Recipe For Prickly Pear Margarita

Prickly Pear Margarita Recipe

The first time I had a prickly pear margarita, it was love at first sip.

Its not a flavor of margarita Ive seen much on the East Coast, but I tried one on a visit to Arizona and Ive never looked back. Now, any time I see one on a menu, I have to order it because its such a special occasion for me. Definitely one of my favorite things ever!

Prickly pear margaritas are made with tequila and prickly pear syrup, which adds sweetness and flavor.

Hot fuchsia to the eye and bright and earthy on the tongue, these beauties will bring so much to the taco night table.

What Is A Prickly Pear Margarita

While a traditional margarita is made of tequila, lime juice, and sometimes orange liquor and simple syrup, this version is a little different. It does include tequila, lime juice, and a salt-rimmed glass, but that is where the similarities end. Prickly pear juice adds a fruity taste and agave nectar is used for sweetness. As a result, you wont have the task of making simple syrup yourself. However, you will have to make prickly pear juice or syrup before beginning this recipe.

If you have never worked with these fruits before, I have some instructions in my post on How to Make Prickly Pear Juice. This post will give you some guidance on how to handle the fruit safely and blend it into juice. The juice is make-ahead, so you can leave it sitting in your fridge until you are ready to make this delicious cocktail.

Just try to use the juice within 2 to 3 days, as it will stay freshest during that time. However, if you are lucky enough to have a lot of prickly pears on hand, you can make up large amounts of this juice to freeze and have on hand when you want to make refreshing prickly pear margaritas.

How To Make A Prickly Pear Tequila Cocktail

The Prickly Pear Margarita mix is a great way to celebrate the holidays!

This margarita is a refreshing cocktail with a slight sweetness and a hint of tartness. The cocktail has many variations based on the type of tequila and liqueur used. The most common ingredients include tequila, triple sec, lime juice and simple syrup or agave nectar.

A Prickly Pear Margarita is made by mixing together 1½ cup of tequila, 1 cup of triple sec, 1 cup of lime juice, ½ cup of simple prickly pear syrup . And you can also add 1 cup of crushed ice in the mix.

Pour all ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth. Pour into glasses and garnish with lime wedges or sugar rimmed glasses . Enjoy!

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What Is Prickly Pear Syrup

Prickly pear syrup is a syrup made from the juice of the prickly pear fruit. This fruit is harvested from the type of cactus called Opuntia, which grows in the Southwestern US and Mexico. Prickly pear fruit is also called tuna or sabra. The paddle of the cactus is called a nopal. You may have had nopales in Mexican cuisine, and the fruit is widely used from salads to candy. Heres what to know about getting ahold of prickly pear syrup for this margarita recipe:

• What does prickly pear syrup taste like? Its beautifully sweet and fruity, and has a bright magenta color. Some people say it tastes like bubble gum. Its sweet tart with notes of watermelon and raspberry.
• Where to buy prickly pear syrup? You can find it at some liquor stores, but its easiest to find online. Try this 7 ounce bottle of prickly pear cactus syrup.
• Can you make prickly pear syrup? You can, if you happen to have prickly pear fruit! Heres a recipe.

Tips To Make A Great Prickly Pear Cocktail

So, you want to make a great and innovative margarita cocktail, right?

Lucky you! Weve got all the tips and tricks you need to make the best Prickly Pear Margarita you can.

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Faqs And Tips For Making The Best Prickly Pear Margarita

What is a prickly pear margarita?

A prickly pear margarita is a tequila cocktail made with prickly pear juice, triple sec and lime juice. It is bright pink in color and is generally sweeter than traditional margaritas.

Is triple sec necessary for margaritas?

You dont have to use triple sec to make margaritas. You can substitute simple syrup or agave nectar, but a liqueur adds a little more flavor than sweeteners do while still adding sweetness. Triple sec is orange flavored, but you could swap it for a different flavor liqueur, such as Cointreau , Chambord or St. Germain .

How long does a pitcher of margaritas last?

A pitcher of margaritas can last for up to a week in the fridge, but I recommend not adding ice until youre ready to serve or youll end up with a watered-down cocktail.

What is the best tequila for margaritas?

To make the best margaritas, youll want to use a decent quality tequila. Since youre mixing the tequila with other ingredients, I recommend opting for middle of the road price point, something is still affordable without sacrificing too much quality. I prefer to use silver tequila in my recipes because I prefer the taste, but gold tequila will work, too.

Make A Prickly Pear Margarita Or A Pitcher

Getting ahold of the prickly pear syrup is the hardest part of this prickly pear margarita recipe. Once youve got it, its easy to make! Head to the recipe below. But first: decide whether youd like to make a single drink or a pitcher. The single drink is great for one offs, but if youre entertaining you can make 8 servings at a time. Its much easier than shaking them all up. Mix together the following in a pitcher:

• 1 ½ cups tequila

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How To Make Prickly Pear Margarita

Treat yourself to a boozy and tangy glass of this prickly pear margarita. It combines tequila, sweet and sour mix, and prickly pear syrup.

10 mins

• 2fl ozsweet and sour mix
• 1fl oztriple sec
• 1fl ozlime juice
• 1fl ozprickly pear syrup

Instructions

Simple Prickly Pear Margarita Recipe

If you can find prickly pears, you can make this delicious prickly pear margarita recipe! Prickly pears have a sweet distinct flavor that works beautifully with tequila.

Are you ready for a fun new margarita recipe? I feel like I hit the jackpot when I found prickly pears at our local produce market!! Prickly pear has a unique honey-like flavor that tastes incredible in cocktails.

I am all for exotic fruit cocktail recipes! The more unusual, the better! Just try these delicious Red Currant Margarita or Dragon Fruit Cocktail recipes!

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Make The Prickly Pear

Prickly Pear Margarita Recipe & Tutorial

Happy National Margarita Day! In order to celebrate, we’ve put together an instructional video so that you can try our Prickly Pear Margaritas at home.

Recipe:– About 1/2 cup of ice- 2 ounces of your favorite tequila- 1/2 ounce of prickly pear syrup- 1/2 ounce of orange liqueur- 3/4 ounce of sour mix

– Salt or Tajín

Salt the rims of your favorite margarita glasses with either traditional margarita salt, or some Tajín for an added kick. Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker, shake well, pour and enjoy!

Want to make an alcohol-free alternative?

Try adding some prickly pear syrup to fresh squeezed lemonade or orange juice for a little extra sweetness.

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How To Make Prickly Pear Margaritas

Make prickly pear juice. Peel and half your prickly pears. Add them to a blender and puree until smooth. Strain the liquid into a pitcher .

Mix the margarita. Add the prickly pear juice with the rest of the ingredients to a pitcher with ice. Stir until combined.

Add sweetener. Give the mixture a quick taste. If it needs some extra sweetener, stir in about 2 tablespoons of agave nectar and adjust from there.

Serve over ice. Rim your glasses with sugar and pour the margaritas into the glasses. Add extra ice if needed and garnish with a lime.

To make blended margaritas: Add the ingredients to a blender with about 2 cups of ice and process until smooth. Serve in sugar-rimmed glasses.

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Mixing A Prickly Pear Margarita

For presentation, rim two glasses with your choice of salt or sugar . Pour salt or sugar onto a small plate. Take a small slice of lime and rub it around the rim of your glasses. Roll the top of the glasses in the salt/sugar until a thin layer sticks to the rim.

Start mixing your drink by adding a lot of ice to your cocktail shaker: fill it up! Pour two shots of your tequila of choice into the shaker. Follow it up with a shot and a half of triple sec, and then with the juice of a whole, squeezed lime.

The last addition is a half shot of the coveted prickly pear syrup. Cover and shake vigorously.

Add ice to your salt-or-sugar rimmed glasses. Strain the margarita evenly between two glasses. Cut lime wedges and add them to the lip.

Finally: sip while watching the sun set over the Arizona desert! Or just enjoy it happily from the comfort of your own home.

Why I Love This Margarita Recipe

Im not usually pick about my margaritas, I love them all, but this beautiful margarita is hard for me to pass up. If theres a prickly pear margarita on my menu, you can bet that Im order one. Maybe even two.

Obviously, prickly pears are not grown locally. Thankfully, my favorite grocery store carries them pretty regularly, but it wasnt until our recent trip to Arizona was derailed that I actually bought some.

If I couldnt go to the desert, I figured I could bring the desert to me in the form of a cocktail.

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Try The Frozen Prickly Pear Margarita Version

You can make a frozen Prickly Pear Margarita version of this cocktail.

Its pretty simple: just blend the ingredients together in a blender and pour it into an ice-filled glass. I think its best to use a margarita glass for this, but you can also pour it into a martini or even a wine glass.

Here are the ingredients youll need:

• 1/2 cup prickly pear puree
• 3/4 cup tequila
• 1/2 cup triple sec

The most amazing thing about this cocktail is that you can make it any time of year. Its a margarita, so its packed with summery flavors, but you dont need to wait for the weather to change to enjoy it.

If you want to try another fruity recipe, we recommend our Blood Orange Margarita mix. Youll enjoy it.

Thats A Wrap On Prickly Pear Margaritas

These bright pink drinks are perfect for any summertime party. I imagine they would be so fun at a bridal shower, a 21st birthday party, or even a desert-themed bash. Everyone is going to love the bold citrus flavors in these margaritas. They are so delicious that you should probably sip them slowly so you dont get into trouble!

I hope you enjoyed this fun, colorful, and delicious prickly pear margarita. Whether youre hosting a party or just relaxing at home, I hope your weekend is magical.

Be sure to check out the full party post here and grab the recipe for Really Good Pasta Salad here.

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What Are Prickly Pears

Prickly pears, also known as cactus pears or tuna fruit, are vibrant pink fruits that grow on cacti. They taste like a cross between watermelon and bubble gum and are also sometimes described as having strawberry and raspberry qualities.

In terms of US distribution, prickly pear products are commonly sold in Arizona where prickly pears thrive, and are also available online. Fresh prickly pears can be sold in supermarkets but are not always easy to find.

Using ready-made syrup makes it a cinch to incorporate prickly pear flavors without sourcing the harder to find fresh fruit.

How To Juice A Prickly Pear Fruit:

Are you ready to juice your prickly pear fruit? I promise it isn’t as hard as you might think! Just be sure your prickly pear thorns are removed. If your prickly pear has thorns, you need to safely remove them. Follow this simple tutorial to remove the prickly pear spines.

Cut the cactus pear fruit in half lengthwise. This is when you see what color fruit you have! Scoop out the pulp and add it to a strainer. Place the strainer over a container that will catch the juice.

Use a spoon to press the pulp against the mesh in the strainer. This will force all of the juice through. The strainer will trap the seeds, which you don’t want in your drink!

Now you have prickly pear juice for this cactus pear margarita recipe! The next step is to take a margarita glass and rub lime around the rim. Dip the edges of the rim in coarse sugar.

Many often wonder if tequila and other hard liquors gluten free. You can read this article to learn more about whether tequila is gluten free.

Also Check: How To Make Lime Margaritas

Best Tequila For Margaritas

Since prickly pears also grow in the desert, they make for a really nice pair.

You can mix your favorite tequila into these margs. There are a few types of tequila that I detail in my Tequila 101 crash course, but the most important one for this delicious prickly pear margarita is blanco, or silver tequila. Clear and colorless, it works really well in any margarita recipe, but especially this one so the color can really sparkle and shine.

Gold tequila has added caramel color to make it seem aged, so I dont usually recommend it, but it will taste just fine if you use it. However, it may change the color. Same is true for a reposado tequila, which is aged in oak barrels between two months and one year, and gets its natural caramel coloring from the oak.

Using an infused tequila, like this Spicy Jalapeño Tequila, is a great way to experiment with flavor.

Mezcal is one more choice you can try. It has a smokier flavor than tequila technically, tequila is a type of mezcal that tastes cleaner than other types of mezcal.

My favorite tequila brands right now are Sauza, El Jimador and Lunazul, but there are tons more out there. For top-shelf margaritas, try Don Julio, Patron or Milagro.

You can use tequila for more than just margaritas, too. Try it in the Paloma, the Bloody Maria or a Mexican Mule.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

These margaritas are ones you will want to make again and again.

• Prickly pear margaritas are easy to make at home with a prickly pear syrup and tequila.
• They taste just like the ones you can get in a restaurant, full of flavor. If you have fresh cactus pears, even better!
• These quaffable drinks are perfect for any occasion like taco night, hot summer afternoons and even Cinco de Mayo.

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What Is A Prickly Pear

If prickly pear is new to you, you might be surprised to know that its not really a pear: Its a fruit that grows on a cactus. It gets its name from the prickly needles of the cactus.

The flavor is reminiscent of a pear mixed with watermelon and a natural bubble gum. I know that sounds a bit odd, but it is pretty delicious and works well in cocktails and vinaigrette dressings.