Make Pure Tomato Juice - Instantly And Sodium Free

My Idea serial ID: 00557

Save money, eat healthy, and help the environment.
If you enjoy tomato juice in the morning, or gourmet bloody mary's anytime, an inexpensive, always handy source for pure tomato juice is probably in your kitchen cupboard or pantry right now. The standard small (6 ounce)can of tomato paste you probably only use for pasta and other sauces can easily be made into delicious, additive-free juice simply by adding between one and a half to three cups (12 to 24 ounces) of ordinary cold tap water and mixing thoroughly. The resulting beverage will typically contain fully half the USRDA of both Vitimin C and Vitamin A, and one-third of dietary fiber, and many other beneficial compounds, such as Iron, Lycopene, etc.

Go ahead, read the label on the jars and cans of tomato juice available in the supermarket: you will see that they are all made from concentrate (read tomato paste) and virtually all but the most costly small producer brands contain significant added salt and other ingredients. Also take a look at the price. A couple bucks for the stuff in glass, somewhat less for the big, unwieldly and usually dented cans. Ever drop one of those big suckers? Then take a gander at the convenient little cans of paste selling for fifty cents to a dollar in the pasta section - they contain one ingredient: WHOLE RIPE TOMATOES. You will help the environment by using just one itty bitty recyclable steel can, have less bulk to lug home (using less grocery bags) and if the trend catches on, less bulk shipped to the supermarket as well. Not only that, but you can also easily choose an organic brand, italian tomato, or super cheap generics. Make it your way - as thick of thin as you wish. Start with a thicker mix for Bloody Marys for a less watery drink. You can add some sea salt to your taste, perhaps your favorite bottled water, substitute lemon or lime juice for salt, a few drops of olive oil, or what have you. And not only all that, no more questionably aged cans or jars of partially coagulated juice from the back of the fridge getting poured down the drain!

Two little tips for making things even easier: 1) start by thoroughly mixing a small amount of water into the paste and gradually incorporating the rest of the water; and, 2) open both ends of the can carefully, and the entire contents will usually slide right out very neatly, especially if you use the kind of opener that takes the whole top off the can.

Also makes a good base for Gazpacho Soup: just add chopped cucumber, fresh tomato, sweet onions and parsley whack it in the blender or food processor. Optionally add lemon or lime juice, salt, garlic, shallots, a few drops of vinegar to taste. Substitute watercress for parsley: use your imagination! Takes a few minutes - healthy and tasty.