Get all the taste without all the calories with this Skinny Mojito recipe—going out for drinks doesn’t mean your diet going out the window.
This is why we have science, people.
Finally, there is a version of the mojito that I can enjoy (maybe more than once) that doesn’t have me fearing the scale in my bathroom the next day. The secret is the mix. We use diet lemon-lime soda, which replaces the high-calorie simple syrup and lime juice and makes for a low-calorie cocktail that is still high in flavor.
While the “skinny” version of the mojito is a relatively recent development, the original mojito has been around for centuries. Cubans used to administer the drink to the Europeans who would pull up to their shores in need of a cure for scurvy. Thanks to the lime, their illness subsided, and the mojito was heralded as a panacea sent from the gods. With the endorsements of the Europeans, the drink’s popularity spread across the globe. Nowadays, mojito sightings are plentiful, especially in America, where they are enjoyed on beaches, by pools and in tropical-themed bars.
When Did ‘Skinny’ Start To Mean ‘Low-Calorie’?
Seemingly overnight, the term ‘skinny’ became a description for food and drink low in sugar, fat, and/or calories. Maybe ‘light’ was overused? Or people would rather be skinny than on a diet? Or maybe ordering something ‘skinny’ motivates people looking to lose weight? Maybe it’s all just a plot perpetrated by Bethenny Frankel, whose Skinnygirl brand of alcoholic beverages are bestsellers? In any case, we can point to the early-to-mid 2000s, that’s when the term started popping up in our day-to-day conversations. And the second a word or term becomes hip, it shows up on more and more food and drink labels by companies looking to market their products to a new demographic.
What is the Best Rum to Use in a Skinny Mojito?
White rum (also known as light rum or silver rum), is the least imposing from the perspectives of taste and yes, calories. It still tastes like rum but it has a cleaner finish to it, which makes it the ideal choice of rum for mojitos. You can also use amber rums, spiced rums, dark rums, and even coconut rums, though that last one is more of a liqueur than a hard spirit. Color doesn’t really have any bearing on the amount of calories a particular rum contains, so don’t think that rum that is lighter in color is better for your weight. You should be aware, however, that these last few rums I mention normally contain other ingredients, and it’s these ingredients that could amp up the calorie count. Check out the ingredients list of any prospective rum to ensure it isn’t trying to add any unwanted sugars.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce white rum
- 1 organic lime cut into wedges (or 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice)
- 5-6 fresh mint leaves plus extra for garnish
- zero-calorie lemon-lime soda
- ice cubes
Instructions
- In a sturdy highball glass, gently muddle the lime wedges and mint leaves together. Pour the white rum over the muddled lime and mint
- Fill the glass with ice cubes and add the zero-calorie lemon-lime soda or club soda to the glass.
- Stir the mixture gently to combine all the flavors. Garnish your Skinny Mojito with a sprig of fresh mint and a lime wedge. Serve immediately with a straw.
Nutrition
FAQs & Tips
The highball glass is traditionally the vessel of choice for a mojito. It’s a simple glass that most people have many of, whether they are big drinkers of mojitos or not. As for garnishes, a sprig of mint and a lime wedge are the go-to. To keep this “skinny”, I would refrain from adding any other garnishes.
Pour your leftovers into an airtight container (like a mason jar) and keep it in the fridge (no ice!). Drink it within 24 hours or the quality may go down.
You’ll be happy to know there are only 89 calories. A mere trifle when it comes to alcoholic beverages.
Sure. And while all club sodas are calorie-free, you should still get in the habit of inspecting its ingredients; some contain more than just carbonated water.
There shouldn’t be a huge difference in calories between freshly squeezed lime juice and the stuff you get in those small plastic “lime” containers. That said, the store-bought variety will usually contain additives and won’t be fresh, which will affect the taste of your cocktail and inflict the temple that is your body with stuff you don’t want or need.
The underside of a spoon will work, as will the butt end of most cooking utensils. Just go through your drawer and get creative. Remember, you just need to release the essence of the mint and squish the lime; you don’t need to pulverize them beyond recognition.
Mojito Variations To Try
Virgin Skinny Mojito: The skinny version of a skinny version. Remove the rum and enjoy the lime soda flavored with muddled citrus and mint.
- Vodka Mojito: Substitute rum with vodka. A Cuban beverage by way of Russia, perhaps?
- Strawberry Mojito: Being in the red has never tasted so good. A sweet take on a traditionally tart drink.
- Frozen Mojito: For those REALLY hot days, when a slushee is the only drink that will cut it.
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