There are two things you need to know. One, I am a salt girl. And two, I want my alcoholic drinks to be worth it.
Our Secret to the Zippiest, Savoriest Bloody Mary
Consequently, I love an extra dirty martini at night and a sinus-clearing Bloody Mary in the morning.
You can frequently find me begging a waitress to hand over “as many olives as you are allowed to give me,” or inquiring about the ingredients in the Bloody Mary mix before ordering.
This last part is crucial. I am not interested in a weak and watery, airplane-reminiscent Bloody Mary.
I want a Bloody Mary that has serious kick and tastes far more complex than just tomato juice and black pepper.
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We’ve made some truly delish Bloody Marys in the past with Sichuan peppercorns, but I yearned for the zippiest, savoriest Bloody Mary recipe I could find.
And I found it.
This Bloody Mary recipe delivers a feisty cocktail with lasting tingle from fresh horseradish and Chinese mustard. Plus, it’s got lots of umami depth from three supersavory seasonings.
Whether you’re hosting a holiday brunch or just looking to up your bartending game, this recipe will impress any and all Bloody Mary lovers—and even win converts.
How To Cocktail
The first-ever cocktail book from America’s most-trusted test kitchen includes essential classics, twists on old favorites (like this Bloody Mary); and brand-new test kitchen creations.How to Make the Zippiest, Savoriest Bloody Mary Mix
For sinus-clearing sipping, swap fresh horseradish for the jarred stuff.
Horseradish heat dissipates fairly quickly once grated, so the prepared versions can never compete with the intensity of fresh. That’s why we swap milder jarred prepared horseradish for a generous amount of the freshly grated root.
For extra pep, add Chinese mustard powder.
We include Chinese mustard powder for another layer of heady heat. This ingredient gets its eye-watering sting from allyl isothiocyanate, the same compound that gives horseradish (and wasabi) its pungency.
For savory depth, use Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, and fish sauce.
Worcestershire sauce is a Bloody Mary stalwart for good reason, but we didn’t want it to do all the umami lifting. So we bolster its tangy, steak-y flavor with equal parts Old Bay seasoning and fish sauce.
Old Bay contributes spiced flavors from celery seed and paprika, while fish sauce adds unique briney, caramelly notes.
Now, make a big batch and go garnish crazy! Sprinkle your cocktails with oven-fried bacon and top them with a skewered cocktail onion or four.
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Start Free TrialAbsolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too. I've done this using a rimmed sheet pan instead of a skillet and put veggies and potatoes around the chicken for a one-pan meal. Broccoli gets nicely browned and yummy!
Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too.
Amazed this recipe works out as well as it does. Would not have thought that the amount of time under the broiler would have produced a very juicy and favorable chicken with a very crispy crust. Used my 12" Lodge Cast Iron skillet (which can withstand 1000 degree temps to respond to those who wondered if it would work) and it turned out great. A "make again" as my family rates things. This is a great recipe, and I will definitely make it again. My butcher gladly butterflied the chicken for me, therefore I found it to be a fast and easy prep. I used my cast iron skillet- marvellous!
John, wasn't it just amazing chicken? So much better than your typical oven baked chicken and on par if not better than gas or even charcoal grilled. It gets that smokey charcoal tasted and overnight koshering definitely helps, something I do when time permits. First-time I've pierced a whole chicken minus the times I make jerk chicken on the grill. Yup, the cast iron was not an issue.