Apr 16, 2010

Prickly Pear Margarita

The prickly pear cactus thrives in the deserts of the American Southwest; its bulbous red fruit is prized for many Mexican and Tex-Mex preparations. This legendary margarita, which takes its distinctive flavor from the fruit, comes from bartender Ruben Bernal at Las Canarias restaurant in San Antonio, Texas. The Texas food writer Robb Walsh included this delicious drink in his roundup “Texas’s Margarita Miles,” part of our special Road Trip issue (June/July 2008).

Photo: André Baranowski

FOR PRICKLY PEAR-INFUSED TEQUILA:
10 prickly pear fruits
1 750-ml bottle of silver tequila

FOR MARGARITA:
1 tequila-infused prickly pear
4 oz. prickly pear–infused tequila
2 oz. frozen limeade
1 1⁄2 oz. Cointreau

1. For the infused tequila, peel prickly pears; put into a glass jar. Pour in tequila, seal jar, and let steep for at least 2 days.

2. To make margaritas, mash 1 prickly pear through a mesh strainer into a bowl; discard seeds. Combine prickly pear–infused tequila, 2 cups crushed ice, limeade, Cointreau, and the mashed prickly pear in blender; purée until slushy.

SERVES 2

This article was first published in Saveur in Issue #112

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Ratings & Comments (3)

by meatlover33 on 2009-08-03

I first had a Prickly Pear margarita at Bobby Flay's, Mesa Grill. It was a tad sweet but it did the trick. If you have access to fresh prickly pears then give it a try.

by nswillis on 2010-08-01

It's much easier just to buy a bottle of prickly pear syrup to make this recipe since trying to find an actual prickly pear is not easy unless you live in Arizona - check eBay and Amazon.com. You can also use this syrup to color the sugar for the rim of any color/flavor Margarita - try making Mango Margaritas and using Prickly Pear Cactus syrup to toss the sugar for the rim in - a beautiful contrast. You can use this syrup on pancakes, too - try making cornmeal or blue cornmeal pancakes for a real Southwestern flair.

by LISA'SMOM on 2011-03-15

We were in Florida about three years ago and I had the best margarita I ever had in my life! (and believe me I have had my share!) it was made with a prickly pear infused tequila that has FINALLY made it's way here to the West Coast! Now it is a family and friends favorite! We make them just about every weekend. I follow the company's recipe and expand it for 10 servings for parties:
Pour the following a large shaker: 2 1/2 oz Voodoo Tiki Desert Rose Tequila; 1/4 oz triple sec; 2 oz margarita mix; dash of grenadine to color and ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled margarita glass with a sugar or salt rim.

Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmmmm!

Prickly Pear Margarita 5 5 3 3