Prickly Pear Margarita
One of my favorite ways to cool off in the hot summer months is with a refreshing prickly pear margarita. The prickly pear fruit, called a ‘tuna’, is what gives this drink its deep purple color. It’s simple, refreshing, and pretty.
In addition to its beautiful color, prickly pear fruit is naturally cooling. It’s designed by nature to help keep your body cool! It’s settled then: You’ll be a healthier, happier, and better person after drinking this!
Since this recipe calls for few ingredients, quality matters. Use good tequila and fresh limes for the best tasting drink. Trust me - your guests will thank you with demands for refills.
Makes 1 drink
1.5 oz good tequila (I prefer silver variety)
Juice from 2 limes (use additional slice for garnish and rimming)
1 tsp agave syrup
1 tsp water
0.5 oz prickly pear nectar
Desert Provisions Sonoran Sea Salt (for rim)
Whisk water and agave syrup together. Add tequila, juice of two limes, and prickly pear nectar. Shake or stir to mix *with or without ice). Rub lime wedge around glass (this will give the Sonoran Sea Salt something to stick to). Dip your glass in the salt to coat the rim and carefully add ice. Pour drink into glass. Garnish with slice of lime or jalapeño. Sit back, relax, enjoy, repeat. (As always, imbibe responsibly.)
Bar Notes: If you live in a region where prickly pear grows, harvest them yourself! They are typically ready for harvest in late August or September depending on the weather that year. It’s a fun and relatively painless process (minus the occasional prick from the plant - ouch!). I freeze my prickly pear nectar so that I have it on hand all year. If not, you can find prickly pear nectar through a few specialty retailers. My favorite is Arizona Cactus Ranch, which can be purchased online. I prefer the sugar-free variety so I can sweeten it myself accordingly.
