Healthy Paloma Cocktail Recipe with Real Food Ingredients

I created this Healthy Paloma Cocktail recipe last year for a Cinco de Mayo team-building virtual cooking class. People loved it so much I had to share it with you! I LOVE grapefruits so Palomas are one of my favourite cocktails. The only problem is that I usually find them too sweet since traditionally they are made with grapefruit soda that gets its sweetness from artificial sweeteners and artificial flavour. I created this Healthy Paloma Cocktail recipe using real food ingredients like grapefruit, lime, sparkling water, maple syrup and of course tequila. If tequila isn’t your jam or you are pregnant, leave it out to create a fantastic mocktail.

Healthy Paloma Cocktail Recipe

(gluten-free, vegan, paleo)

Prep time: 3 minutes | Serving size: 1

Ingredients

• 2 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (1/4 cup)
• 1/2 oz 1 lime juice (1 lime)
• 2 oz sparkling water (1/4 cup)
• 2 oz tequila
• 1/4 oz maple syrup (1/2 Tbsp)
• Coarse sea salt for the rim
• Ice
• Grapefruit and lime wedges to garnish

Directions

1. Rim the cocktail glass by running a grapefruit wedge around the rim then dipping it into a shallow plate of salt. This step is optional depending on how you like your cocktails.
2. Pour the grapefruit juice, lime juice, sparkling water, tequila, and maple syrup to taste into the glass and stir.
3. Fill the glass with ice and garnish it with a grapefruit and lime wedge.

NOTE: I like to use freshly squeezed grapefruit and lime juice in this recipe. I find it makes the healthy Paloma cocktail really fresh and it adds the perfect amount of sourness. It also allows you to control the sugar content. If you are using grapefruit juice from a container, it is usually sweetened so you may not need to add the maple syrup.

Cinco de Mayo Cooking Class

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner! No matter how you plan to celebrate — attend a party, eat Mexican food with family, or simply break out the tequila cocktails — Cinco de Mayo has truly become a day of fun festivities. What better way to celebrate than with me and your colleagues! During a team-building virtual cooking class, I’ll show you how to make baked yuca/cassava chips along with homemade guacamole and salsa from scratch.

I also have the option to get extra festive and make this Healthy Paloma Cocktail!

This is a very popular class not only because of how tasty the recipes are but because it truly feels like a celebration while we make the recipes.  These recipes will be made with me step by step and all cooking class attendees will receive the recipes before the class. If you are interested in booking one of my online team builders, please send an email to info@jesselanewellness.com for pricing and to set up a time to discuss your team’s needs in more detail. You can also check out my Virtual Corporate Wellness Page for details on how my remote corporate wellness classes bring teams together across the country.

Cinco de Mayo Recipes to go with a Healthy Paloma Cocktail

Now that we have the drinks figured out, we should probably plan the rest of your Cinco de Mayo meal! Here are some yummy recipes that will go well with this cocktail.

• Mango Salsa Salmon with Chili-Lime Rice is such a fun way to instantly transport you to the tropics. I top the chili lime rice with oven-baked salmon and mango salsa that is bursting with fresh tropical flavours. I love the combination of savoury and sweet in this recipe. Try my recipe for Mango Salsa Salmon with Chili Lime Rice.
• Vegan Roasted Pumpkin Tacos are a fun twist on tacos. Adding pumpkin to tacos gives them a nice sweetness while still honouring this savoury Mexican dish. I make them with spicy roasted pumpkin, garlic refried beans, creamy guacamole, juicy tomatoes and fresh cilantro. Make my Vegan Roasted Pumpkin Tacos!
• Fiesta Beans and Rice is a filling vegetarian dish you will be making again and again. The combination of beans, rice, salsa, avocado and feta create a party for your taste buds. Beans and rice are the perfect vegetarian combination to create a complete protein profile. Get my Fiesta Beans and Rice recipe here.
• Fresh Corn Salsa Salad is perfect for Cinco de Mayo potlucks. It is bursting with fresh colours and veggies like corn, tomatoes, and green onions. The black beans make this Fresh Corn Salsa Salad filling enough to be a meal, but you can also use it as salsa and enjoy it with corn chips. Surprise your guests and try my Fresh Corn Salsa Salad recipe.

If you like my Healthy Paloma Cocktail you will want to check out these fun drink recipes.

I love creating cocktails for my Team-Building Virtual Cooking Classes but I haven’t shared most of them yet. Don’t worry, I will soon. While you patiently wait for me to share more healthy cocktail recipes, check out these yummy drinks.

• Iced Dandelion Vanilla Latte is a refreshing drink that is a detoxifying zero sugar alternative to iced coffee. I make it with roasted dandelion root tea which gives it a rich and full-bodied flavour with hints of caramel. Iced Dandelion Vanilla Latte is sweetened with stevia and flavoured with a little bit of vanilla, a splash of organic soy milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Check out my Iced Dandelion Vanilla Latte recipe here. 
• Gingerbread Orange Hot Toddy is a festive twist on this classic cocktail. It is perfect for the holidays and winter months because it will warm you up from the inside out. It gets a tangy sweetness from orange juice and classic gingerbread flavours from blackstrap molasses, ginger and cinnamon. The whisky is totally optional! Get my Gingerbread Orange Hot Toddy recipe here.
• Have you tried cold brew iced tea yet? As you know I’m a tea addict and I still do drink hot tea in the summer, but sometimes it is nice to have a cold refreshing drink. Cold-brew iced tea is perfect because you really can’t screw it up by over steeping the tea. It doesn’t get bitter the same way hot steeped tea does. You can literally forget about it for two days and it will still taste good. Learn how to make cold brew iced tea here.
• Chia Ginger Lemonade is your one-stop shop for all your pregnancy woes (or even if you are just experiencing an upset tummy). It has nausea-busting properties from ginger and lemon, lots of immune-boosting vitamin C and tons of digestion-enhancing fibre from the chia seeds. These natural remedies are perfect for keeping you feeling your best during your pregnancy while ensuring the safety of your baby – not to mention this is delicious! Get my Chia Ginger Lemonade Recipe here.