Make This Gorgeous Crimson Detox Juice—No Juicer Required

The year 2016 is here, and though “Hotline Bling,” Donald Trump, and the Paleo diet won’t be vanishing from the public consciousness anytime soon, there are a few things that should remain firmly in the past of 2015.

One tired old idea to leave behind? That you need a fancy, expensive juicer to make a refreshing and healthy drink. Yup, it’s totally possible to make the types of juices people shell out the big bucks for in a regular blender. All you need a working blender, some cheesecloth, and a great recipe. On the latter point, we have you covered below.

Directions

Step One: Blend

This detoxifying crimson juice is perfect for starting off the New Year right. Beets are incredibly tonifying for the liver, meaning they help it filter out toxins all thanks to something called betaine. This compound, unique to raw beetroot, encourages the liver to cleanse itself and promotes healthy bile production.

Both blood orange and pomegranate juice are full of antioxidants that protect cells from free radical damage; plus these Mediterranean fruits taste incredible paired with the earthiness of the beet. To get started, combine all of these ingredients in a blender:

• 1 beet
• 2 blood oranges
• ½ cup pomegranate juice
• ¼ cup to 1 cup water, depending on how intense of a flavor you desire

Step Two: Strain

Odds are the concoction looks much more like a smoothie than a juice. That means it’s time to strain it. Place the cheesecloth over a large bowl (securing it on all sides of the bowl) and pour the juice over. Use a rubber spatula to press the pulp down and squeeze out all of the juice. Let stand for 5 minutes, then wring cheesecloth over the bowl to extract as much juice as possible.

Step Three: Drink

Pour in an ice-filled glass, garnish with mint, or top off with bit of seltzer water. Enjoy!

Photo credit: Paul Delmont