My nopal margarita is light, refreshing and addicting. Made with nopales (cactus paddles), tequila and plenty of lime juice this nopal margarita is an exciting new way to enjoy nopales.
Nopal Margarita (Cactus Margarita)
Tequila, Tequila, te adoro!
Happy National Tequila guys, let’s shake up some margaritas!
Today I want to share with you an exciting new margarita I have been enjoying this summer. Made with fresh nopales (cactus paddles) and plenty of fresh lime juice this margarita is addicting.
Nopales are the paddles of the cactus. Typically boiled or grilled used in breakfast tacos, salad or guisados. Fresh nopales can be made into juices or smoothies. The flavor profile for nopales is similar to a green beans and asparagus.
For this margarita, I simmered fresh nopales with sugar and water to create a nopal simple syrup. When working with fresh nopales its best to wear gloves to clean them. Lay the nopal on a cutting braid and with a sharp paring knife shave across the paddle to remove the tiny spines. Look for cleaned and diced nopales in the produce section at the local Latin Market.
Don’t skimp on the salt rim; it punches up the flavor profile.
Nopal Margarita (Cactus Margarita)
Yield 2 cups Makes
My nopal margarita is light, refreshing and addicting. Made with nopales (cactus paddles), tequila and plenty of lime juice this nopal margarita is an exciting new way to enjoy nopales.
Ingredients
For Nopal Simple Syrup
2 nopal paddles, spines removed and diced
2 cups water
1 /2 cup sugar
Juice of 3 limes
For Margarita
1 ounces nopal simple syrup
2 ounces tequila blanco
1 ounce Cointreau
Instructions
To make Nopal Simple Syrup
In a saucepan combine nopales, water and sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let steep for an hour. Strain, (keep diced nopales to garnish margaritas if desired) stir in lime juice and use to make margaritas.
To Make margarita
To a cocktail shaker filled with ice add nopal simple syrup, tequila and Cointreau. Shake until well chilled, stain into salt rimmed glass filled with ice. Garnish with nopales.
Notes
Nopal SImple Syrup can be made in advance. Will keep in the fridge for up to one week.
For more Margarita Recipes visit my margarita page.
Courses Cocktails
Cuisine Mexican
Hey! This sounds interesting… have you ever tried to do it with cactus nopal water?
You can totally use nopal water for this margarita.