Recipe: How To Make Your Own V8 Juice (Easy Homemade Vegetable Tomato Juice) (2024)

Cooking with Less Fuss, More Flavor

Recipe: How To Make Your Own V8 Juice (Easy Homemade Vegetable Tomato Juice) (2)

Bye bye, V8 juice! This healthy, homemade V4 version will blow you away.


Would you rather have your refreshing summer vegetables raw? Check out my quick and easy gazpacho recipe. Is your garden full of green tomatoes that won't have time to ripen? Turn them into my super simple, super popular salsa-like green tomato relish. Or learn how to ripen green tomatoes indoors the really easy way.

I have a sheep farmer friend who recently told me that she swears by Campbell's V8 juice when working out in the heat. She says it's more rejuvenating than drinking water or Gatorade and literally makes the difference between wanting to keel over and being able to keep going for hours.

This is the kind of stuff I need to know—especially during haying season.

But Campbell's V8 juice is mostly made from water and tomato paste, plus a frightening amount of salt. (Since you lose so much sodium while sweating, this may be part of the reason for its revitalizing abilities.) So what would be better than V8? Homemade V8!

Technically my version is only V4, but you can add more vegetables if you like. Either way, this healthy, easy to make vegetable tomato juice will blow that V8 away.


To make it, all you do is chop everything up and toss it into a pot, simmer until soupy, then put it through a food mill (I have this one and love it). It's a great way to use up overripe, imperfect, or just plain ugly tomatoes, which you can sometimes find for a deal at farmers' markets. The first time I made it I used a bunch of tomatoes from my kitchen garden that had all cracked after a recent rainstorm and needed to be dealt with immediately.

As I started putting the cooked mixture through my food mill, it seemed like an awful lot of it was being left behind, so I whizzed it up in the blender first and then put it back through the food mill. The two cups of leftover pulp were happily gobbled up by our always ravenous chickens.

The unblended version is smooth and delicate and, if possible, tastes more like fresh tomatoes than fresh tomatoes actually do. It would be the perfect thing to serve at a Sunday brunch.

The blended version is thicker and richer and has more celery and parsley flavor. It's also better for you since you're drinking more of the vegetable goodness. Both versions are refreshing and delicious—and miles above anything you'll find at the store.

You can halve this recipe, but after the first sip you'll probably be sorry you did. As always, I urge you to seek out local and organic ingredients; they really do make a difference. Want to preserve your homemade juice in glass jars? See the canning instructions at the end of the recipe.



Recipe: How To Make Your Own V8 Juice (Easy Homemade Vegetable Tomato Juice) (3)

This juice makes great Bloody or Virgin Marys, too.

Gardener's Delight Tomato Vegetable Juice
Makes about 6 cups (48 oz)—Adapted from Gourmet via Simply Recipes

**Click here to print this recipe**

I doubled Elise's version on Simply Recipes and then applied my More, More, More philosophy, which included upping the onions and tossing in some fresh parsley.

You can also add even more vegetable goodness. Campbell's V8 juice also contains beet juice concentrate, along with celery, carrot, lettuce, parsley, watercress, and spinach juice concentrates. Since I can't bear to eat my beets any other way than caramelized with garlic I'm thinking about tossing in some carrots or Swiss chard (which is so easy to grow, even in containers!) or perhaps even some sweet red peppers.

If I'm going to be drinking this while picking up hay or otherwise sweating profusely, I double the amount of salt.

Ingredients:
6 pounds of vine-ripened, organic tomatoes (preferably heirlooms), coarsely chopped
2 cups chopped organic white or yellow onion
2½ cups chopped organic celery
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
(stems are fine)
2 Tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cumin powder
6 drops hot sauce, such as Tabasco or Sriracha

Splash or two of Worcestershire sauce
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions:
Put all the ingredients in a large stainless steel pot. Bring them to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until very soupy, about 40 minutes.

If a thicker juice is desired, first carefully blend the vegetable mixture in batches in a counter top blender, then put it through a food mill. For a smoother and more delicate juice, go straight to the food mill.

A sieve might work but it would probably take forever. Next time I'll try using my hand blender instead of the counter top blender. Update: The hand blender worked really well.

Chill for at least several hours before adding more salt or other seasonings. This juice will keep for at least a week in the fridge. I tried freezing some in a small plastic freezer container, but haven't defrosted it yet. I'll let you know how it comes out when I do.

Update: When I defrosted the frozen tomato juice it had separated some, so that you could see teeny bits of tomato. It tasted okay but looked a little odd. I put it in the blender, and that made it all bubbly and sort of orange, though after sitting in the fridge for a while it settled down.



For long term storage, this juice would probably fare better if canned in glass jars using the instructions below. If you use the frozen juice in a recipe, I'm sure it would work fine.

To preserve your juice in glass jars: Heat juice 5 minutes at 190°F (I love my digital kitchen thermometer). Do not boil. Add 2 Tablespoons lemon juice or 1/2 teaspoon citric acid to each quart jar. Add 1 Tablespoon lemon juice or 1/4 teaspoon citric acid to each pint jar. Ladle hot juice into hot jars, leaving 1/4-inch head space. Adjust two-piece caps. Process pints 40 minutes and quarts 45 minutes in a water-bath canner.


Got a bumper crop? More Farmgirl Fare tomato recipes:


Greek Salad Pitas with Baby Spinach and Quick Kalamata Olive Tapenade

Greek Style Panzanella Salad with Pan-Fried Olive Oil Croutons

Mexican Jumping Bean Slaw (and Tacos) with High Kickin' Creamy Tomato Dressing

Middle Eastern Vegetable Salad (Fattoush)


Savory Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Pesto Pie with an Easy Cheesy Biscuit Crust

(refreshing chilled tomato vegetable soup)

Saving the Harvest with No Sugar Green Tomato Relish


Still hungry? You'll find links to all my sweet and savory Less Fuss, More Flavor recipes in the Farmgirl Fare Recipe Index.

© FarmgirlFare.com, the juicy foodie farm blog where Farmgirl Susan shares recipes, stories, and photos from her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres—and there can never be too many tomatoes.

Recipe: How To Make Your Own V8 Juice (Easy Homemade Vegetable Tomato Juice) (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in V8 tomato juice? ›

It's made from a blend of eight garden vegetables: tomatoes, carrots, celery, beets, and greens. WATER, TOMATO PASTE, JUICE OF (CARROTS, CELERY, BEETS, PARSLEY, LETTUCE, WATERCRESS, SPINACH), WITH SALT AND SEASONING. *100% SUGARS FROM VEGETABLES.

How do you make V8 vegetable juice taste better? ›

The possibilities include ajwain, basil, black pepper, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and za'atar. Simply pour your drink, whisk in your spices of choice, and enjoy as-is.

What is the easiest V8 to build? ›

The easiest and cheapest V8 engine to rebuild and swap is the small block Chevrolet V8 built from 1955 to around 1999 or so. There is a huge aftermarket parts supply and they are relatively small on the outside but can easily be expanded to 6L.

What makes a V8 fast? ›

The power of eight cylinders allows for heavier hauls and higher towing capacity. More power also means quicker acceleration and speed. If you prefer a performance vehicle with more power, endurance, and an exceptional feeling off-road, the V8 engine is a great fit.

What are the 8 ingredients in V8 juice? ›

Shake well before opening.
  • Ingredients. VEGETABLE JUICE (WATER AND CONCENTRATED JUICES OF TOMATOES, CARROTS, CELERY, BEETS, PARSLEY, LETTUCE, WATERCRESS, SPINACH), SALT, NATURAL FLAVORING, VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID), BETA CAROTENE, CITRIC ACID.
  • Features & Benefits. ...
  • Preparation. ...
  • Storage & Handling. ...
  • Serving Ideas.

Is tomato juice good for high blood pressure? ›

Researchers have found that drinking a glass of tomato juice daily had blood pressure lowering effects. It also lowered low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol which is a harmful type of cholesterol.

What can you use in place of V8? ›

Gather the ingredients. Process tomatoes, onion, 3 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon celery, carrot, beet, green bell pepper, and garlic through a juicer. Stir together vegetable juices, water, lemon juice, 1 1/4 teaspoons sugar, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper in a large pot.

Is V8 vegetable juice the same as tomato juice? ›

The V8 juice is a better source of vitamins A and C, while the tomato juice is a better source of potassium and iron. A 1-cup serving of V8 juice contains 72 mg of vitamin C, 2,000 IU of vitamin A, 0.73 mg of iron and 469 mg of potassium.

Is it better to drink V8 warm or cold? ›

V8 +ENERGY drinks do not need to be refrigerated before opening. However, we recommend enjoying V8 +ENERGY chilled.

How do you make homemade juice taste better? ›

Adding a bit of citrus can really brighten the flavor of your juice. If you choose to make your juice at home, try adding a bit of lemon to your blend for an instant flavor boost. Oranges, limes, and grapefruit add a similarly light flavor.

What are the ingredients of the original V8 vegetable juice? ›

From the Package

VEGETABLE JUICE (WATER AND CONCENTRATED JUICES OF TOMATOES, CARROTS, CELERY, BEETS, PARSLEY, LETTUCE, WATERCRESS, SPINACH), SALT, NATURAL FLAVORING, VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID), BETA CAROTENE, CITRIC ACID.

What is the healthiest vegetable juice to drink? ›

The 12 Best Vegetables to Juice
  • Spinach. ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Parsley. ...
  • Cucumbers. ...
  • Swiss chard. ...
  • Wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is an edible grass that's often considered one of the most popular vegetables for juicing. ...
  • Celery. Celery juice has started to gain traction in the health world — and for good reason. ...
  • Tomatoes. Share on Pinterest.
Jul 14, 2023

Is V8 good or bad for you? ›

With a short and mostly recognizable ingredient list, V8 juice is a healthy option, says Crumble Smith, but it doesn't come anywhere close to eating real whole fruits and vegetables. “Unless you're getting the low sodium (V8), there's a ton of sodium in that,” Crumble Smith says.

Can you build a V8 engine? ›

It's not all that easy to build a V8 engine at home all alone if you have no knowledge of Automobile Engineering or Technology. However, it will be easier if the expertise of a mechanic or an engineer is sought. Building an engine requires a highly skilled technician or mechanic who understands Automobile Engineering.

How is V8 engine made? ›

A V8 engine often just called a V8 is an internal combustion engine with 8 cylinders. The engine has four cylinders on each side called banks. The two banks form a "V" shaped angle. In most engines, the two banks are at a right angle (90°) to each other, but some engines use a narrower angle.

How much HP can a V8 make? ›

(The number of cylinders and/or cylinder configuration does not determine power output. Automotive production V8 engines may range from about 60 to over 700 hp. Some V8 engines, specially constructed for competition, may exceed 10,000 hp.

Can you make a V6 a V8? ›

Sure. The parts exist from the factory to do the swap. You'd need the engine, transmission, driveshafts, wiring harness, engine mounts, radiator, fuel pump, and likely a number of other things to complete the swap.

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