Not A Paloma
A Paloma is a Spanish cocktail made with tequila, grapefruit soda, and lime juice. It’s one of my very favorite summer drinks; it is light and citrusy, and has a smoky kick.
This adapted recipe replaces the feeling, and some of the smell. I have replaced the tequila with vodka, which is low FODMAP. (Editor’s Note: Monash University has now lab tested tequila and it is low FODMAP in 30 ml amounts; feel free to use it.)
Monash has lab tested and approved 50 g of mixed citrus peel; while we do not know what the mixture is made up of – lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange? – we have found anecdotally that many do just fine with grapefruit zest.
You will notice that I call for either plain vodka or pink peppercorn vodka. To make the peppery version, combine 1 cup (240 ml) of vodka and 1 tablespoon of pink peppercorns in a Mason jar.
Seal and leave it on a counter for a week. Strain and use. The result is a smoky vodka with a little kick of peppery heat.
Muddling, by the way, is really just a way of crushing something. Herbs are often muddled for drinks, too. In this case the jalapeno will be crushed to break down its texture and to release all its spicy flavor.
Check out my article on my favorite cocktail tools – including an image of my favorite muddler! And if you are looking for a non-alcoholic mocktail, try our Cucumber Mint Lime Agua Fresca. I will be making both for Cinco de Mayo!
Not a Paloma
This drink is our attempt at creating a potentially low FODMAP version of the classic Paloma cocktail. And we think we hit it out of the ballpark!
Ingredients:
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Grated zest of one grapefruit
- 4 ounces (½ cup) plain vodka or pink peppercorn vodka
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) lime juice
- 2 cups (480 ml) plain seltzer
Preparation:
-
In the bottom of your cocktail shaker, combine jalapeno and sugar, muddle to almost a paste; it will still have small bits of jalapeno.
-
Add vodka, lime juice and ice, add the top of the shaker and shake like crazy, until the ice cubes break into little pieces.
-
Pour the vodka mixture, without straining, into two glasses, top with seltzer, and sprinkle grapefruit zest over the top. Serve immediately.
Notes:
Tips
- If you have never tried spirited beverages with a bit of heat, this might be your gateway drink! Try it!
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more. For a more detailed explanation, please read our article Understanding The Nutrition Panel Within Our Recipes.
