Have a sweet and fruity summertime tipple that brings some candied fun to every sip with the Prickly Pear Margarita.
You learn something new every day. At least, that’s my hope. I enjoy discovering new flavors, adventures, and experiences. It’s a nice reminder to me that I’m no expert, and I don’t know everything. And what I do know can only be expanded with further knowledge. Too bad I was more interested in comic books instead of homework when I was a kid. Well, to be fair, I still am. But anyway…
All I knew of prickly pears came from the “Bare Necessities” song in the Disney classic The Jungle Book. And I also figured that said fruit was dangerous and would stab you if you picked one up or tried to eat it. It turns out, oddly enough, that I was somewhat correct.
Simply put, as my thumb isn’t as green as I would like, the prickly pear is a fruit that grows on a desert cactus plant, and once the sharp spines are removed, it can be eaten fresh on its own, or juiced to be used in a variety of dishes and recipes, like tonight’s cocktail, for instance. Found mostly in desert regions, you luckily don’t have to have cacti growing in your yard to enjoy this fruity and unique-tasting mixture.
What is the best alcohol to use to make a Prickly Pear Margarita?
Most margaritas tend to work best with a clear and peppery blanco—or white—tequila. The unaged and grassy agave-forward spirit melds perfectly with the lime juice and Cointreau, with the latter bringing a richer complexity to help balance out the strawberry-melon and bubblegum-like flavor of the prickly pear juice.
Ingredients
- 1 lime wedge for moistening the rim
- Salt for rimming the glass
- 2 ounces tequila blanco
- 1 ounce Cointreau
- 1 ounce prickly pear syrup
- 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 lime slice for garnish
Instructions
- Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass. Dip the rim into a small plate of salt.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add tequila, Cointreau, prickly pear syrup, and lime juice. Shake well until the drink is chilled.
- Strain the cocktail into the rimmed glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime slice and serve immediately.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
Line the rim of a rocks or Old Fashioned glass with salt, then fill it with ice and pour your shaken mixture in. Garnish with a fresh lime wheel and serve immediately.
What is the best way to get prickly pear syrup?
I assumed this would be a difficult task, as I’m not too familiar with said prickly pears. But it turns out that just about every brand that you would hope produces prickly pear syrup does, such as Liquid Alchemist, Monin and Real Infused Exotics, the latter of which is often found in liquor stores.
Other margarita variations worth trying
One of the lovely things about the wonderful world of margaritas, is that for every variation that you think exists of the classic version, there’s always an offshoot or two that will surprise you. Hopefully, some of these below might pleasantly do so as well.
- Coconut Margarita – Make your next ‘rita a more tropical affair with this recipe.
- Pomegranate Margarita – A fresh, festive and fruity cocktail you can enjoy any time of the year.
- Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita – Have a refreshing and cool sip that might make you sweat a little, too.
- Avocado Margarita – This concoction is smooth, creamy and very green.
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