A quick recipe for tomato and citrus blush

This wonderfully tangy drink makes an excellent alcohol-free alternative to a cocktail before lunch or dinner. It is best made with sweet, full-flavoured tomatoes, preferably vine-ripened, and a perfectly ripe mango.

• Preparation time: 10 minutes.
• Serves 4.

Ingredients:

Drink

• 1 ripe mango
• 500 g (1 lb) tomatoes, peeled, halved and seeded
• 250 g (1 c) watermelon chunks
• Grated zest and juice of 1 orange
• Grated zest and juice of 1 lime

To Serve

• Ice
• Orange and lime slices

Instructions:

1. Peel the skin off the mango, then cut the flesh away from the pit. Coarsely chop the flesh.
2. Put the chopped mango, tomatoes, watermelon, and orange and lime zest and juice in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Depending on the capacity of your blender, you may have to do this in 2 batches.
3. Half-fill 4 large tumblers with ice and pour over the tomato and citrus blush. Garnish with orange and lime slices. Serve immediately.

• Tomatoes, mangoes and watermelon all provide vitamin C, an important nutrient for healthy blood pressure, maintaining immunity and promoting healthy skin.
• Mango also provides beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, essential for good vision, especially in dim light.

Each serving provides:

• Key nutrients: 80 calories, 5 calories from fat, 1 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 2 g protein, 20 g carbohydrates, 3 g fibre, 10 mg sodium.
• Blood pressure nutrients: 65 mg vitamin C, 25 mg magnesium, 435 mg potassium, 22 mg calcium.

• For a summer starter, serve as a cold soup. Omit the ice cubes, orange and lemon slices, and swirl in a little plain low-fat yogurt.

Gazpacho Quencher: 

1. Skin, seed, and roughly chop 250 grams (1/2 pound) tomatoes, a 5-centimetre (2-inch) piece of cucumber, 1 celery stick, 2 scallions and 1 garlic clove.
2. Puree the ingredients with 250 millilitres (1 cup) tomato juice.
3. Stir in 10 millilitres (2 teaspoons) balsamic vinegar and 250 millilitres (1 cup) water.
4. Half-fill 4 tall tumblers with ice and pour in the drink. Serve with long celery sticks for stirring, and top with a sprinkling of chopped scallions and diced tomato.

This tasty drink is surprising healthy! Serve it at your next party as a refreshing beverage that's sure to impress.