Healthy Bloody Mary Mocktail

A Bloody Mary is a likely cocktail at brunch or in the early afternoon, and here’s a way to get the energizing experience without the downsides of alcohol, like decreased energy and fuzzier thinking. 

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This mocktail recipe skips the alcohol, but retains the blend of flavors in a classic Bloody Mary, including saltiness, acidity from tomatoes and lemon juice, and spiciness from black pepper, hot sauce, and horseradish. 

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A Bloody Mary is known to be a meal in a glass with its substantial garnishes. Classic options include a stalk of celery, a wedge of lemon, or some olives, but you can load up on any types of garnishes you like, going as far as hard-boiled egg slices, grilled shrimp, cantaloupe slices, or cucumber slices.

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If you’re planning to have your Bloody Mary with a light meal, consider these options.

• ½ whole-grain bagel with low-fat cottage cheese
• Avocado toast on whole-grain toast
• Egg white muffins with chopped vegetables and feta cheese
• Cheese and whole-grain crackers or grapes

Here are some variations on the recipe.

• Extra spicy: add more horseradish and hot sauce to taste, and garnish with jalapeno slices
• Fresh garden herbs: add sprigs of parsley, rosemary, or basil
• Fresh vegetable version: make your own tomato juice with fresh tomatoes and add any other juiced vegetables you like such as carrots or beets
• Vegan style: add a splash of kombu broth and garnish with kelp.

For a lower-sodium mocktail, use low-sodium tomato juice and reduce the celery salt.

Recipe for Refreshing Bloody Mary Mocktail

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces of tomato juice
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, or juice from ¼ large lemon
• ¼ teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
• Pinch each of celery salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon of horseradish
• (Optional) classic garnishes: lemon wedge, cherry tomatoes, celery stick

Instructions: 

1. In a tall glass, add the tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, celery salt, black pepper, horseradish, and paprika.
2. Stir to mix.
3. Add the ice to a separate tall glass and pour the tomato juice mixture over the ice. 
4. Garnish as desired with classic garnishes or other garnishes. Serve.

Nutrition information: 40 calories; 0 grams fat; 600 mg sodium; 9 grams of carbohydrates; 1 gram of dietary fiber; 6 grams of sugar

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