The Bloody Mary's original recipe is rumoured to date back to the 1920s with ingredients including tomato juice, vodka, and celery but there are endless variations out there today. While some say it acts as a hangover 'cure', we think it’s the perfect reviving drink to enjoy with guests on a sunny day.
An abundance of garnishes are key to making any Bloody Mary into a showstopper, and this version is extra special, with a swizzle stick of crispy bacon to nibble on while you sip.
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Yields:
2
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Cal/Serv:
170
Ingredients
2 rashers smoked streaky bacon
1/2 tsp. soft brown sugar
Pinch of cayenne
300 ml tomato juice
75 ml vodka
1/2 -1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp. celery salt
Worcestershire sauce, to taste
Tabasco, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
2 celery sticks
2 gherkin slices
2 lemon wedges, optional
Directions
Step 1Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Line a small baking sheet with baking parchment. Lay on the bacon and sprinkle on sugar and cayenne. Cook for 20-25min until golden. Cool on a wire rack to crisp up.
Step 2Mix tomato juice, vodka, lemon juice (to taste), celery salt, a few dashes each Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco and some freshly ground black pepper – adjust seasoning and spices to your taste.
Step 3Pour into 2 tall glasses over ice. Garnish with candied bacon, a celery stick and gherkin slice. Serve with lemon wedge, if you like.
The secret's in the juice
At least half of this zesty cocktail is made of tomato juice, so you want to use the absolute best for a fresh and bright drink.
Spice it right
Depending on your own (or your guests) preferences you can make this cocktail as spicy or mild as you like. Simply add a couple of extra Tabasco drops for a fiery kick.
What to serve it with
This traditional brunch cocktail is just the thing to pair with your favourite Eggs Benedict recipe (with the perfect buttery Hollandaise sauce) or a stack of waffles served with eggs. And if you are a true fan of the Bloody Mary then we have been inspired to create the perfect Friday night supper, Bloody Mary Pasta, which is ready in just 25 mins.
Per serving (including bacon):
Calories: 170
Protein: 4g
Total fat: 5g
Saturates: 2g
Carbs: 6g
Total sugars: 6g
Fibre: 1g
Our favourite brunch recipes to accompany a lazy morning
The GH Kitchen Team are Good Housekeeping’s resident recipe developers and all-round food obsessives. GH Kitchen Director Sarah Akhurst is our resident hosting pro and loves nothing more than putting on a foodie feast for friends. Our GH Kitchen Manager Linzi Pucino is our very own Italian food expert (originally hailing from the North East of Scotland!) and can be found working her way through midweek recipes that cover all bases, from haggis to ragu! Our Kitchen Editor Nadine Brown loves digging into the stories behind her favourite foods and enjoys applying her eclectic tastes to more modern, flavour-forward recipes - just don't give her too much chilli! Our Junior Food Content Produce Frankie Prichard combines a love of beautiful presentation and flavour-led, seasonal cooking in her recipe development, along with a passion for bringing people together through food. With a wealth of professional kitchen experience between them, they’re dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work every single time
