A Southwest twist on the classic cocktail, this Prickly Pear Margarita is made with prickly pear syrup, fresh lim juice, and tequila. This version of the beloved tequila cocktail will make the bright pink cactus fruit a favorite of yours!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- What is Prickly Pear?
- Where Can You Find Prickly Pear Fruit?
- What Does Prickly Pear Fruit Taste Like?
- Key Ingredients Needed for this Recipe
- Use Store-Bought Syrup or Make Your Own
- Expert Tips
- How to Make This Prickly Pear Drink
- Recipes That Go With Margaritas
- Prickly Pear Margarita
Why You'll Love This Recipe
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The vibrant pink color of this margarita is so eye-catching and beautiful, just like my Hibiscus Pisco Sour, it looks stunning on your table and is sure to impress your guests.
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Prickly pear adds a sweet and subtle fruit flavor to this cocktail, similar to dragon fruit, that softens the tequila and pairs perfectly with lime.
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Margaritas are easy to make and you can use store-bought syrup or make your own syrup if you are lucky enough to have some fresh prickly pear fruit.
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Prickly pear margaritas pair perfectly with various foods, from spicy tacos to savory snacks.
What is Prickly Pear?
Prickly pear is the fruit of the Opuntia cactus, also called a prickly pear cactus, known for its vibrant colors and sweet, mild flavor. It’s rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, making it a nutritious addition to drinks, desserts, and more.
Where Can You Find Prickly Pear Fruit?
Prickly pear fruit is commonly available in states like Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, California, and Florida, thriving in warm, arid climates. Look for it at farmers' markets, specialty grocery stores, Mexican and Latin American markets, well-stocked supermarkets, or online from fresh fruit suppliers.
What Does Prickly Pear Fruit Taste Like?
Prickly pear has a subtle flavor similar to kiwi, watermelon, or dragon fruit with hints of bubblegum. The fruit is very juicy and has a lot of small, edible, crunchy seeds.
Prickly pear fruit can come in a variety of colors, including green, yellow, purple, and red. The fruit must be carefully peeled to remove small spines, as ingesting them can cause irritation to the throat, lips, and tongue.
Key Ingredients Needed for this Recipe
- margarita salt
- blanco tequila (or tequila of choice)
- orange liqueur
- prickly pear syrup
- freshly squeezed lime juice
*See the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.
Use Store-Bought Syrup or Make Your Own
Prickly pear fruit are easy to find if you are in the West or Southwest, but are not always accessible everywhere. You can make your own using my Prickly Pear Syrup recipe or find prickly pear syrup online.
Expert Tips
- Use Quality Tequila - Select a high-quality tequila, preferably a silver or blanco variety. The clean and crisp flavors of silver tequila always work well in a fruity margarita.
- Use Fresh Citus Juice - Margaritas have the best flavor when you use freshly squeezed lime juice. Bottled juice has added ingredients that change the fished drink.
- Use Margarita Salt - Enhance the sweetness and flavors of the prickly pear by adding a salty touch with margarita salt.
How to Make This Prickly Pear Drink
- Prepare the glass with salt on the rim first. Use agave syrup or water on the rim to get the salt to stick. Dip the top of the glass in the salt and shake off any excess. Place fresh ice in the glass and set it aside.
- Add all of the cocktail ingredients to a shaker with fresh ice and shake until cold about 10-12 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into the prepared glass and garnish if desired. Enjoy immediately.
Recipes That Go With Margaritas
If you get a chance to make this Prickly Pear Margarita recipe, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes in your inbox.
Prickly Pear Margarita
Equipment
- 1 margarita glass (or cocktail glass of your choice)
- 1 glass rimming plate (optional)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup margarita salt
- 2 ounces blanco tequila (or tequila of choice)
- ½ ounce orange liqueur (I used Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao)
- 2 ounces prickly pear syrup
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce agave syrup (optional for agave flavor)
- dried citrus wheel or lime wedge (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the glass with salt on the rim by placing agave syrup or water on the rim and then dipping the top of the glass into margarita salt. Fill the glass with fresh ice and set it aside.
- Add fresh ice to the cocktail shaker along with tequila, orange liqueur, prickly pear syrup, lime juice, and agave syrup. Place the top on the shaker and shake for 10-12 seconds until nice and cold.
- Strain into the prepared glass. If desired, garnish with a citrus wheel or lime wedge and enjoy. Cheers!
Notes
- Use Quality Tequila - Select a high-quality tequila, preferably a silver or blanco variety. The clean and crisp flavors of silver tequila always work well in a fruity margarita.
- Use Fresh Citus Juice - Margaritas have the best flavor when you use freshly squeezed lime juice. Bottled juice has added ingredients that change the fished drink.
- Use Margarita Salt - Enhance the sweetness and flavors of the prickly pear by adding a salty touch with margarita salt.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
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