Ultimate Virgin Bloody Mary

This article first appeared on The Veggie Fixation.

With summer on the horizon, it’s a great time to start thinking about summery cocktails. Tomatoes are a great seasonal fruit/vegetable to incorporate into drinks. Bloody Mary is a perfect summer treat, but, I like to kick it up a notch! Although this particular recipe is non-alcoholic, Bloody Mary is commonly considered a “hair of the dog” drink that is supposed to help to cure a hangover. Really the vodka probably just helps to numb the pain and isn’t actually getting its drinker sober. The Ultimate Virgin Bloody Mary - Peaceful Dumpling

It’s become a traditional brunch cocktail, with a debatable origin. Some say it was created in New York in the 1920s after Prohibition; others say it dates back to 1939. Others still date Bloody Mary’s creation way back to the mid 1550s, supposedly when it was named after the ruthless Queen of England. Check out this liquor.com article if you’re interested in reading about the drink’s history.

Bloody Mary is traditionally tomato juice-based, so it also can be healthy (as long as it’s non-alcoholic). Tomatoes are loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants; it’s also great for bone health, cardiovascular health and anti-cancer support. It may even protect against breast cancer.

I decided to take it a step further and make this an Ultimate Bloody Mary by using a vegetable blend for even more nutrient density and adding some ginger for anti inflammatory support. While it is best to juice or blend your own vegetables, you can purchase bottled juice for convenience. If using bottled juice, be sure to read the ingredients first, and opt for organic, if possible.