Vegetables in cocktails? Is this a thing? Absolutely! For veggie (especially beet lovers) and classic cocktail enthusiasts this is a dream come true. Beets are uniquely sweet, interestingly earthy, and vibrantly beautiful - a stunning addition to your favorite mixed drink.
Capturing the clean simple taste of a classic dirty martini, this cocktail "twist" contains a crisp and savory flavor with a subtle dash of sweet beet finish. Pickled beet brine contains a little garlic and a lot of dill, so it’s perfect for a dirty (or filthy) martini.
Plus- a Pickled Beet Dirty Martini is magical. Yes, magical! Like the "horse of a different color" from The Wizard of Oz, this drink's hue continually transforms into various shades of pink and red after the addition of skewered red pickled beets. For different colors of pink or red, use the gorgeous pink and white striped Chioggia beets for a light pink beet brine (used for this recipe) and use red beets for a dark crimson brine. If you use red beet brine, the color will be much darker. Chioggia beets are so beautiful and fun to use in recipes; however, they cannot always be found in markets. Look for pink beets (Chioggia beets are solid pink on the outside with pink and white stripes inside when sliced).
If you aren’t a fan of making homemade pickled beets, use brine from purchased pickled beets. However, store-bought pickled beet brine is often saltier, so you will need to adjust brine taste accordingly. Our Pickled Chioggia Beets are delightfully savory. This recipe uses plenty of garlic and dill to create a super yummy brine that you will definitely want extra dirty!
Pickled beets can be canned either roasted or raw; however, the color will vary with roasted beets. The flesh of roasted beets becomes a pale pink while raw Chioggia Beets maintain their bright pink hues. Choosing whether beets are raw or roasted is also based on preference. Raw pickled beets are crunchy; whereas, cooked pickled beets are smooth and tender. It’s up to you for the type of beet flair and flavor you wish to add to your martini!
When crafting this cocktail, we chose an affordable vodka with clean smooth taste. This delicious martini uses Tito’s Handcrafted Vodka, but you can use your preferred vodka. The taste is crisp and clean paired with delicious brine from Pickled Chioggia Beets.
Although you can always hop in your car for a supply run, you may want to stay in your pjs and order from home using a fabulous delivery service, such as Drizly. This inventive internet-based alcohol delivery service (known as the "Uber of liquor") is super helpful, and yes, they do check ID! Have a hankering for some wine, beer, or spirits but don't want to leave the comforts of your home or pjs? Pull up Drizly online or use the app to order your favorite ingredients and have them delivered without ever leaving your house.
We know that your heart will “beet” for this delightful martini, but if you’re in the mood for other fabulous cocktails using beets and/or are feeling adventurous for unique drinks, add these cocktails to your must-try list:
Turn Up the Beet: Roasted Beet Chipotle Bloody Mary - a fantastic way to incorporate more veggies into your favorite Bloody Mary recipe or try our recipe with a little extra chipotle spice!
Smokin’ Hot Beeta-Rita: Beet, Mezcal and Jalapeno Margarita - who doesn’t love a sweet and spicy margarita? This one is extra special using the natural sweetness of beets for a beet simple syrup paired with smoky mezcal and spicy jalapenos.
The Final Frontier: Beet “Tom Collins” Martini - this gorgeous drink is both aesthetically pleasing AND tasty. It contains fresh grapefruit juice with a splash or two of homemade beet simple syrup, and the result is out of this world!
Can’t decide which beet cocktail to try, check out 7 Tasty Beet Cocktails You Need to Try for National Cocktail Day!
PRETTY IN PINK: PICKLED BEET DIRTY MARTINI RECIPE
INGREDIENTS
2.5 oz Tito's Handmade Vodka*
1.5 oz pickled beet brine (2 oz or more for extra dirty)
splash of dry vermouth (optional)
skewered pickled beets
* Tito's vodka is vegan! It is made from 100% yellow corn and does not contain any animal products.
DIRECTIONS
Add vodka, brine, and dry vermouth (optional) to a cocktail shaker with 3-4 ice cubes.
Either drink on the rocks or strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with pickled beets and fresh dill.
Enjoy!
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