Directions
Michelada is a drink widespread throughout South America, a low-alcohol and thirst-quenching “cocktail” made with beer, lime, tomato juice, salt, chili, endless spicy sauces and then a thousand other ingredients. I recommend the rim of the glass of a Michelada must be strictly covered with salt and chili, a salty and spicy edge are essential to creating a game of flavors contrasting with the freshness of the lemon and the bitter taste of the Cerveza.
As you may have noticed it is the lighter beer-based version of the famous Bloody Mary, but made with South American ingredients such as lime, beer, tomato and chili. There is no original Michelada recipe, you could season this drink with Tabasco, with fish sauce, Worcester sauce, orange juice or whatever you prefer. You can also add prawns or smoked bacon or small pieces of blue cheese such as Roquefort. Clamato is often used instead of tomato juice, a tomato sauce dressed with clam broth and various spices.
It all depends on your tastes and you can indulge yourself with the condiments to put on top, from simple celery to croutons. But remember that the drink was born as a thirst-quenching drink, at the alcoholic level it is always a beer, so it can also be served as an aperitif and thirst-quenching drink before lunch. Also excellent to accompany brunches, high altitude grills and afternoon summer parties.
History of the Michelada
Michelada, also called Cerveza preparada, seems to have come from a certain Michel Ésper, a regular at Club Deportivo Potosino, where he always ordered his lemonade. Over time, the other patrons began to order the same drink and so Michel’s lemonade, Michel’s lemonade would become the michelada.
Ingredients to make the real Michelada
- 16 cl of beer
- 8 cl of tomato juice
- a pinch of pepper
- a pinch of salt
- 3 drops of Tabasco
- 2 drops of Worcester sauce
- 2 drops of soy sauce
- 3 cl of lime juice, half a lime squeezed
- salt and chili to hem the edge
How to make the Michelada
Cool a glass. Mix 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 of red pepper in a saucer. Wet the edge of the glass with a slice of lime and place the glass upside down, rotate and add salt and chili pepper to the edge. Press gently with your fingers to make it adhere, then gently shake the glass to remove excess dust. Pour the tomato juice into the glass, season with salt, pepper, soy sauce, Tabasco, Worcester sauce, mix with a spoon, add two large ice cubes, pour the beer and serve.
Other great aperitif cocktails that deserve your attention
Negroni, Mojito, Moscow Mule, Gin Tonic, Dark and Stormy, Daiquiri, Cocktail Martini, Spritz, Hugo, Americano.
Food Pairings
Paella, chicken curry, spicy chicken wings, fish tacos, sweet and sour pork, Cantonese rice.
