Fruity Margaritas To Try for the Non-Traditionalist!

(our School of Fish Margarita Glasses, make very pretty containers for Margaritas)

I almost missed it!  Cinco de Mayo is today, and this presents a delightful opportunity to try a new margarita recipe out on Tom.  Maybe with fresh strawberries, or better yet, fresh mangoes? Hmmm... I did see watermelons on sale last week...

I have been collecting some yummy margarita recipes on our Pinterest board "Cocktails, Anyone?" and thought I would share a Five Fruit Forward non-traditional recipes with you.   Now to decide which one to try for us tonight....

1. Strawberry and Mango Margarita

How about a blend of both strawberries and mangoes?  This easy recipe from BakerbyNature.com looks so YUM! (pic and recipe from the BakerbyNature Blog)

• 1 1/2 cups frozen mango chunks
• 1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup triple sec
• 1 1/4 cup tequila
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 1/2 cups ice

Throw everything together in your blender and mix until your margaritas are the right consistency.  Pour immediately into pretty glasses, garnish and serve!

2. The Tequila Sunrise Margarita 

From bhg.com; a south of the border treat with fresh orange juice. Looks so delish, and is a non-blended recipe for those of us (raise your hand!) that try to avoid the "ice cream" headaches with blended cocktails...

• Red Colored Sugar
• Lime Wedge
• 3 cups Triple Sec
• 2 cups Tequila
• 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 cup superfine sugar or powdered sugar
• 2 cups orange juice
• Ice Cubes
• Grenadine Syrup
• Orange Slices for garnish

1. Place red sugar on a small plate. Rub edges of cocktails glasses with lime wedge and then dip the rims into the sugar to coat.  Set finished glasses aside.

2. Combine triple sec, tequila, lime juice and sugar; stir until sugar is completely dissolved.  Stir in orange juice and chill until ready to serve.

3. Add ice cubes to red sugar-rimmed glasses. Pour margarita mixture over the ice cubes and add 2 dashes of grenadine to each glasses.  Garnish with orange slices.  

Orange "twists" would be fun too as garnish!

3. Pineapple Margarita

Pineapple Margaritas from The Recipe Girl.  Who doesn't like pineapple for cocktails beside the sea?   Simple directions; add everything to the blender, whip until blended and then garnish with lime or pineapple slices. 

These might be the winner tonight!

• 1 cup good tequila
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• 6 tablespoons triple sec
• 4 teaspoons granulated white sugar
• 2 tablespoons Cointreau
• crushed ice
• lime slices or pineapple slices for garnish (optional)

4. Watermelon Margaritas 

From bhg.com, these margaritas look so refreshing! Created  (and photographed) by Erin Gleeson of the Forest Feast - a fabulously dreamy recipe blog from Sonoma Country.  (one of our day trip hang-outs!)

• 10 lime wedges
• 3 cups Triple Sec or other orange liqueur
• 2 cups tequila
• 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 cup super fine sugar
• 5 cups seedless watermelon chopped

1. If desired, freeze cubes of watermelon on a waxed paper-lined tray for 1 to 2 hours or until firm.
2. Place salt on a small plate. Rub rims of eight glasses with one of the lime wedges. Dip rims of glasses in salt to coat; set aside. (Erin, of the Forest Feast, the recipe creator skipped this step - I might too, or at least experiment to see what tasted better)
3. In a pitcher combine Triple Sec, tequila, lime juice, and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
4. Pour 1/4 cup of tequila mixture into blender or food processor with chopped watermelon (working in batches if necessary). Cover and blend or process until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Combine watermelon juice with remaining tequila mixture. Stir. Chill until ready to serve.
5. Place frozen watermelon cubes, if using, in salt-rimmed glasses. Pour tequila mixture over watermelon cubes. Garnish with remaining lime wedges.

5. Chili Lime Mango Margaritas

Love this idea of spicy and sweet mixed together. From the Minimalist Baker - super cute blog!  Another non-blended margarita recipe - yay

• For the Margaritas:
  • 1 ripe mango, cubed (~1 cup or 157 g)*
  • 1 cup (240 ml) orange juice
  • 2 small limes, juiced (~1 ounce)
  • 2.5 -3 ounces (73 - 88 ml) silver tequila (depending on preferred strength of drink)
  • 1 ounce (29.5 ml) triple sec or orange liqueur
  • Dash hot sauce (optional)
  • 1-3 (15-45 ml) Tbsp agave nectar or maple syrup (depending on sweetness of mango)
  For the Chili Salt Rim
• 1 lime wedge for rimming
• 1 tsp chili powder + 1/4 tsp sea salt

1. Add all margarita ingredients to a blender and blend until creamy and smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness / strength of alcohol as desired.
2. To chill, either blend in a large handful of ice cubes to make a frozen margarita, or transfer half of the mixture to a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice and shake vigorously.
3. Rim serving glasses with a lime wedge and immediately dip in salt/chili powder mixture, and fill with 1 large ice cube or several small. Pour over margarita and garnish with lime wedge.

Would love to know if you have anything special planned for Cinco de Mayo, or if you have a favorite margarita recipe you'd like to share! 

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P.S.  Don't forget pretty glassware for serving!

 Palm Tree Cocktail Glassware!

 Anchorage Glasses and Pitcher

Stemless Glassware is always a favorite at the coast - doesn't tip over in the sand!  Our Seahorses are rather popular...

Pineapples would be fun too! Especially with the pineapple margarita recipe...