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5-ingredient lemon ginger turmeric shots are simple to prepare in a blender or juicer and loaded with nutrients, antioxidants, and immune-boosting benefits for flu season! Plus, it’s ready in just 15 minutes!

several containers of Lemon Ginger Turmeric Shots on a white surface
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5 Ingredient Wellness Shots Worth the Hype

Although we’re inching our way towards Spring, there seem to be so many germs around right now. Following the past few years we’ve had as a planet (yes, I’m talking about you 2020 – and 2021, and some of 2022), we’ve done the research to learn how to adapt our diet to support our immune system and enhance our overall well-being – like these small but mighty, potent lemon ginger turmeric shots.

These vitamin-c-rich, immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory shots are made with 5 inexpensive ingredients that pack some serious healthful punch. The combination of ingredients makes a bright, punchy, spicy, earthy, tangy flavor to wake your taste buds and it’s so easy to add to your morning ritual. Best of all, this potent elixir is simple to make, with no juicer required, and it works out SO much cheaper than buying pre-made versions from a store.

Looking for more simple ways to soothe and boost health? Check out our recipes for lemon cinnamon ginger tea and turmeric golden milk.

The Turmeric Lemon Ginger Shots Benefits

  • Lemon juice: Is a natural detoxifier that boasts plenty of immune-boosting vitamin C with antiviral and antibacterial benefits (source).
  • Orange juice: Is loaded with vitamin C along with moderate levels of potassium, folate, and many antioxidants to boost these ginger and turmeric shots (source).
  • Ginger: Is a popular ‘medicinal’ ingredient and a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant with the ability to aid digestion, glucose metabolism, relieve nausea, and benefit brain and heart health (source).
  • Turmeric: This popular ingredient has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years and is packed with potential benefits, such as increasing antioxidant capacity in the body, improving blood pressure, heart, and brain health, benefiting joint pain, glucose metabolism, decreasing insulin resistance, and more (source).

The Ingredients

ingredients for Lemon Ginger Turmeric Shots on a white surface
  • Lemons: Any thin-skinned lemon work. Use Meyer lemons for the sweetest taste.
  • Oranges: Navel oranges, Valencia oranges, and blood oranges are particularly good for juicing. Tangerine works, too, or try grapefruit for a different flavor.
  • Ginger: Use ginger root with thin yet firm, unwrinkled skin. Use organic; otherwise, peel it.
  • Turmeric: Select fresh, firm turmeric root with no wrinkles/soft spots. If you can’t find fresh turmeric, use fresh turmeric powder (refer to FAQs).
  • Black pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper is needed to increase the absorption of curcumin from turmeric (by up to 2000%!).
  • Water: This is only required when blending. For more flavor, use coconut water.

What Could I Add to These Wellness Shots?

  • Cayenne pepper: Adding fresh/powdered cayenne pepper adds heat and provides several benefits, including anti-inflammation, improved circulation, and metabolism.
  • Cinnamon: This not only tastes great but contains lots of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds with anti-inflammatory, blood sugar, and heart health benefits.
  • Zinc: Just ½ tsp of liquid zinc adds more immune support and fight viruses/bacteria. Zinc is also beneficial for DNA and cell growth and healing damaged tissue.
  • Sweetener: A small amount of unrefined agave or maple syrup may help make the turmeric ginger lemon shots more palatable. A sugar-free sweetener could also work.
  • Oil: Healthy fats, like coconut oil, improve turmeric absorption while providing other benefits to the ginger lemon turmeric shots.

How to Make Lemon Ginger Turmeric Shots in a Blender

There’s no need to purchase an expensive juicer to make this lemon ginger turmeric shot recipe. A blender works, too, but requires water to help blend, meaning the juice is slightly diluted.

  • First, wash and roughly chop the ginger and turmeric and peel the lemons and oranges, removing the bitter white pith and any seeds.
process shot showing peeled lemons and oranges
  • Transfer them to a blender along with the remaining ingredients.
  • Blend on high for 1 minute, leave it to rest for a minute, then blend for another minute. This properly blends the ingredients without overheating the juice/damaging nutrients.
  • Allow the juice to sit in the blender for 5 minutes for the fiber to settle at the bottom of the blender.

This makes the straining process easier, as it won’t block the juice from straining. Skip this step if you plan to use a nut milk bag for straining.

  • Then, strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl, trying not to shake the blender too much (so the fiber remains settled).

We first pour in half, using a spoon to move the pulp so it strains quickly. Repeat with the rest – optionally leaving it to naturally strain for at least 30 minutes (or several hours/overnight in the fridge) OR pressing the pulp with a spoon to extract as much juice as possible.

  • Finally, pour the liquid into a jar and enjoy in 1-2 oz shot portions.

Juicer Method

  1. First, wash all the produce well and slice them into sizes that will fit your juicer chute.

Depending on the juicer, you may be required to peel the orange/lemon first.

  1. Feed all the ingredients through your juicer chute.
  2. Mix well and serve.

FAQs

Can I use powdered turmeric in shots?

You’ll need about ½ teaspoon of fresh ground turmeric powder per shot.

Can I use the leftover pulp?

It may be possible to freeze the leftover pulp in an ice cube tray to use in smoothies, stocks, crackers, tea, and more.

When to drink lemon ginger turmeric shots?

For the quickest and most optimal absorption, drink a lemon ginger turmeric shot in the morning, on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before eating breakfast.

Can I drink ginger lemon and turmeric shots every day?

Yes, but be aware that if you aren’t used to consuming lots of ginger or turmeric, then it may cause some initial stomach upset and/or heartburn.

For that reason, we recommend gradually increasing your consumption over time.

Pro Recipe Tips

  • Use organic ingredients: This is important when juicing, as you’ll be consuming high quantities of ingredients sprayed with pesticides.
  • To reduce bitterness: Juice the lemon and orange separately and add the juice to the blender (to avoid bitter pith affecting the taste).
  • Dilute or sweeten if needed: This turmeric shot recipe has a pungent, spicy flavor. While it should be drinkable in just 1-2 gulps, optionally improve the flavor with sweetener or dilute it for a drink you can sip.
  • To avoid staining: Turmeric stains skin, clothing, and your surfaces – so wear gloves, be careful, and rinse everything immediately. Nut milk bags will be permanently stained but fine to keep using.
several containers of Lemon Ginger Turmeric Shots on a white surface

Storage Instructions

For maximum nutrient absorption, consume a turmeric lemon ginger shot immediately and freeze leftovers in an ice cube tray for up to 2 months. Allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight, or add the ice cubes to smoothies.

You can also store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days, but note that the nutrients will deteriorate over time. Shake well between servings.

several containers of Lemon Ginger Turmeric Shots on a white surface

Serving Suggestions

Even if you aren’t a fan of tossing it back like shots, there are several ways to incorporate lemon turmeric ginger shots into your diet to boost your health.

  • Dilute it with water/sparkling, coconut water, or iced tea
  • Dilute a shot/ice cubes with hot water for a soothing tea
  • To boost smoothies
  • Add it to salad dressings and marinades
  • Mix it into soups (like curried carrot ginger soup) and sauces (like stir-fry sauces)

More Drink Recipes

Photos by Alfonso Revilla

Lemon Ginger Turmeric Shots

5 from 17 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 3 cups
5-ingredient lemon ginger turmeric shots are simple to prepare in a blender or juicer and loaded with nutrients, antioxidants, and immune-boosting benefits for flu season! Plus, it's ready in just 15 minutes!

Ingredients 

  • 5 ounces fresh ginger, washed
  • 2 ounces fresh turmeric, washed
  • 3 lemons, peeled
  • 1 orange, peeled
  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper
  • 2 cups water

Instructions 

  • Thoroughly wash the ginger and turmeric. Roughly chop them and add them to the cup of a blender. Add the peeled lemon, peeled orange, black pepper, and water.
  • Blend on the highest setting for 1 minute. Let it rest for one minute and then blend for one more minute.
  • Allow it to sit in the blender for 5 minutes for the fiber to set to the bottom of the blender as much as possible. This will make the straining process easier.
  • Pour the strained liquid into a jar with a lid and place it in the refrigerator.
  • When ready to drink, pour 1 to 2 ounces into a glass and enjoy cold.
  • You can freeze them in an ice cube tray and add them to smoothies or salad dressings. Or defreeze and drink the shots as you go.

Notes

  • Use organic ingredients: This is important when juicing, as you’ll be consuming high quantities of ingredients sprayed with pesticides.
  • To reduce bitterness: Juice the lemon and orange separately and add the juice to the blender (to avoid bitter pith affecting the taste).
  • Dilute or sweeten if needed: This turmeric shot recipe has a pungent, spicy flavor. While it should be drinkable in just 1-2 gulps, optionally improve the flavor with sweetener or dilute it for a drink you can sip.
  • To avoid staining: Turmeric stains skin, clothing, and your surfaces – so wear gloves, be careful, and rinse everything immediately. Nut milk bags will be permanently stained but fine to keep using.

Nutrition

Calories: 143kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 3gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gSodium: 22mgPotassium: 837mgFiber: 8gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 113IUVitamin C: 61mgCalcium: 81mgIron: 9mg

Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Additional Info

Author: Toni Okamoto
Course: Drink
Cuisine: American
Method: Blender
Diet: Vegan
Tried this recipe?Please tag us at @PlantBasedOnABudget! 🙂
About

Toni Okamoto

“They say you are what you eat, so I strive to be healthy.
My goal in life is not to be rich or wealthy,
‘Cause true wealth comes from good health and wise ways…
we got to start taking better care of ourselves ” – Dead Prez

More about Toni Okamoto

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  1. This looks great and I’m planning to make it soon. I’ve been following Dr ‘B’ and Glucose Goddess so I’m curious as to why we would strain out all of the fiber. I didn’t see the reason noted. Thank you!