Prickly Pear Margarita Recipe
Make Prickly Pear Margarita Recipe in just 25m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Prickly Pear Syrup
Cocktail (per 1 serving, scale as needed)
Method
Prickly Pear Syrup
- 1
Prepare fruit (if using fresh)
If using fresh prickly pears, wear gloves and remove spines. Slice off ends, make a lengthwise slit, and scoop out the pulp. Discard seeds if you prefer a smoother syrup (optional). You'll need about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds of fruit to yield 1 cup puree.
- 2
Make the puree (if using frozen, thaw first)
Place the cleaned prickly pear pulp or thawed frozen fruit in a blender. Pulse until smooth to make about 1 cup of puree. If you prefer a seedless syrup, press the puree through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl, using the back of a spoon to extract the bright magenta juice (discard solids).
- 3
Cook the syrup
In a small saucepan combine 1 cup prickly pear puree, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 1 cup water. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves. Simmer 3–5 minutes to slightly thicken and concentrate flavor. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (optional) to brighten the syrup. Let cool completely. Transfer to a sealed jar and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Cocktail Assembly
- 4
Prepare glass
Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks or coupe glass. Dip the rim into coarse salt or Tajín to coat. Fill the glass with fresh ice (or leave empty if serving straight up).
- 5
Mix the cocktail
In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz blanco tequila, 1 oz prickly pear syrup, 1 oz fresh lime juice, 0.5 oz orange liqueur, and 0.25 oz agave syrup if you prefer a slightly sweeter drink. Add about 1 cup of ice (enough to fill the shaker).
- 6
Shake
Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the shaker is very cold and well mixed. This chills and slightly dilutes the drink to balance flavors.
- 7
- 8
Garnish
Garnish with a lime wheel on the rim or a thin slice of peeled prickly pear (ensure spines removed). Serve immediately.
- 9
Scaling and storage notes
This recipe's cocktail quantities are for one serving. Scale ingredients proportionally for multiple servings. Syrup keeps refrigerated for up to 2 weeks; shake well before using if separation occurs.