Mocktail Magic

Wine contains calories. A whopping 190 in a large glass in fact, so it’s time to find alternatives for January whilst we try and eat and drink a bit more healthily. This mocktail is no substitute for wine, but it looks and tastes so delicious you won’t mind skipping the odd glass of merlot.

On our healthy eating travels we discovered this recipe for beetroot and lime water from Russell Norman at Polpo. Despite being avid beetroot fans, we were sceptical at this combination and the lack of any added sweetness from either sugar or honey, but, the photos were so beguiling we had to give it a go.

Our scepticism led us to skimp on the beetroot, and use only a half sliced thinly rather than a whole, which was a mistake; the lime cuts through the earthiness of the beetroot perfectly. Our advice - follow the recipe and don't be afraid of the flavours. If you find the beetroot is a tad too strong, add more water.

We suspect this might be rather tasty with a splash of vodka too; at 13 calories a glass, a splash of vodka takes the calorie content to 85 calories a glass; a whole heap less than a glass of wine and no less delicious.*

Ingredients

1 beetroot, cleaned, peeled and cut into wafer-thin slices
2 limes, each cut into 8 
Water

How to make:
- Put the separated beetroot slices and lime wedges into a large but beautiful glass jug. Squeeze the limes gently before dropping them in, but don't squash them, because this will make the finished drink too cloudy.
- Add a handful of ice cubes and three-quarters fill with cold water. Stir, then set aside for half an hour, to give the ingredients time to infuse
- To serve, add another handful of ice, top up with more cold water and pour this beautifully pink drink into the prettiest small glasses you have.

See the original recipe here…..

For more information about the health benefits of beetroot, which are really quite impressive head here to lovebeetroot.co.uk.
* Calorie content based on 35ml of Smirnoff Vodka