Frozen virgin mojito with Ninja Slushi

A frozen version of the famous Cuban cocktail, where we filter the mint to ensure perfect mixing in the machine. During a first trial with whole leaves, the auger got clogged: I now always filter my preparation. The result is a well-set, very fresh slushie, ideal for sipping through a straw on sunny days. The balance between the acidity of the lime and the sweetness of the mint remains intact, but in a frozen and non-alcoholic format that everyone will enjoy.

Frozen virgin mojito with Ninja Slushi

Recipe by Camille Roos

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Non-alcoholic drinkCuisine: CubanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

people

Prep

10

minutes

Freeze time

45

minutes

Total time

55

minutes

A frozen and non-alcoholic version of the famous Cuban cocktail. Careful filtering of the mint ensures perfect mixing and a well-set slushie texture.

Ingredients

• 200 ml fresh lime juice (filtered)

• 150 ml cane sugar syrup

• 50 ml green mint syrup (or filtered mint infusion)

• 600 ml still water

• A few fresh mint leaves and lime slices (for glass garnish)

Instructions

• In a large pitcher, mix thoroughly the lime juice, cane sugar syrup, mint syrup, and still water. Still water is preferable because the mixing process cancels out the effervescence of sparkling water.
• If you chose to blend fresh mint with the water, you must pass the liquid through a fine sieve to remove all green residue. Leaf pieces freeze and can hinder the tank mechanism.
• Pour the smooth preparation into the Ninja Slushi tank, ensuring the level is well between the Min and Max lines.
• Select the Slush program (ideal for this non-alcoholic recipe targeting about 12 to 15% sugar), wait about 40 to 45 minutes until you achieve a frozen texture drinkable through a straw, then serve immediately.

Strawberry virgin mojito

Strawberry virgin mojito : Add 150 ml of finely filtered strawberry puree to the base mix (reducing the water slightly) before starting the Slush program.

The perfect texture of an alcohol-free mojito

The big challenge for non-alcoholic cocktails with the Ninja Slushi is achieving that well-set texture that doesn’t freeze into a compact block of ice. Without the antifreeze action of alcohol, sugar takes over to soften the preparation. That is why I recommend aiming for 12 to 15% sugar in your final mix. If you taste your liquid at room temperature, it should seem slightly too sweet: the cold numbs the taste buds a bit, and this ratio ensures that the slushie will remain malleable under the auger. I use cane sugar syrup here rather than powdered sugar, as it dissolves instantly and prevents crystals from forming at the bottom of the tank. If your machine beeps or the lights flash during mixing, it is often a sign that the preparation lacks a bit of sugar to keep the system from locking up.

Why filtering is non-negotiable

When we think of a mojito, we immediately imagine mint leaves muddled at the bottom of the glass with lime pieces. I wanted to reproduce this rustic visual aspect directly in the machine, and it is a mistake I won’t make again. The Slushi continuous mixing system is not designed for solid elements, even small ones. The mint pieces will freeze very quickly against the cold walls of the tank and clump around the mixing auger, causing it to strain unnecessarily. That is why I always pass my lime juice and mint infusion through a chinois or a very fine strainer. To keep the authentic and festive look of the Cuban cocktail, I much prefer adding a few beautiful fresh mint leaves and a slice of lime directly into the serving glass at the last moment. The taste is perfect, and the mechanism runs without the slightest effort.

Do you prefer the classic mint version or do you add red berries?

Frequently asked questions

Why does my virgin mojito freeze too quickly in the tank?

This is usually linked to a lack of sugar. Without the alcohol of a classic mojito to prevent total freezing, sugar acts as your only antifreeze. Add a little cane syrup and restart the program.

Can I use sparkling water like in a traditional mojito?

Technically yes, but it is unnecessary. The continuous mixing of the Ninja Slushi for over half an hour will degas the liquid anyway. You might as well use still water directly for the mix.

Which program should I choose if I decide to add rum at the end?

If you transform this recipe into an alcoholic mojito, you will need to switch to the Frozen Cocktail program, which is specifically designed to handle the lower freezing point of spirits.