I want to start with this one since tomato season is running out, and this recipe really stands on the shoulders of good tomatoes. This combination is inspired by V8 and gazpacho, though it ends up as its own thing.

6 oz water
1 large tomato
½ cucumber
2 pieces celery
2 carrots
handful of baby spinach
lemon juice from 1 lemon (or balsamic vinegar)
6 ice cubes

optional (included in this recipe):
~3 tbsp chia seeds
~1/2 tbsp nutritional yeast
salt to taste

Yield: 2 medium servings or 1 large one.

If you’re using medium or small tomatoes you’ll want to add more than one. Making this in a Vitamix is very straightforward; just wash the vegetables, throw them in the pitcher (after washing), turn blender on low, and then turn it up to high for about 30 seconds. You may need to use the tamper to get it circulating at the beginning.

Other possibilities to add include olive oil, Tabasco, or herbs like basil. If you want it to look more like V8 you could leave out the spinach and add another tomato. In future posts I plan to detail some of these ingredients, and as I do I will add links from this post.

Updates: Additional things you can add to change this up include avocado, beets, cilantro, sun-dried tomatoes, and mustard. Or just go for a super-simple traditional tomato gazpacho.

Or follow along on Twitter or Facebook: