By Joanna  We had some friends over for brunch last weekend and ended up with some leftover Bloody Mary mix. A LOT of Bloody Mary mix. It got us thinking: What can we make with the mix besides a cocktail? We're dying to make Bloody Marys with some fresh, local tomatoes, but it's not quite tomato season in the Midwest, so we stuck to the classic tomato juice recipe with a healthy dose of horseradish. The spicy tomato mixture makes a good base for a variety of dishes. Here are some ideas: Dips - Give your shrimp cocktail a kick – Saute some garlic or shallots in olive oil. Thicken some Bloody Mary mix with crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce and add to the pan. Simmer for a minute or two, and cool to room temperature before serving, with shrimp of course.
- Twist up a classic dip by combining 1/2 cup Bloody Mary mix with 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 24 ounces of softened cream cheese and a handful of chives. Serve with celery sticks.
- Turn it into a tapas-style dip – Place a couple ounces of goat cheese in an oven-safe dish, cover with Bloody Mary mix and bake at 400 for about 20 minutes. Serve with grilled bread.
Soups - Make a quick and spicy gazpacho – Blend Bloody Mary mix with a piece of stale bread, a little olive oil and whatever vegetables you have on hand: celery, shredded carrots, peppers, a little garlic. Serve chilled.
- Spice up tomato soup – Saute some onion in olive oil, add diced tomatoes, Bloody Mary mix and some chicken or vegetable stock. Simmer for a few minutes, blend and serve. Finish with some fresh lemon and herbs.
- For a creamier tomato soup, mix in a little heavy cream before serving.
Salad - Whisk a little Bloody Mary mix with olive oil to make a quick salad dressing. Add it to some chopped celery, cucumber, bell peppers and red onion. Mix in some chopped green olives or crumbled blue cheese.
Grill It - Marinate skewered bites of chicken, steak or shrimp in Bloody Mary mix before grilling. Serve with the shrimp cocktail dip.
- Similarly, marinate skewers of mushrooms, peppers and onions in the mix, grill and serve with sauce and warmed tortillas.
Save It - If you prefer to simply drink your Bloody Marys (and who could blame you), save extra mix by pouring it into ice cube trays and freezing. Use the cubes to make an Inside Out Bloody Mary that eliminates the need for extra ice and prevents watered down drinks. Genius!
Recipe Inspiration Related: Fresh Tomato Bloody Marys in the Los Angeles Times (Image: Flickr user jasonlam, licensed under Creative Commons) | |
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