^{March is full of celebrations – and when the crazy weekends start to dwindle down, a recovery drink is on the menu! Spicy, “nutritious” and fun Bloody Mary’s are the absolute best!}

Between my birthday, St. Patty’s day and a peek at some warmer weather, March is usually packed with all things fun and festive. I tend to spend my weekends with friends and staying up later than usual. Not to mention eating and drinking differently than usual. Waking up after a crazy weekend usually requires a Bloody Mary – the spicier, the better.

I completely understand that these are not for everyone. Tomato juice and vodka is an acquired taste for sure. It wasn’t until my later drinking years that I experienced the joy of a Bloody Mary and then I was hooked. In fact, the first time I even thought to try one was shortly after I did a tequila shot and chased it with tomato juice – and LOVED it!

When I started giving this“hangover cure” a try I was instantly hooked. If you know me, you know my love for all things spicy, and this was certainly a way to drink hot sauce and not be judged. On top of that it also tends to come with snacks and my favorite liquor so it’s a win-win-win in my book.

Bloody Marys have evolved over the years and tons of companies are taking a shot at bottled mixes with an added kick. I usually have mix in my fridge for a simple grab on those much needed Bloody Mary mornings. I tend to gravitate towards the thicker and spicier mixes too. I also realized that they’re so easy to throw together if you have the time and ingredients. That way you can make them to your liking, which is exactly what I did!

I think the other reason that Bloody Marys made it to the Side of Veggies page is also because, well, it’s a veggie based cocktail. It should be the official drink of the blog. In fact, this recipe is not totally off the beaten path that you’re going to find elsewhere – this one is just super spicy. They’re so easy to make and tweak to what you prefer – Me? I added chili paste for a fiery flavor! Aldi’s Carolina Reaper paste to be exact (start with a small amount). You can also toss in some Calabrian chili paste or garlic chili sauce instead. Most of the other ingredients are usually found in your fridge or pantry.

Now let’s not forget the other major selling point of a Bloody Mary…the garnishes. In some cases this can be a whole meal in itself. Believe it or not, if a restaurant loads them up, that becomes my meal and drink…all in one! My favorite garnishes include – shrimp, chicken tenders, olives, pickles, peppers, bacon, onion rings and celery sticks. Some other considerations would be meatballs, sliders, cheese, pepperoni sticks, cucumbers, grilled jalapenos and a lemon/lime wedge.

The one other thing that makes not only the presentation of the Bloody Mary next level, but the taste of it even better, is how you coat the rim. My personal favorite is either Tajin (chili-lime salt) or in this case, Old Bay Seasoning mixed with a little cayenne pepper! It just adds so much to the cocktail!

Here are some other recipes to consider when making these Bloody Marys:

Frozen Mango Tajin Margaritas

Slim & Spicy Jalapeño Margarita

Strawberry Aperol Spritz

Mexican Street Fruit Cups

Red, White & Berry Vodka Tonic

Everything Bagel(less) Brunch Salmon

Veggie & Goat Cheese Crustless Quiche

Saucy & Spicy “Chorizo” Shakshuka

If you’re still on the edge about the Bloody Mary, ease yourself into them. Knowing that this has good vitamins and minerals in the base of the mix and veggie snacks on the top, you can probably convince yourself that this is a hearty breakfast after a crazy night out. Plus the added heat to kick start your metabolism is a bonus. I never feel bad having my veggies in a cocktail on a Sunday morning, and neither should you!

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Simple & Spicy Bloody Mary

Print Recipe

March is full of celebrations – and when the crazy weekends start to dwindle down, a recovery drink is on the menu! Spicy, “nutritious” and fun Bloody Mary's are the absolute best!

Prep Time:10

Ingredients

24 ounces tomato juice
6-8 ounces vodka
3 tablespoons pickled jalapeno juice or olive/pickle brine
1-2 tablespoons hot sauce
1 tablespoon horseradish sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ lemon juiced
½ lime juiced
1 teaspoon pepper/chili paste
1 teaspoon celery salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Old Bay Seasoning for rim garnish

Garnish Ideas

pickles
shrimp
olives
tomatoes
lemon/lime wedge
bacon/salami
meatballs
celery
cheese wedge

Instructions

In a pitcher, mix all ingredients except garnishes and stir well.
Rim 2-3 tall glasses (or 3-4 short glasses) with lime juice and Old Bay Seasoning and fill each glass with ice. Pour Bloody Mary cocktail over ice and garnish with desired snacks.

Notes

How long does it last and where?

This is one of those recipes you can make in advance and add the alcohol when it’s time to serve. In fact, if the mix sits for a while in your fridge in a sealed jar, it tastes better.

Tips & Tricks

Like I said, making the mix ahead of time is great because it’s best served cold.

If you have a group that may not enjoy that these are super spicy, avoid adding the chili paste and cayenne until the time of serving. This way you can ask and gauge the tolerance of your guests.

Yes, you can add the vodka while making the mix but remember, depending on the crowd you may get some that prefer it with more or less liquor than others. This is also a great base for a virgin drink as well.

What are the different variations?

For this recipe I am only focused on making Bloody Marys, however, adding tequila turns this whole cocktail into a “Bloody Maria”. If you prefer gin in your drink, this is called a “Red Snapper”. If you want to mellow the whole thing out with beer, this is called a “Michelada”. The final one that I’m also into is called a “Bloody Caesar” which is made with clamato juice as the base and gives the drink a nice seafood hint!

They all sound weird until you try them!

Nutrition

Course: Drinks, Happy Hour, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: breakfast, brunch, Cocktail, Spicy, Tailgate, Tomato, Vegan, Vegetable, Vegetarian

Servings: people

Calories: 299kcal

Author: Michelle Cerutti