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A New Orleans Bloody Mary is vibrant, festive, and decorative. Serve them while you watch the big game, at brunch, or whenever you want one.
Here are more New Orleans cocktails to try: Ramos Gin Fizz, Brandy Milk Punch, New Orleans Hurricane, New Orleans Rum Punch, and Eggnog Daiquiri.
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Going out to eat in the French Quarter for brunch, Easter breakfast, or just partying for Mardi Gras, you'll see all kinds of variations of bloody marys being passed around.
I want to be clear, I do not like bloody marys. I've tried them several times, and I don't get it. I like my tomato juice in a sauce over some pasta, not in a cocktail.
However, being a private chef, it doesn't matter what I like; it's all about the client. So whenever my clients want them for their brunch parties, best believe my goal is the make the best bloody mary their guests have ever had.
The recipe below is one of the variations I make for them, depending on their preference.
Key Ingredients
Here are the fresh ingredients for a delicious Cajun bloody mary.
Tomato Juice
I like to use a vegetable-rich drink made with more than tomato juice. I use one that includes carrot, celery, parsley, and lemon juice, to name a few ingredients. This gives a more rounded flavor to my bloody mary recipe.
Vodka
The best thing about vodka is the neutral flavor blends very well with whatever it's mixed with.
Worcestershire Sauce
What's a bloody mary without worcestershire sauce? It adds a mild umami flavor to the drink. I like to add a few shakes, but you add as much as you like.
Fresh Lemon Juice
Squeeze your own lemons. Stay far away from the water-downed lemon juice in a bottle. Fresh juice is superior to anything in a bottle.
Horseradish
It adds a subtle spicy note that blends well with the other ingredients.
Hot Sauce
This is a must in all bloody marys served. We use Louisiana, Crystal, or Tabasco hot sauce in New Orleans.
How To Make New Orleans Bloody Mary Recipe
A Bloody Mary New Orleans recipe is pretty easy to assemble. I like to make everything in a large pitcher, making it easy to make in advance so all the flavors can marry together while it chills out.
Mix tomato juice, horseradish, vodka, lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce in a large pitcher.
Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon in a saucer. Add Cajun seasoning to another saucer. Dip the rim of each glass in lemon juice, then Cajun seasoning. Fill each glass with ice and with Bloody Mary mix. Garnish each glass with pickled okra and a celery heart.
How To Store Bloody Mary
Bloody Marys are best when drunk immediately, but they will remain fresh for 2 days in the fridge. You can make it the night before you plan on drinking it.
Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are some substitutes, and flavor builders, you'll need for this bloody mary cocktail.
- I know a bloody mary mix is convenient, but make your own with tomato juice and vodka. Then add the rest of your ingredients based on your personal taste.
- You can use fresh lime juice instead of lemon juice.
- Bourbon, Rum, or Gin will work instead of vodka.
- You can omit the horseradish from the recipe.
- You can substitute salt for Cajun seasoning for a salted rim.
- If all you have is bottled lemon juice at home, use it, but fresh juice is superior.
- Celery hearts are the small delicate stalks of celery—no need to buy celery hearts.
FAQs
Here are the top questions readers have about making a New Orleans Bloody Mary at home.
New Orleans is known for many drinks and cocktails like the Sazerac, Hurricane, and Ramos Gin Fiss, but Bloody Marys are not one of them. However, that doesn't stop them from serving a good bloody mary at any bar, hotel, or restaurant everywhere in the city.
You can use a variety of garnishes. The most common ones used are pearled cocktail onions, pickled green beans, fried or boiled shrimp, olives, pickled okra, and rubbing the glass with Cajun seasoning. I've also seen bacon and sliders for garnishes, so let your imagination run.
More New Orleans Recipes
Pair these recipes with your bloody marys during brunch for a big easy experience.
- New Orleans BBQ Shrimp and Grits
- Fried Chicken and Waffles
- Breakfast Bowl
- Grillades and Grits
- Buttermilk Biscuits and Turkey Gravy
Before You Begin
Before getting started, here are the steps I use to get organized.
Step 1: Sit all the bloody mary cocktail ingredients and tools on the counter.
Step 2: Start following the recipe and get ready for one of the best bloody marys ever.
Crafting a delicious Bloody Mary cocktail is an art that allows you to customize your drink to suit your taste. The possibilities are endless, whether you prefer it spicy or mild, heavy on the vodka or not, with extra garnishes, or simple and classic.
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📖 Recipe
New Orleans Bloody Mary
Ingredients
- 32 oz. tomato juice
- 2 tablespoons horseradish
- 1 cup vodka
- 3-4 medium lemons ¼ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons Louisiana hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon celery salt optional
- ¼ cup Savory Cajun Seasoning
- 1 Jar pickled okra garnish
- 4 celery heart stalks garnish
Instructions
- n a large pitcher, mix tomato juice, horseradish, vodka, juice of 3 lemons, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and celery salt.
- Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon in a saucer. Add Cajun seasoning to a saucer. Dip the rim of each glass in lemon juice, then Cajun seasoning. Fill each glass with ice and with Bloody Mary mix. Garnish each glass with a pickled okra and a celery heart.
Notes
- I know a bloody mary mix is convenient, but make your own with tomato juice and vodka. Then add the rest of your ingredients based on your personal taste.
- You can use fresh lime juice instead of lemon juice.
- Bourbon, Rum, or Gin will work instead of vodka.
- You can omit the horseradish from the recipe.
- You can substitute salt for Cajun seasoning for a salted rim.
- If all you have is bottled lemon juice at home, use it, but fresh juice is superior.
- Celery hearts are the small delicate stalks of celery—no need to buy celery hearts.
John Rhoe says
I make my own using nothing but instinct. This is surely a good recipe; follow it!
Kenneth Temple says
Hi John! If your instincts has served you right this whole time and you approve! I'm honored.