
Vegan spicy ginger and turmeric shot with fresh ginger, turmeric root, unwaxed oranges, black pepper and olive oil – intense, fruity and pleasantly spicy.
You’ll need: blender · juicer · sieve
This shot is small but pretty direct in flavour. Fresh, spicy and with a warm heat that lingers.
Ginger root → galangal (similarly spicy, a little milder) Unwaxed oranges → lemon or grapefruit in moderation (less sugar, still plenty of vitamin C) Olive oil → avocado or a little creamed coconut Black pepper → Ceylon cinnamon or fresh chilli (a different kind of heat)
The ingredients aren't among the classic main allergens, but citrus fruit and black pepper can irritate sensitive mucous membranes; only give it to small children very carefully because of the heat, and during pregnancy it's usually unproblematic in normal kitchen amounts – if in doubt, check what's right for you.
Ginger contains gingerols and shogaols, among others, and turmeric mainly curcuminoids. These plant compounds shape the typical flavour, heat and colour.
Black pepper provides piperine and a distinctive spiciness. Pepper and turmeric are also a classic pairing in many spice blends, such as curry powder.
Oranges mainly bring vitamin C, plus some folate and potassium. They also contain natural fruit acids and, depending on how you process them, some fibre.
That varies from person to person. Ginger, turmeric, citrus and pepper can be pleasant for some, but irritating for others because of the heat and acidity.
Olive oil provides monounsaturated fats and makes the flavour rounder, taking the edge off the sharpness of the ginger a little.