SPOON-FED BLOODY MARY WITH GRILLED LEMON SKEWERS

Spoon-Fed Bloody Mary with Grilled Lemon Skewers image

Provided by Michael Chiarello : Food Network

Time 40m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

8 lemon wedges
4 pounds ripe tomatoes, cored and cut into 3/4-inch pieces, chilled
1 to 2 jalapeno chiles, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 cup celery, preferably inner stalks, diced small
1 cup fennel, diced small (can use cucumber instead)
1 cup ripe tomato, diced small
1 teaspoon salt
Ground black pepper
1 bottle vodka or gin, preferably kept in the freezer

Steps:

8 large toothpicks or small skewers
4 celery stalks, cut in 1/2
On a prepared grill or grill pan, grill the lemon wedges until lightly browned. Skewer the lemons onto toothpicks or skewers and set aside.
In a blender or food processor, puree together the tomatoes, jalapenos, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. You should have about 3 1/2 cups.
Pour the tomato mixture into a large pitcher and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Season the celery and fennel or cucumber and tomato with salt and and pepper, to taste, and toss to combine. Place a bit of the veggie mixture into each of 8 martini glasses.
Pour 1-ounce of chilled vodka over the vegetable mixture. Top with the spiced tomato mixture and garnish with a grilled lemon wedge and half of a celery stalk. Serve with a teaspoon.