January 1st is National Bloody Mary Day, and we’re excited to share this recipe for Bloody Mary Soup. Make it in advance, because it tastes better after melding for a day or so.

The recipe was developed by our colleague Hannah Kaminsky of Bittersweet Blog, a vegan cookbook author.

We’ve substituted real bacon crumbles for the vegan crumbles in her recipe, but you can just as easily switch back.

Of course the soup contains vodka, but not too much.

> The recipe is below..

> So are 25+ other soups made with alcohol.
 
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Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> 25 more Bloody Mary recipes, from a Balsamic Mary and a BLT Bloody Mary to Bloody Mary Oyster Shooters.

> The history of the Bloody Mary and the original recipe.

> The history of soup.

> The year’s 18 soup and stew holidays.

> The year’s 49 cocktail holidays.
 
 
RECIPE OVERVIEW

“One could argue, without any difficulty, that a classically mixed Bloody Mary is a soup,” says Hannah. “It already has the basic vegetal building blocks of tomato soup and seasonings, lightened and lengthened with chilled spirits and garnished with raw vegetables. It’s like a tipsy gazpacho served in a glass.

“Just layer in some caramelized onions, cook up the celery instead of saving it for a garnish, add a bit more vegan bacon for that all-important protein, and now it’s looking like a proper bowl of soup.

“To maximize the vodka flavor, add it towards the end, rather than let it cook out. If you prefer the latter, add it earlier on in the cooking process, along with the vegetable stock.”
 
 
RECIPE: BLOODY MARY SOUP

Equal parts comfort and sophistication, pulling inspiration from the classic Bloody Mary, this spiked tomato sou has the cozy soul of a slow-simmered stew and the bold, briny bite of a Bloody Mary.

With smoky bacon, a strong splash of vodka, and just enough heat to keep things interesting, it’s a bowl that warms you from the inside out.

If you have pepper- or chile-flavored vodka and want more kick to your soup, go right ahead.

Prep time is 10 minutes and cook time is 35 minutes.

Note that this soup is even better the next day. The flavors deepen overnight, making it a perfect make-ahead brunch or dinner starter, or a partner for a luncheon salad.
 
Ingredients For The Soup

 
For The Garnish

 
Preparation

1. WARM the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the diced onion and celery, sautéing until translucent and fragrant, 5-7 minutes.

2. STIR in the garlic, bacon crumbles, and Old Bay seasoning. Cook for another minute or two, until the garlic softens and the spices bloom.

3. POUR in the diced tomatoes and their juices, tomato sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire/soy sauce, horseradish/hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.

4. ADD the vegetable stock and bring the pot to a gentle simmer. Cover loosely and let it simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the vodka and simmer for another 2-3 minutes to mellow slightly.

5. CAREFULLY TRANSFER about half of the soup into a blender and thoroughly purée. Mix the smooth blend back into the main saucepan, stirring well to incorporate and create a creamy yet chunky mixture.

6. LADLE the soup into bowls and top with a sprinkle of crumbled bacon, a few slices of olives, some pearl onion halves, and the reserved celery leaves. Enjoy hot.
 
 
25+ MORE SOUPS MADE WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Cheers, to soup with spirit! Here are some examples of soups that incorporate alcoholic beverages.

Note that the alcohol typically cooks off during the simmering process, leaving behind complex flavors that enhance the soup’s depth.

Depending on cooking time, the actual alcohol content in the finished dish is quite low or negligible.

Beer-Added Soups

 
Wine-Added Soups

[1] Bloody Mary soup, something different for National Bloody Mary Day (photos #1 and #8 © Bittersweet Blog).

[2] The original recipe used vegan bacon crumbles, but we substituted the real deal (photo © Costco).

[3] Use petite diced tomatoes for better texture (remaining photos by Abacus).

[4] Use your favorite brand of tomato sauce.

[5] If you don’t care for Old Bay, substitute Cajun or Creole seasoning. If you do like Old Bay but don’t have any on hand, mix up your own with the *recipe in the footnote.

[6] We always have frozen pearl onions at the ready for any dish that calls for cooked onions. They add sweetness and texture and are already peeled.

[7] If you have spicy vodka, use it to put some extra punch into the soup.

 
General Tips:

 

[8] Enjoy Bloody Mary soup hot or chilled.
 
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*If you don’t care for Old Bay, substitute Cajun or Creole seasoning. It you do like Old Bay but don’t have it on had, substitute 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon celery salt, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne.

To approximate the Old Bay seasoning recipe, combine 1/4 teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika, 1/8 teaspoon celery salt (or 1/8 tsp salt + tiny pinch celery seed), 1/8 teaspoon dry mustard, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, 1/16 teaspoon cayenne (or more to taste), and a pinch each of: nutmeg or allspice, and cardamom (optional but closer to real Old Bay).

†Petite diced tomatoes are canned tomatoes cut into smaller, more uniform pieces than regular diced tomatoes. The primary difference is the size of the dice, which means petite diced tomatoes will have a smoother texture in a dish and distribute more evenly, while regular diced tomatoes have larger, more distinct chunks.
 
 

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