To this day there remains an aura of mystery about the real inventor of the margarita. However, the stories that tell its origins are not lacking and that is why there are different variations of this famous drink. It is precisely its many forms that make it a perfect cocktail to experiment.
Steps
Method 1 of 7: Make a Margarita Following the Classic Recipe
Step 1. Gather the following ingredients:
- 1-2 parts of tequila (100% agave);
- 1 part of freshly squeezed lemon juice;
- 1 part of triple sec
- coarse salt;
- lime to decorate the glass;
- ice;
- Tabasco (optional).
Step 2. Moisten the rim of the glass with lime
Cut a wedge, engrave it in the center, then slide it over the rim of the glass. Now run it around the entire circumference to moisten the glass.
Step 3. Salt the rim of the glass
Pour some coarse salt (or kosher salt) into a small deep dish. Holding the glass parallel to the plate, let the moistened rim come into contact with the salt. Slowly rotate the glass to cover it evenly.
- Don't just put the glass in the salt as if you wanted to use it as a mold. The goal is to make the salt adhere only to the outside of the glass.
- If you wish, you can try replacing the salt with sugar.
Step 4. Pour the ice into the shaker and fill it to about 2 / 3-3 / 4 of its capacity
If possible, use large cubes, as small ones tend to melt faster by diluting the drink.
Step 5. Pour 1 or 2 parts of tequila into the shaker
To make a margarita, 1 or 2 shots of tequila will be enough. The exact amount depends on your personal tastes.
The advice is to start with only one part of tequila. Once tasted, if the margarita seems too light, you can always add more
Step 6. Add a portion of triple sec to the shaker
To make a margarita, you can use a shot of triple sec.
Step 7. Add one part of freshly squeezed lime juice
To make a margarita, use a shot of lime juice.
Step 8. Shake the shaker vigorously
Continue for at least 15 seconds to make sure the ingredients blend evenly.
Step 9. Pour the drink into the glass
If you love to enjoy margarita with ice, add the cubes to the glass before pouring the drink (to avoid splashing).
Step 10. Garnish the glass with a slice of lime.
You can also add a few drops of Tabasco. It's time to enjoy the drink!
Step 11. Try changing the proportions of the ingredients
If the doses suggested by the classic recipe do not satisfy you, you can try to change the proportions according to the following scheme (tequila: triple sec: lime juice):
- 3:2:1;
- 3:1:1;
- 7:4:3;
- 8: 1, 5: 3 (to mitigate the incidence of the triple sec).
Method 2 of 7: Make a Margarita with Only 3 Ingredients
Step 1. Get the following ingredients:
- 1-1.5 parts freshly squeezed lime juice;
- 2 parts of water;
- 1-2 parts of tequila (100% agave);
- 1 / 2-1 part of agave syrup, to taste;
- ice;
- coarse salt.
Step 2. Cover the rim of the glass with salt
Pour the coarse salt (or kosher salt) into a small deep dish, then moisten the circumference of the glass with the lime. Holding the glass parallel to the plate, let the moistened rim make contact with the salt, then slowly rotate it to cover it evenly.
Step 3. Pour the lime juice into the shaker
To make a margarita, you'll need to use 1-1.5 shots of freshly squeezed lime juice. Two medium to large limes should allow you to get the required amount of juice.
Step 4. Add some water
To make a margarita, pour 2 shots of water into the shaker. To prevent minerals or additives from interfering with the taste of the cocktail, it is best to use bottled or filtered water.
Step 5. Pour the tequila
To make a margarita, you need 1 or 2 shots of tequila, depending on the alcohol content you want to add to the drink.
Step 6. Add the agave syrup
To make a margarita, you will need to use about 1 / 2-1 shot of agave syrup, again it is your personal taste that determines the exact quantities.
Step 7. Add a generous amount of ice
The quantity of cubes must exceed that of all the liquid ingredients. Basically you will have to fill the shaker with ice to about 2 / 3-3 / 4 of its capacity.
Step 8. Shake the drink vigorously
Continue for at least 15 seconds so that the ingredients have time to mix.
Step 9. Remove the shaker lid
If you have a hard time opening it, tap it with your hand at the junction between the base and the lid.
Step 10. Pour the margarita into the glass
Step 11. Add the desired toppings and enjoy your drink
You can decorate the glass with a lime wedge, a colored straw and / or a cocktail umbrella.
Method 3 of 7: Make a Frozen Margarita
Step 1. Gather the following ingredients:
- 10-12 medium to large files;
- 6-8 medium-large lemons;
- 1, 5 parts of tequila;
- 1/2 part of triple sec;
- coarse salt or sugar;
- ice.
Step 2. Make a sweet and sour blend like a real bartender
Pour 225g of sugar and 240ml of hot water into a mixing bowl, then mix until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add 240ml of freshly squeezed lime and lemon juice, respectively.
To properly mix the sugar with the water, you can also pour the two ingredients into a jar and then shake them vigorously
Step 3. Prepare the glass
Use a lime wedge to moisten the rim of a cold glass. Pour the coarse salt into a small deep dish. Holding the glass parallel to the plate, let the moistened rim make contact with the salt, then slowly rotate it to cover it evenly. If you wish, you can create a mixture of salt and sugar to give a unique taste to the cocktail.
Step 4. Pour 1.5 parts of tequila into the blender
To make a margarita, you need to use 1 1/2 shots of tequila.
Step 5. Add 1/2 part of triple sec
To prepare a margarita, simply pour 1/2 shot of triple sec into the blender (Cointreau is the recommended choice).
Step 6. Add 3 parts of the sweet and sour mixture
To make a margarita, you need 3 shots of the sweet and sour mixture prepared earlier.
Step 7. Incorporate the ice and blend
Add enough ice cubes to emerge from the liquid ingredients. Blend until you get a thick, even consistency.
Step 8. Enjoy your drink
You can decorate the glass with a lime wedge. If you like, you can also add a splash of fresh lime juice (or squeeze what you used to garnish the glass).
Method 4 of 7: Make a Frozen Lime Flavored Margarita
Step 1. Get a 2 liter (Tupperware type) food container
Make sure the lid closes the container completely airtight and that you have enough space to store it in the freezer.
In this recipe you will need to use a lime (or alternatively lemon) flavored carbonated drink
Step 2. Pour all of the ingredients listed below into the food container
You will need a dispenser to properly measure liquids. The container will be used as if it were a shaker. Here's what you need:
- 350 ml of lime (or lemon) flavored carbonated drink;
- 1050 ml of water;
- 350 ml of tequila;
- 175 ml of triple sec.
Step 3. Return the container to the freezer, then wait for the mixture to thicken
It may take up to 4 hours or more. You can leave the container in the freezer even overnight, the alcohol content of the mixture will prevent it from solidifying completely.
Step 4. Prepare the glasses
Before serving the drink, prepare the glasses by covering the rim with the coarse salt. Moisten the edges with lime juice to allow the salt to adhere to the glass.
Step 5. Remove the mixture from the freezer
It is time to take the container out of the freezer. As it has an airtight seal, you can shake it vigorously to crush the ice and make sure all the ingredients are perfectly blended.
If the lid does not close tightly, open the container and stir the mixture with a whisk
Step 6. Serve the drink with the help of a ladle
Having prepared almost 2 liters of margaritas you should be able to serve 8-12 drinks, depending on the size of the glasses.
Method 5 of 7: Make a Beer Margarita
Step 1. Get the following ingredients:
- 120-180ml lager (Corona is an excellent choice);
- 240 ml of reposado tequila (white tequila is not suitable for mixing with beer);
- triple sec, to taste (the sweeter the drink, the better);
- juice of 1 / 4-1 / 2 lime squeezed at the moment;
- 1 tablespoon of sugar;
- sparkling water;
- flake ice.
Step 2. Prepare the glasses
Use a lime wedge to moisten the rim of a cold glass. Pour the coarse salt (or alternatively some sugar) into a small deep dish. Holding the glass parallel to the plate, let the moistened rim make contact with the salt, then slowly rotate it to cover it evenly.
Note that the indicated doses allow you to prepare at least two margaritas
Step 3. Pour the tequila, triple sec, lime juice and sugar into the shaker
Stir briefly with the cocktail spoon to help dissolve the sugar.
You decide how much triple sec to use according to your personal tastes. Try starting with 120ml
Step 4. Add ice, then shake the drink vigorously
Pour the ice cubes into the shaker, filling it to about 2 / 3- 3/4 of its capacity. Cover and shake vigorously for at least 15 seconds.
Step 5. Pour the drink into the glasses
Once the ingredients are well mixed, remove the lid from the shaker and pour the cocktail into cold glasses with the rim coated in salt.
Step 6. Now add the beer directly into the glass
Pour about 120-180ml of beer into each drink. The advice is to start with the minimum dose, taste and possibly correct to your taste.
Step 7. Mix the ingredients with the cocktail spoon
After adding the beer, stir the drink briefly before tasting it.
You can add even more sparkle to the cocktail by adding a little sparkling water
Step 8. Complete the preparation with flake ice
After mixing, tasting and correcting to your taste, you can add the ice and enjoy the margarita.
Method 6 of 7: Choose the Best Ingredients
Step 1. Learn how to select a good tequila
A 100% agave tequila is a quality tequila. Otherwise, ingredients may have been added that can alter its taste and appearance, such as corn syrup, sugar, artificial colors and flavors. So make sure the label says 100% agave.
Step 2. Choose the triple sec correctly
Generally, triple sec has an alcohol content between 15 and 40%. If you want your drink to have an intoxicating taste, opt for a high alcohol version, such as Cointreau (40%).
- There are several brands of triple sec, the most popular include: Curaçao, Grand Marnier (effectively a blend of various cognacs and orange essences) and Cointreau.
- If you want to simplify the margarita recipe, you can try not to use the triple sec.
Step 3. Select the files appropriately
When ripe, the lime has a thin, soft and shiny skin, which when rubbed releases a delicate fragrance.
- For your drink to have an authentic Caribbean flavor, prefer a variety of limes with an accentuated sour and bitter taste, such as "key limes".
- Alternatively, you can use classic lemons. Their freshly squeezed juice will give a more delicate taste to the cocktail.
Step 4. Use a high quality sweetener
Generally, margarita is made sweet by ingredients such as agave syrup, honey or sugar syrup. If you can't find agave syrup at the grocery store, try looking for it at a health food store.
- Sugar syrup can also be easily prepared at home by vigorously shaking the right amounts of water and sugar in a glass jar. Alternatively, you can heat the two ingredients in a saucepan. In both cases the goal is to be able to completely dissolve the sugar. Based on your personal preferences, you can use 1.5-2 parts of sugar for each part of water.
- It is not mandatory to add a sweet ingredient, some people decide not to use any sweetener in the margarita recipe, letting the orange liqueur soften the taste.
Step 5. Use large ice cubes
Unless you want to use the blender, it's best to make the margarita using large ice cubes. Compared to smaller ones or crushed ice, large cubes melt more slowly, leaving the taste and intensity of the cocktail almost intact.
Step 6. Choose a high quality salt to coat the rim of the glass
Coarse salt is easy to find and highly recommended. Alternatively, you can look for kosher salt: a table salt with rather large and irregular grains that dissolve slowly, slightly saltier than sea salt.
- Do not use ordinary fine salt: since it is very fine it tends to adhere easily to the moistened rim, but too much salt would overwhelm the taste of the drink.
- In specialty stores and online, you can purchase specially formulated salt mixes to accompany the margarita.
Method 7 of 7: Salt the rim of the glass
Step 1. Pour the salt into a small deep dish
As previously mentioned, the recommended varieties are coarse salt and kosher salt, which having rather large grains are more pleasing both to the palate and to the eye. The height of the salt layer should be around half a centimeter.
If you love contrasting flavors, you can make a mixture with salt and sugar
Step 2. Moisten the rim of the glass
It will be sufficient to cut a lime wedge in the center, insert it on the edge of the glass (as if to decorate it) and slide it along the entire circumference.
Be careful not to squeeze the lime too hard while moving it along the edge of the glass: the aim is to avoid dropping drops internally or externally with the risk of dirtying the glass and making the cocktail less palatable visually
Step 3. Cover the rim of the glass with salt
The most used methods are two: most people overturn the glass and place it gently in the salt and then rotate it on itself, as if it were a cookie mold.
The other method is to place the glass horizontally and let the outer rim gently touch the salt in the saucer. At this point it will be sufficient to rotate it to cover the entire external circumference. This method ensures that the salt adheres only to the outside of the glass, preventing it from falling into the drink
Advice
- The secret to making a good margarita is to use quality ingredients.
- Cool the glasses in advance, the cocktail will stay cool and refreshing for longer.
- Try making a "blue margarita" using blue curaçao (liqueur made from laraha peel, a type of orange with a characteristic bitter taste) instead of triple sec.
- One shot corresponds to an average of 30-45 ml.
- Experiment with adding a fresh smelling herb, such as mint, basil, or cilantro. The advice is to always use them individually.
- Some people argue that it is best to squeeze limes 4-10 hours in advance so that the juice is less acidic and more aromatic.
- Some margarita aficionados suggest trying to omit the orange liqueur.
