Chilled Cucumber Mint Gazpacho Shots
Blended cucumber, fresh mint, lime, and a pinch of salt, served cold in small glasses. No cooking required. This works well on low-appetite days when you want something cool and hydrating without committing to a full snack. It takes about five minutes to make and keeps in the fridge for three days.
Ingredients
Ingredient notes:
- English cucumber - Thin-skinned and nearly seedless, which blends more cleanly than regular cucumber. No need to peel. Rinse well before chopping.
- Fresh mint - Dried mint doesn't work here. Fresh mint is what gives this its clean, cooling quality. Loosely packed - don't compress it when measuring.
- Lime juice - Fresh only. Lime balances the cucumber and adds brightness. Start with 3 tablespoons and adjust to taste after blending.
- Straining - Optional but worth doing for a cleaner result. A fine mesh strainer gives you a more refined, easily sippable texture. Skip it if you prefer more body.
Recipe Instructions
- Blend - Add cucumber, mint, lime juice, salt, and cold water to a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 60 seconds.
- Strain - Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl or pitcher, pressing gently to extract the liquid. Discard the solids. Skip this step if you prefer a thicker consistency.
- Chill - Transfer to a covered jar or pitcher and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve very cold.
- Serve - Pour into small glasses. Stir or shake before serving as the mixture will separate slightly as it sits.
- Store - Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Stir or shake before each serving.
Recipe notes:
Serve very cold Temperature is a significant part of what makes this refreshing. If you can, chill the glasses briefly in the freezer before serving.
On texture The strained version is more elegant and easier to sip. The unstrained version has more body and is closer to a smoothie. Both work - it's a preference.
Nutrition Per Serving
Serving Size: 1/2 cup (about 2 small glasses)
| Per serving | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 20 |
| Protein | 1g |
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrate | 4g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.5g |
| Sugars | 2g |
| Sodium | 80mg |
Based on 2 English cucumbers, 1/4 cup fresh mint, 3 tbsp lime juice, and 1/2 cup water. Values are for the strained version. Unstrained will be slightly higher in fiber. Nutritional information is estimated and provided for general guidance.