Brined Tomato Infused Martini

Elevate your martini game to savory new heights by infusing the classic cocktail with the concentrated flavor of brined tomatoes. By first brining cherry tomatoes, you amplify their sweetness and umami richness before muddling them into a botanical gin.

Brined Tomato Infused Martini

Ingredients

Brined Tomato Ingredients:

• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 garlic clove, peeled and smashed
• 1 sprig fresh thyme

Martini Ingredients:

• Brined tomatoes from above
• 2 ounces dry gin
• 1 ounce dry vermouth
• Lemon wedge
• Pickled onion or small pickle for garnish

Instructions

1. Wash and dry pint of cherry tomatoes.
2. Pierce each tomato with a toothpick.
3. Heat 1 cup water, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp sugar, smashed garlic, and thyme sprig to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
4. Add pierced tomatoes to brine and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, up to overnight.
5. When ready to make cocktail, add 3-4 brined tomatoes to a shaker and muddle thoroughly.
6. Add 2 ounces gin and 1 ounce dry vermouth. Add ice and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
7. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass to remove any solids.
8. Express a lemon twist over drink and drop in as garnish. Skewer pickled onion or small pickle for further garnish.

The result is a martini with concentrated sweet and umami notes from the brined cherry tomatoes. Their flavor infuses beautifully into the botanical gin and vermouth base. The lemon twist adds a final pop of brightness while the pickled garnish provides the perfect salty, tangy contrast. For an extra dash of richness, add a barspoon of olive juice or dirty pickle brine.

With this creative preparation, you unlock a martini with velvety mouthfeel and savory depth of flavor. The tomatoes gain pleasant acidity and supple texture from the quick brine. Shake up a round of these impressive brined tomato martinis for your next cocktail party or as a special starter before date night dinner. The concentrate tomato essence adds a delightful and unexpected twist to the classic martini.

As always I am open to hear your take and your input. You can reach me at [email protected]