Ingredients

• 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

Instructions

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.
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.