We use cookies and similar technologies to improve user experience, and analyse activities and performance. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. 
Recipe Detail Page
Pizza Cocktail
Spring 2023
This seemingly long ingredient list gives the finished drink layers of flavour complexity, including herbaceous notes from muddling tomatoes with the stem and/ or leaves attached. Nutritional yeast is available at grocery stores (including Whole Foods; look for brands like Bob’s Red Mill or Bragg, which also makes soybean-based Liquid Aminos flavouring), and has the cheesy flavour and crusty texture of oven-fresh pizza! Think about over-the-top Caesar garnishes to turn this into your own “snacktail.” Anything from a ham-and-pineapple spear to a skewer of cherry tomatoes and small bocconcini balls or a pickled pepper will personalize your “pizza” drink.
Makes 1 drink
1 1/2 oz vodka
1 tbsp (15 mL) dried porcini mushrooms
6 cherry tomatoes or 1 small tomato quartered, preferably with stem and/or leaves attached
4 leaves fresh basil, plus more for garnish (optional)
1 1/2 oz tomato juice
1/2 oz lemon juice
1/4 oz brown flavouring sauce, such as Maggi, Worcestershire, Bragg Liquid Aminos or soy
Dash hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco
Dash salt and pepper
Dash celery bitters (optional)
Lemon or lime wedge
Nutritional yeast
Pepperoni stick for garnish (optional)
1. Pour vodka into a glass measuring cup, add dried mushrooms and soak for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour at room temperature.
2. When ready to serve, muddle fresh tomatoes in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Clap the fresh basil leaves between your hands then drop into cocktail shaker, muddling with tomatoes. Press solids to extract as much flavour as possible, then remove large tomato and basil chunks from shaker.
3. Add vodka and mushrooms to shaker along with tomato and lemon juices, seasoning sauce of choice, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper, and bitters (if using). Fill shaker with ice and shake for about 30 seconds, until thoroughly chilled. Taste and add additional salt, pepper or hot sauce, as desired.
4. Rub citrus wedge around the rim of a coupe or martini glass, then dip in a saucer of nutritional yeast to coat edge.
5. Double-strain drink through a fine cocktail sieve into prepared glass. Garnish with basil leaves, a pepperoni stick or your favourite pizza toppings on a pick or small skewer.
Makes 1 drink
