Tomato Limeade Cocktail

Tomatoes are not just for Bloody Marys! This Tomato Limeade Cocktail is a garden in a glass. With tequila blanco as our base, we add fresh lime juice, a homemade tomato syrup, chile verde liqueur, and soda water. Somewhere between a Bloody Maria and a Tonic, it’s the perfect hangover cure, brunch cocktail, and unique Taco Tuesday drink!

Watch Me Make Tomato Limeade

How to Make Tomato Limeade

1. Add tequila, lime, tomato syrup, and chile liqueur to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a two glasses over fresh ice rimmed with spicy salt.
3. Top with soda water.
4. Give it a quick stir and garnish with cherry tomatoes.

How to Make Tomato Syrup

You don’t need any fancy equipment to make your own homemade tomato syrup. It’s kind of like making tomato sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 cup ripe tomatoes (heirloom or vine, roughly chopped)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 large pinch salt
• Optional: 2–3 basil leaves or cilantro stems (for a green note)

Instructions

1. Add all the above ingredients to a saucepan.
2. Simmer on low for about 15–20 minutes until the tomatoes fully break down.
3. Lightly mash.
4. Strain through a fine mesh sieve.
5. Store in the fridge for 2-4 weeks! That’s it!

Ways to Use Tomato Syrup

If you’re thinking, “Jules, why would I go through all the effort to make a whole bottle of tomato syrup for just one recipe?” Aside from the fact that this Tomato Limeade is AMAZING, you can also use tomato syrup in a ton of inventive ways.

• In other cocktails: Consider tomato syrup your Bloody Mary secret ingredient, use it as the simple syrup in margaritas, or mix it into a unique Tomato Gin and Tonic.
• Elevated mocktails: A good non-alcoholic drink is more than just juice and fizzy water. Oftentimes, the syrup is what makes it. Use this tomato syrup in mocktails like Gazoz, Hot Honey Citrus Spritz, and Bitter Citrus Soda.
• In dressings and appetizers: Add tomato syrup to salad dressings like vinaigrettes as the sweet component. Drizzle over mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil for a unique yet simple twist on a Caprese salad.

Tomato Limeade Variations

• Swap the tequila for mezcal if you want to try a smokier, charred tomato kind of flavor. Or use vodka instead for a more neutral spirit that lets you build lots of flavor.
• Amp up the garden flavors with ginger beer instead of soda water. It gives the cocktail a little more complexity and spice.
• Tomato Limeade Mocktail: To make this into a mocktail, skip the tequila and the chile verde liqueur. Instead of tequila, use more soda water. Instead of the chile verde liqueur, use a spicy jalapeño simple syrup.

Tomato Limeade Tips

• Make your tomato syrup ahead of time so it has plenty of time to cool. It will keep in the fridge for 2 to 4 weeks.
• Always use fresh lime juice. Such a simple cocktail relies on each ingredient being its best and most fresh!
• Chopping the tomatoes before simmering helps them break down quicker.

Why You’ll Love This Tomato Limeade Cocktail Recipe

• Hangover cure: It has a similar effect as a Bloody Mary for that morning after hair of the dog. The lime, tomato, and spicy liqueur will bring you back to life.
• Fresh, seasonal ingredients: I have been loving using fresh garden vegetables in my cocktails lately. The tomato syrup gives this cocktail such complexity and brightness and fruit can’t always achieve.
• Perfect for brunch: Especially with a cute cherry tomato garnish, this cocktail is the perfect drink for brunch. Because it’s a sweet-savory cocktail, it pairs perfectly with sweet-savory brunch food.
• Your new Taco Tuesday cocktail: When I say Taco Tuesday, you probably think of margaritas and margaritas only. This Tomato Limeade has tequila as its base and plenty of fresh lime juice, so it’s a fun and unique riff on the classic Tuesday cocktail. I mean, tacos loaded with pico de gallo are begging to be washed down with this limeade.