Mary McCartney’s Bloody Mary Dip Is a Tasty Take on the Classic Cocktail

If you’re like me, you’re currently on the lookout for new holiday recipes that require the bare minimum of effort. While I might be willing to go the extra mile for an impressive main dish or dessert, I don’t want to spend my precious time on a dip. I do, however, want to impress my guests (even if it’s just my family) with every dish I present. Lucky for me, Mary McCartney shared some fun, easy recipes during her appearance on the Today show this week.

After a quick FaceTime with her dad (Sir Paul McCartney, no big deal), Mary demonstrates some holiday party dishes for Hoda and Carson. The line-up includes a raspberry cocktail and jeweled chocolate bark, but the bloody Mary dip is what caught my eye. She describes it as “a dip with all of the flavors of a bloody Mary,” so you can count me in.

McCartney starts by heating up a little olive oil in a saucepan and adding tomato purée (“instead of tomato juice”), balsamic vinegar for a bit of sweetness, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, and the magical ingredient: vodka. Then, McCartney stirs up the mixture and simmers it for about five minutes, then serves it warm or at room temperature. Mary also prepares focaccia skewers for dunking — a party toothpick loaded with celery, an olive, and a cute square of bread. It’s a fun nod to the many garnishes that often adorn a bloody Mary.

The cookbook author adds that she likes things “that are make-ahead and easy,” and this dip can be made the day before and reheated before serving. She also casually mentions that she made this same dip with Oprah Winfrey, so I’m willing to bet if it’s good enough for Oprah, then it is good enough for me. It also seems like an appetizer that would be easy to scale up or down depending on the size of your party.

Mary is sharing more vegetarian dishes on the second season of her show, Mary McCartney Serves It Up, on Discovery+. It’s streaming now and features guests such as her iconic father, sister Stella McCartney, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah. Now that’s what I call a guest line-up.

Get the recipe: Mary McCartney’s Bloody Mary Dip with Focaccia Skewers