Prickly Pear Margarita

Prickly Pear Margarita

My first introduction to this tasty cocktail was at a local Mexican restaurant. Myself and a few friends gathered to put a conclusion to a 5-month+ effort looking for a lost Greyhound. Who, unfortunately, we never found. It surely wasn’t for the lack of trying.

We were out there every weekend pounding the pavement, talking to locals in area businesses, going door to door talking to people in neighborhoods, passing out flyers, tromping through the woods looking, oh, and we can’t forget the poison ivy we got, the time one resident called the law on us (yes and luckily they sent a K-9 officer who was so totally “with” us and what we were doing), the time another homeowner threatened to shoot us, the time another homeowner came to her door with a machete in her hand (and it was in the air ready to strike, I might add), and there were countless other incidences I’m sure I have processed and put into the back nether-regions of my brain hoping to never recall again.

But we learned a lot about tracking a Greyhound and we learned a lot about ourselves. Plus we made some good friends and fortified friendships with existing friends. And, I learned of this wonderful cocktail. So, in the end, all our efforts weren’t totally in vain, wouldn’t you agree?

Try this one today, it’s really, really good!! And pray you never have to search for a lost Greyhound – ever!

Live it up and drink it down!

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Prickly Pear Margaritas


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large prickly pears
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3 ounces Tequila Blanco
  • 1/2-ounce Triple Sec
  • 1 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice
  • 2 ounces Prickly Pear Syrup
  • crystal sugar, for garnishing the glass
  • lime juice for garnishing the glass

Instructions

  1. To make the prickly pear syrup, first slice through the prickly pear skin and remove the fruit. Roughly chop.
  2. Place the fruit in a small saucepan with water and sugar over medium heat. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the fruit is softened and broken down. This is why I used more water than a regular simple syrup recipe. I didn’t want it to get too thick while simmering to soften the fruit.
  3. Place a sieve over a bowl and pour the prickly pear mixture into the sieve. Use the back of a spoon to push the softened fruit through the sieve, leaving behind the large seeds. This recipe yields about 2 cups of prickly pear syrup.
  4. Now, to make the margarita! Combine the tequila, triple sec, lime juice and pear syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously to incorporate.
  5. Dip rim of glass in lime juice and then into the sugar crystals to coat the rim. Fill glass halfway with ice. Then pour margarita into glass. Garnish with lime wheel and serve.

Notes

If you are unable to find prickly pears at your local farmers market or grocery, check the liquor store for a really good prickly pear syrup that is already made for you! Obviously homemade and fresh is better but sometimes that isn’t an option!

  • Prep Time: 5 mins
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