

      February 05, 2019 at 10:13 pm

      This is so unique to me and looks very interesting. Something new to my addition of refreshments. Need to sip one immediately.

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 06, 2019 at 7:34 pm

        Yes! Thank you!.

        Reply
    6. Laura | Wandercooks

      February 05, 2019 at 10:29 pm

      Oh this cocktail sounds so refreshing! Haha did you know that the literal translation of 'rambutan' from Indonesian means 'hairy thing'!? Obviously named after those soft little spines, I always laugh because it's such a funny name for a gorgeous tasty little fruit! 🙂 x

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 06, 2019 at 7:38 pm

        How funny! I didn't know that and of course it makes sense and yes, it's ironic for such a pretty little fruit. 😀

        Reply
    7. Krissy Allori

      February 05, 2019 at 10:31 pm

      Nothing I like more than a drinks after a long day at the office. This is going to be something new and delicious to try. Cant wait!!

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 06, 2019 at 7:39 pm

        I hope you love it Krissy. Thanks!

        Reply
    8. Cliona Keane

      February 06, 2019 at 2:52 am

      As someone who is 37 weeks pregnant I am looking at this and dreaming! Definitely going on my 'drinks to make once I've popped my baby out' list!

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 06, 2019 at 7:39 pm

        Ha! I bet that's fun list. 🙂 Congratulations! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Jacqueline Debono

      February 06, 2019 at 4:02 am

      I have never tasted rambutans before but I think I saw them in the market in Phuket! This is such a cool drink! Need to see if I can find this fruit here in Italy!

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 06, 2019 at 7:41 pm

        So cool you've been to Phuket, and I dream of being in Italy. Hope you find a rambutan one day. 🙂

        Reply
    10. Karen

      August 01, 2020 at 4:06 pm

      Tried this drink just now and love it! Very refreshing, a little sweet, a little vanilla.
      My first suggestion was to try it with Tito’s, but was reminded that Tito’s is a sweet vodka and may make the drink too sweet. If you tried Tito’s let me know what you thought.

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 01, 2020 at 7:16 pm

        Hi Karen. Thanks so much for writing in and checking out/trying my recipes. I haven't tried it with Tito's. For some reason I've latched on to Ketel one and Belvedere. I should definitely try other brands. I didn't know that it had a sweetness to it. I shall try it and report back when I do. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply

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