The Best Salts to Stock Your Pantry and Make Your Food Shine

Salt is a transformative ingredient (if you’re in any doubt of that, see “Salt Fat Acid Heat”), but it isn’t just one monolithic substance. There are several different types of salt, and we don’t just mean kosher salt and sea salt. Technically, yes, all salts are primarily sodium chloride, but depending on where they’re harvested and how they’re treated, they offer a huge range of distinctive textures, colors, and flavors that makes them so fun to play with. Some can be used during cooking, but many are best highlighted as finishing salts, sprinkled over a dish just before serving.

For a long while, salt in general was vilified, much like eggs. But we’re glad to see it getting more respect, and even being celebrated (perhaps we owe a partial debt to Salt Bae too). Here, then, are some of our favorite kinds of salt, most of them naturally occurring, but with a few infused varieties included because like we said, they’re fun (and add tons of flavor to a dish)!

1. Fleur de Sel de Guérande, 8.8 ounces for $17.99 on Amazon

Amazon

Although you can find fleur de sel from southern France and Spain, some say that it originated in a town in the French province of Brittany called Guérande. This light and snowy sea salt is hand-harvested—and is, as a result, expensive—so it’s best used for finishing dishes; that way you can enjoy its crunch and flavor. We top Parker House Rolls with it or add it to steamed new potatoes for an extra spark. It’s also delicious sprinkled on sweets from caramels and chocolate mouse to ice cream sundaes.Try It

2. Light Grey Celtic Sea Salt,16 ouces for $7.92 on Amazon

Amazon

Celtic grey salt is made in the same ponds as fleur de sel and is also called sel gris. This unrefined variety is hand-raked out of the salt ponds (as opposed to being skimmed carefully from the top like its expensive cousin), its tint courtesy of the minerals in the clay lining the ponds. It’s cheaper than fleur de sel and makes a good table salt, but you’ll have to pinch it from a bowl because its moistness makes it tough to get through a grinder or shaker. You’ll find other types of gray salts on the market, but this one is highly rated.Try It

3. Hawaiian Alaea Red Sea Salt, 16 onces for $9.47 on Amazon

Amazon

This reddish-pink mix is a blend of sea salt and red Hawaiian volcanic clay (alaea). Iron oxide in the clay gives the salt its unusual color. Use this to cook kalua pig or season steak, or sprinkle on a poke bowl; one Chowhound warns that it’s a hard salt that doesn’t melt easily, which makes it good for precooking or crushing finely onto chicken or fish.Try It

4. Maldon Sea Salt, 8.5 ounces for $5.49 on Amazon

Amazon

This hand-harvested salt comes from the east coast of England. It has a distinct flaky texture and a relatively mild taste (though you can also buy smoked Maldon sea salt). We particularly like the flakes sprinkled on chocolate mousse.Try It

5. Himalayan Pink Salt, 2.2 pounds for $7.95 on Amazon

Amazon

This salt is mined in the Himalayan foothills and in addition to bags both coarse and finely ground, it’s often sold in chunk form with a grater. In any case, it picks up its pretty pinkish color from minerals like iron, and it adds a toothy bite to many dishes. You can also find it in large, flat blocks: some that can be heated and cooked upon, and some that are used cold as serving plates to impart a bit of saltiness to moist foods. It tends to be especially popular among paleo dieters, but we think everyone should keep some on hand.Try It

6. Persian Blue Salt, 65 grams for $21.50 on Amazon

Amazon

Much like another expensive Iranian foodstuff (caviar), this rock salt is expensive largely due to being rare. It appears blue due to the intense pressures exerted on the salt deposits, causing it to refract light in an unusual manner; when ground, the color is less intense, but there are still pale blue pieces visible, and its mild sweetness makes a nice finishing salt for special dishes, both savory courses and desserts.Try It

7. Kala Namak Black Salt Powder, 5 ounces for $8.99 on Amazon

Amazon

Often called black salt or rani black salt, kala namak is actually grayish-purple or pink; don’t confuse it with other black salts. It’s mined around India, and adds a distinct flavor to Indian fare like Jal Jeera, a refreshing drink made with cumin, mint, and lemons. Chowhounds also like it sprinkled on fresh fruit (such as watermelon) or mixed into raita. Its flavor has a sort of boiled-egg note, which comes from sulfurous compounds—and makes it a nice secret ingredient for vegan tofu scrambles and other vegan “egg” dishes!Try It

8. The Spice Lab Hawaiian Black Lava Salt, 1 pound for $9.95 on Amazon

Amazon

Unlike kala namak, Hawaiian black salt is truly black. It’s made by mixing sea salt with activated volcanic charcoal. Some claim it has detoxifying properties, and though we can’t vouch for that, we can say that it creates a dramatic effect when sprinkled over foods as a finishing salt. Incorporate it into a Halloween menu, or just stock it in your standard goth kitchen. Cyprus black lava salt is made in the same way, only with Mediterranean sea salt.Try It

9. Viking Oak-Smoked Sea Salt, 12 ounces for $9.95 on Amazon

Amazon

There are many varieties of smoked salts out there, but this one is smoked over an open fire of mainly oak wood (“in the same way that the Vikings smoked salt many years ago”), resulting in a “bonfire-like aroma” and naturally smoky taste, not to mention a toasty golden-brown color. Try using it as a dry rub on meat, but be careful, because a little goes a long way.Try It

10. Korean Roasted Bamboo Salt, 60 grams for $31.47 on Amazon

Amazon

Popular in Korea, this salt might be sold as jukyom, jook yeom, or Korean bamboo salt. It’s made by packing salt into a piece of bamboo, sealing the ends with mud, and heating the stalk in an extremely hot kiln. The salt’s then transferred into a new bamboo sheath and the process is repeated multiple times (usually either three or nine), supposedly to purify and enhance the product. You can buy it in large crystals, or finely ground. There are a lot of claims made about this salt—it’s an ancient Taoist cure-all; it inhibits the growth of cancer cells—but all we can say for sure is that it can be used as a standard table salt, albeit with a kala namak-like sulfurous nuance that gets stronger the more times it’s roasted. After nine roastings, it also takes on a purple tint. If it ends up having magical healing properties too, count that as a bonus.Try It

11. Chicken Salt, 4 ounces for $8.99

Amazon

While this may not have the same elusive allure or ancient pedigree of some of the other salts on this list, chicken salt is pretty magical stuff, and beloved in its native Australia (where it’s a popular fry seasoning, though they call those chips, of course). You can get chicken salt that actually contains chicken, but this particular brand is actually vegan (and gluten-free). It’s technically a seasoning blend, made from sea salt, turmeric, onion powder, and garlic powder, so you could easily make your own and adjust to your specific palate.Try It

12. Falksalt Wild Mushroom Salt, 4.4 ounces $6.99 on Amazon

Amazon

This brand of Swedish sea salt is actually harvested in Cyprus, and has some of the larger flakes around, which can be used sparingly to add a nice crunch and pop of flavor to food just before serving. It comes in a variety of infused flavors like garlic, rosemary, and citron, but wild mushroom is a favorite for the big umami boost it can lend to foods; Josh Ozersky once admitted to snacking on this by itself, but also recommended it sprinkled over pudding or crème brûlée (maybe not the mushroom flavor, but then again…you never know until you try it).Try It

13. Jacobsen Salt Sampler, $32.98 on Amazon

Amazon

If you want to delve even farther into the landscape of flavored salt, this sampler highlights a variety of single ingredients, including lemon zest, vanilla bean, pinot noir, and ghost pepper among them. Again, the salt flakes themselves are on the large side for a nice crunch and a bigger hit of flavor. Sprinkle them on dishes to finish with a flourish. You can also easily make your own infused salt, but this sampler is a great gift, whether to yourself or someone else.See It

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.

An earlier version of this post was published on July 29, 2008.

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How to Host a Harry Potter Themed Dinner Party

The first “Harry Potter” book was published back in 2007, but even after all this time, we’re always thrilled to spy another bit of news even tangentially related to the series—so imagine our delight to see two in one day: Kate Middleton’s lovely blue Beauxbatons-style dress (clock that cape), and the news of a Slytherin-inspired “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle” experience coming to Universal Studios later this year!

Honestly, it makes us want to cancel all our existing plans and pick up the books for the hundredth-odd time, or burrow down in blankets to watch the movies (actually, the blanket-burrowing sounds great for reading too). But these colder months toward the end of winter—if in fact it has an end—are also an especially perfect time to revisit this “Harry Potter” themed dinner party we wrote about back in October 2017. It’s just the thing to make you feel cozy and charmed, especially if you light some candles and cue up that iconic soundtrack, so we’re pulling it out of the archives and presenting it to all you fellow fans looking for something to do this weekend…

“Dumbledore remained standing, and a silence fell over the Great Hall. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and—most particularly—guests. I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable…I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!”–J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”

When J.K. Rowling first released “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” in 1998, I was the same age as Harry Potter, 11 years old. As I indulgently immersed myself in each new book in the series, I experienced my ‘YA’ (young adult) years right alongside Harry, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. All their magical firsts were my magical firsts: their first train ride aboard the Hogwarts Express, devouring Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, chocolate frogs, and “the lot;” their first sorting ceremony, “not Slytherin, not Slytherin;” and their first start-of-term feast, filled with every savory, fall comfort food and dessert imaginable cooked by Hogwarts house elves and magically appearing on empty trays and disappearing at the end of the feast (if only cooking and cleaning worked this way in real life).

I delighted in the fact that, as a college student, I regularly dined in a nearly century-old dining hall reminiscent of Hogwarts Great Hall. Co-ed teams even played pick-up matches of Quidditch across the lawn right outside the dining hall. My husband remembers fondly taking up the position of seeker, chasing down a human snitch about campus. In crazy fan fashion, we even incorporated into our honeymoon, a trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida. The stomach-churning, 3D broomstick ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, that we rode right at the start of our day tried its best to “stupefy” me, but a Dramamine later, I couldn’t be stopped from downing a mug of Butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks.

After the recent release of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” it seems certain to me that Harry Potter fans my age will continue getting to grow old alongside Harry and his mates. At the beginning of this September, I saw my daughter off to her first day of school, just as hundreds of Harry fans gathered #19YearsLater at the honorary Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station to commemorate the exact time, day, and year that Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Draco sent off their children for the first time to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. According to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the send-off took place September 1, 2017. While receiving my own letter to Hogwarts may be an impossibility, I have received the honor of being summoned by Chowhound to accio a Harry Potter inspired dinner menu. And so, in the words of Professor Albus Dumbledore in the “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” film, “Let the feast begin!”

Brews

Hot Butterbeer

Martha Martha

“Why don’t we go and have a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks, it’s a bit cold, isn’t it?”—J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” When you feel the first touch of cool in the air this fall, ‘tis the time to cozy up to the table with a mug of hot Butterbeer. Find it at the Three Broomsticks Inn in Hogsmeade or brew your own Butterbeer concoction from the comfort of your hearth. This homemade version of Butterbeer stays true to the original with the incorporation of melted butter, but spices it up with cinnamon, ground ginger, cardamom, and cayenne. Beware, while this beverage is non-alcoholic, wizards, witches, and muggles alike can fall under the influence of Butterbeer. Get the Hot Butterbeer recipe.

Pumpkin Juice

Fav Family Recipes

Imbibe-able at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or even at special events and feasts, pumpkin juice, the wizarding world’s equivalent to the muggle world’s orange juice, infuses arguably three of the most popular edible elements of fall—apple cider, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spices. While readily available throughout the US and Great Britain in the Harry Potter books, you will have to conjure up this sweet libation yourself. Super simple and quick to mix up; no potions class necessary. Get the Pumpkin Juice recipe.

Mains

Steak and Kidney Pie

In Literature

“Some people argue that the oldest pub in London is the White Hart on Drury Lane; others that it is the Angel on Bermondsey Wall, or the Lamb and Flag on Rose Street. All of these people are Muggles, and all of them are wrong. The oldest pub in London, as any wizard will tell you, is the Leaky Cauldron on Charing Cross Road,” reports J.K. Rowling from Pottermore. And at the Leaky Cauldron, all magical beings and even muggles are welcome, “though some of the conversations, not to mention pets, caused many an unwary drinker to leave without finishing his mead,” notes J.K. At the Leaky Cauldron many a hearty soup or meat pie can be consumed for two galleons or less. Until you receive your own Firebolt from Uncle Sirius and can fly on over to the Leaky, you can pop these precious, mini steak and kidney pies into a muffin pan and bake them in your own kitchen oven. Get the Steak and Kidney Pie recipe.

Game Pie

Yellow Chimney

A specialty at the Leaky Cauldron and the most expensive dish on the menu, Game Pie will cost you two galleons. This traditional meat pie dates back to Roman times and minces together hare, venison, pheasant, or partridge. While not the easiest to assemble for first-year students, you don’t exactly have to be an auror to track down the ingredients for Game Pie. You’ll just need to apparate yourself to a butcher’s shop or specialty grocery and then, “tuck in,” as Professor Dumbledore would advise. Get the Game Pie recipe.

Roast Turkey Legs

Let’s Taco Bout It

“Only Fleur Delacour seemed to be able to find anything to complain about. “It is too ‘eavy, all zis ‘ogwarts food,’ […] I will not fit into my dress robes.”—J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” Students are not hard pressed to find trays laden with large piles of meat that magically appear on the tables of the Great Hall. One of the said piles of meat is the quintessential roast turkey leg. This stick-to-your-ribs, herb-encrusted roast turkey leg is finger-licking good and will replenish your caloric stores after a whiz bang match of Quidditch. It’s okay if you get your hands messy, you can wash them off later in the girl’s bathroom next to Moaning Myrtle, but do watch out for trolls. Get the Roast Turkey Legs recipe.

Bangers and Mash

The Starving Chef

“‘I don’t blame you, dear,’ she assured Harry, tipping eight or nine sausages onto his plate.”—J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” Oh, to have grown up a Weasley child—or friend of one—and eat at the table of Mrs. Weasley, who fills up her children and their mates with affection and hearty helpings of food that’d comfort even the most ghoulish of us. Surely a staple at the Burrow, Bangers is a classic British dish, consisting of sausages, usually served with a side of Mash (mashed potatoes) and onion gravy. This Bangers and Mash with sides of bacon and fried tomato is an ode to Molly Weasley’s love filled, home-cooking and is a feast in itself. Get the Bangers and Mash recipe.

Desserts

Pumpkin Pasty

Ezra Poundcake

“Go on, have a pasty,” said Harry, who had never had anything to share before or, indeed, anyone to share it with. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way through all Harry’s pasties, cakes, and candies (the sandwiches lay forgotten).” ―J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” If you can bake a pumpkin pie, you can bake a pumpkin pasty. The pumpkin pasty is an adorable, hand pie filled with all the same pumpkin puree goodness and spices as pumpkin pie. Go on, have one and share another with a friend. Get the Pumpkin Pasty recipe.

Chocolate Frog

Ezra Poundcake

“What she did have were Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, Drooble’s Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and a number of other strange things Harry had never seen in his life.”—J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Whether it’s your first ride aboard the Hogwarts Express or your fifth, or you’ve had too much face time with a dementor-boggart whilst practicing your patronus charm, a Chocolate Frog will settle your nerves. Just hold on tight to it. Imbued with 70% Croakoa, a magical substance that puts a spring in its step, Chocolate Frogs have a tendency to leap out of hands. Since Croakoa is apparently impossible to find for us muggles, milk chocolate and peanut butter filling will have to do. Get the Chocolate Frog recipe.

Treacle Tart

Feast Of Starlight

“A moment later the desserts appeared. Blocks of ice cream in every flavor you could think of, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate eclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, Jell-O, rice pudding — As Harry helped himself to a treacle tart, the talk turned to their families.”—J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Treacle Tart so conjures up love for Harry that he even smells it when he is near Amortentia, the most powerful love potion in the wizarding world. A traditional British dessert, as well, Treacle Tart consists of shortcrust pastry and golden syrup, which gives it its trademark sweetness. Get the Treacle Tart recipe.

Related Video: This Magical Ice Cream Changes Color Before Your Eyes

This post was originally published on October 6, 2017; the introduction was updated on February 28, 2019.

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What Is the Difference Between Brown Eggs and White Eggs?

What Is the Difference Between Cage Free Eggs, Free Range Eggs, and Pasture Raised Eggs?

How to Make the Best Keto Chili

Making delicious keto chili is easy, and that’s a good thing—because chili is always fantastic, obviously, but also, the rampant popularity of the ketogenic diet shows no signs of abating any time soon. Witness the proliferation of MCT oils on the market, the popularity of bulletproof coffee, and the existence of keto fast food options when you’re out and about. Strict keto diet adherence is still easiest when you make your own keto-compliant food at home, and there’s definitely a bit of a learning curve, but it’s not hard to make satisfying keto meals. Take the aforementioned chili, for example—the perfect centerpiece of a keto Super Bowl menu or March Madness viewing party, or just the thing for a comforting weekend dinner. Follow a few simple guidelines and you can whip up a pot of keto chili that everyone will love (well, maybe not vegetarians).

Use Plenty of Meat

While the keto diet isn’t an excuse to eat mountains of meat with total abandon, it does allow for high meat consumption, and high-fat meat consumption too. So skip the super-lean ground beef and load up your pot with fattier ground blends and/or well-marbled cuts like rib eye. A mix of ground meat and firmer, bite-size pieces makes for a more interesting texture. (That said, there are meatless keto options too; more on those later.)

ButcherBox, $129/box

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Say Bye-Bye to Beans

If you’re already a Texan, or an otherwise devout member of the church of chili con carne, making keto chili won’t be too much of an issue for you, but if you love chili with meat and beans, you’ll have to make some big adjustments—namely, you’ll have to cut out the beans, which are high-carb. If you can’t bear to do it, you can substitute soy beans, which provide vaulable texture, flavor, and nutrients but only one net gram of carbs per serving.

Eden Organic Black Soy Beans, 12 cans for $36.31 on Amazon

Can't quit beans? Stock your pantry with these low-carb alternatives.

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Watch Out for Hidden Sugar

Lots of processed foods include a high amount of sugar (plus plenty of other things you don’t need), so beware cans of tomato sauce. Tomato paste is slightly better, and generally acceptable in keto chili recipes since you use a fairly small amount of it in relation to the total volume of other ingredients. And canned tomatoes in their juice are commonly called for, but make sure there is no added sugar in them.

Feel Free to Top It Off

Fear of fat is incompatible with the keto diet, so you can crown your bowl of keto chili with generous amounts of sour cream, cheese, and avocado! But…

Skip the Chips

Yes, chili is fantastic with corn chips and tortilla chips, but you’ll have to skip them if you’re keeping keto. If you’re really craving that crunchy finish, though, try some pork rinds! They’re basically just fat, protein, and salt (as always, be sure to check your labels). Alternatively, you can make keto cheese crisps for a little crunch.

Utz Pork Rinds, $6.49 on Amazon

Pork rinds are keto-approved substitutes for tortilla chips, breadcrumbs, and even pizza crust.

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Of course, if you’re more of a cornbread-with-chili person, you can try a keto cornbread recipe that uses gluten-free flour.

Best Keto Chili Recipes

Ready to get cooking? Check out some of these easy and delicious keto chili recipes.

Paleo Keto Chili

Gnom Gnom

This keto chili does call for beer—low-carb and/or gluten-free beer, of course—plus brewed coffee for a little secret ingredient kick. The flavor gets further complexity from lightly caramelizing the onions and browning the ground beef well. Get the Paleo Keto Chili recipe.

Instant Pot Paleo Keto Bacon Chili

Paleo Running Mama

This beefy chili adds bacon to the mix, plus bone broth, bell pepper, garlic, smoked paprika, and chipotle—and it can be made in your Instant Pot. Get the Instant Pot Paleo Keto Bacon Chili recipe.

Low-Carb Chili con Carne

Jennifer Banz

This keto chili uses both ground beef and chunks of stew meat for great texture and extra beefy flavor. (You could also try adding crumbled sausage in place of ground beef.) Get the Low-Carb Chili con Carne recipe.

Creamy Pumpkin Keto Chili

The Castaway Kitchen

This keto chili is totally tomato-free, but it does contain some surprising ingredients in addition to the usual ground beef, onion, and garlic—like diced radish, pumpkin puree, a little garam masala, and even avocado oil mayo to enrich the bone broth. Maybe not one for traditionalists, but what if you just called it soup? Get the Creamy Pumpkin Keto Chili recipe.

Vegan Keto Walnut Chili

Abbey’s Kitchen

While keto does usually mean meat, vegetarian and even vegan keto adherents do exist! Walnuts are heart healthy and said to help kick cravings, but they also mimic the texture of ground beef surprisingly well when finely chopped. This vegan keto chili is truly satisfying. Get the Vegan Keto Walnut Chili recipe.

Vegan Keto Chili with Soy Beans

Compassionate Keto

That said, if you have a nut allergy (or just think nuts in chili sounds too odd), try a vegan keto version that uses faux meat and black soy beans. Get the Vegan Keto Chili recipe.

Keto White Chicken Chili

Hey Keto Mama

Another tomato-free keto chili, this white version relies on chicken, cream, and cream cheese—it’s a rich, comforting bowl with a kick from cumin and green chiles. And best of all, it can also made in the slow cooker. Get the Keto White Chicken Chili recipe.

Related Video: How to Make Keto Cheese Crisps

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.

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Are 3D Printed Drinks The Cocktails of The Future?

Radicchio, Endive, and Anchovy Salad

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St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails That Are Better Than Gold

Whether you’re celebrating by heading to your favorite St. Patrick’s Day parade or just hanging out at home with family and friends, we’ve got an amazing cocktail for you. From holiday takes on all-time favorites to bright green punches, margaritas, and Bloody Marys, you’ll definitely be refreshed and ready to take on all of the St. Patrick’s Day activities that your heart desires.

Irish Mule

Galley/Hilton West Palm Beach

This zesty St. Patrick’s Day spin on the Moscow Mule is greater than gold (and it’s built in the glass, so you don’t even need a cocktail set). From Galley, the bar located in the Hilton on West Palm Beach, it will leave you refreshed and ready to take on the St. Paddy’s Day festivities!

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Irish whiskey
• 6 ounces ginger beer
• 1 ounce lime juice
• Lime wedges to garnish

Instructions:

1. Combine whiskey, ginger beer, and lime juice in your luckiest copper mug and stir.

2. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Modern Home Copper Moscow Mule Mug, $9.93 at Walmart

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Irish Whiskey on Drizly (prices vary)

Explore your options and find your lucky liquor charm.

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Porter Beer Float

HelloFresh

This drink from Claudia Sidoti, Head Chef at HelloFresh, just might be the most decadent on the list—and it’s delicious. Your friends will be clamoring for a taste and a photo for their Instagram feed! (If you want to get extra-fancy, try making your own lambic marshmallows for this drink.)

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream
• 2 bottles of dark beer (porter or stout)
• Marshmallows

Instructions:

1. Melt chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl for 30-45 seconds.

2. Stir to combine and use a spoon to drizzle over rim of glass.

3. Set aside to cool.

4. Fill each glass with 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream.

5. Pour dark beer over top just before serving.

6. Add a toasted marshmallow to earn bonus points at your St. Patrick’s Day party!

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Irish Bar Fight

The Garland

The Garland in North Hollywood’s signature restaurant, The Front Yard, is starting a scuffle with their drink, the Irish Bar Fight. This light, refreshing cocktail will have you ready to do a jig (but hopefully not throw any punches)!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces whiskey
• 1/2 ounce amaro
• 1/2 ounce orange curacao
• 1/4 ounce lime
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup

Instructions:

1. Combine ingredients in in a mixing tin and shake.

2. Strain into glass with one large ice cube.

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Gaelic Grasshopper

Seamstress NYC

This drink is like a mint chocolate cake in a glass—and it’s delicious! Created by Pamela Wiznitzer of Seamstress NYC, if this cocktail doesn’t bring you luck, it will definitely bring you joy.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Irish cream liqueur
• 1 ounce Irish whiskey
• 1/2 ounce creme de cacao
• 1/2 ounce mint liquor

Instructions:

1. Combine ingredients in a mixing tin and shake lightly.

2. Strain over crushed ice.

3. Garnish with mint and shaved chocolate.

OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler, $8.99 on Amazon

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Youth Serum

Del Frisco’s Grille Irvine

Aptly named, this drink from Del Frisco’s Grille Irvine features cucumber and lemon. It’s sure to leave you feeling refreshed and youthful. (*You can make your own lemon sour by mixing equal parts fresh lemon juice and simple syrup.)

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 1/2 ounces lemon sour*
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 1 tablespoon of diced cucumber
• 10 mint leaves

Instructions:

1. Pour into shaker and mix.

2. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

3. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Vodka on Drizly (prices vary)

Explore your vodka options if you don't want to venture to the liquor store.

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Lucky Lime Margarita

HelloFresh

Get lucky with this lime and pineapple margarita from HelloFresh. Trust me, it’s as refreshing as it is charmed. If you have time to plan ahead, infuse your tequila with jalapeño a day or two beforehand.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup silver tequila
• 1 jalapeño
• 1 ounce triple sec
• 2 round slices of pineapple
• 1 lime (juiced) + 1 lime (sliced)
• 2 tablespoons agave
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Crushed ice
• Kosher salt for the glass rim

Directions:

1. Cut the pineapple into 1-inch thick rings, discarding the rind and removing the core.

2. Add the tequila (jalapeño-infused or plain), some fresh jalapeños (optional/to taste), and all the other wet ingredients to a blender.

3. Blend until smooth.

4. Strain to remove pulp from the pineapple.

5. Salt the rim of the glass.

6. Pour over crushed ice.

7. Garnish with a pineapple wedge or lime.

Nutribullet Balance Smart Blender, $99 (originally $179) at Walmart

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Tanteo Jalapeño Tequila on Drizly (price varies)

You can also buy spicy tequila already infused with jalapeño in some locations.

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Grasshopper Martini

Hilton New Orleans

Talk about a festive martini! The Grasshopper Martini from the Hilton New Orleans Riverside is minty and rich—not to mention its gorgeous green hue.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 ounce creme de menthe
• 3/4 ounce white creme de cacao
• 1/4 ounce heavy cream
• 1 cup ice

Instructions:

1. Combine creme de menthe, creme de cacao, cream, and ice in a mixing tin.

2. Shake until chilled.

3. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

DeKuyper Creme De Cocoa White Liqueur on Drizly (price varies)

Add rich chocolate flavor to your drinks without changing their color.

Check Availability

Green Bloody Mary

Kitty O’Sheas/Hilton Chicago

This delicious take on a Bloody Mary from Kitty O’Sheas, which is located in the Hilton Chicago, will give you the luck you need to get you through any St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Ingredients:

• Irish whiskey
• 1 pound of green tomatillos, blanched and cut into chunks for easier blending
• 1/2 pounds yellow tomatoes, cut into chunks for easier blending
• 2 seedless cucumbers, peeled (if using regular cucumbers, remove seeds too)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 1 jalapeño (seeds and stem removed)
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
• 1 teaspoon horseradish
• 1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• Kosher and celery salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

2. Add in 1 ounce of whiskey to every 12 ounces of blended drink

3. Garnish with celery, tomato, bacon, and whatever else you choose!

Preservation & Co Pickled Brussels Sprouts, $13.50 at Mouth

We're partial to these pickled sprouts for garnishing bloodies of any color (or just for snacking).

Try It

The Lucky Drink

Drake’s

This bright green fruity punch from Drake’s in Lexington, Kentucky will definitely bless you with the luck of the Irish.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 ounce whiskey
• 3/4 ounce peach schnapps
• 3/4 ounce green melon liquor
• 3/4 ounce lime juice
• 1/2 ounce Island Blue Pucker
• lemon lime soda

Instructions:

1. Add all of the ingredients except for the soda into a mixing tin and shake.

2. Pour over fresh ice and top with soda.

DeKuyper Island Punch Pucker Liqueur on Drizly (price varies)

Sometimes you're not in the mood to be sophisticated, and that's okay.

Check Availability

Crumlin Cobbler

The Late Late Bar

This cocktail, which was created by the beverage director at The Late Late Bar & Spirit Grocer Nick Fogel and named after a suburb of Dublin, is fresh, fruity, and delicious (and a cousin to our Irish Fix recipe). The basil leaves give it a gorgeous St. Patrick’s touch of green.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Irish whiskey
• 1/2 ounce aperol
• 1/2 ounce lemon
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup
• basil sprig for garnish
• 1 pint of strawberries
• 1 pint of sugar
• 3 large finely shredded basil leaves

Instructions:

1. Cut strawberries into small pieces.

2. Combine with basil and sugar and mix vigorously.

3. Cover the strawberries and store for up to 12 hours.

4. Muddle 3 bar spoons of macerated strawberries in a shaker.

5. Combine and shake the remaining ingredients in a mixing tin.

6. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with basil.

For more St. Patrick’s Day drink ideas, consider incorporating green Chartreuse into cocktails, mix up a Guinness milkshake, or go with a classic (and cozy) Irish coffee. Get even more festive recipes, tips, and tricks at our St. Patrick’s Day headquarters.

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