Cactus Pear Margarita Recipes

Steps:

• For the cocktail: Combine the tequila, triple sec, lime juice, agave, prickly pear syrup and chile flakes in a cocktail shaker and incorporate all the ingredients by shaking it to your own rhythm.
• For the garnish: Pour some lime juice on a saucer. Mix together the sugar and salt on a separate saucer. Dip the rim of a 10-ounce glass into the lime juice and then dip the rim into the sugar and pink salt mixture. Fill the glass with ice, pour in the cocktail and garnish with prickly pear, if using, and a lime slice.
• Holding each prickly pear with metal tongs, lightly graze the fruit with a flame until the glochids (thorns) are singed off. Place the fruit in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan and cover with water. Bring to boil, cover and let sit off the heat for 25 to 35 minutes.
• Line a fine-mesh sieve with cheesecloth. Strain the liquid through it into a medium heatproof bowl, mashing the fruit with a spoon until all the fruit is mashed.
• Pour the contents of the bowl into the same saucepan and discard the solids; stir in the sugar, bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the lime zest and juice. Let simmer about 15 more minutes; remove from the heat, let cool and refrigerate.

Steps:

• Add the tequila, triple sec, lime juice and prickly pear puree to a pitcher and mix well. Chill for at least 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, spread some salt on a small plate. Run a lime slice around the rim of each glass. Dip the glass rims in the salt to coat. Fill the glasses with ice and pour the margarita mix over. Garnish with a lime slice.

Steps:

• Combine tequila, orange-flavored liqueur, cactus pear syrup, lime juice and ice in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy. Serve in rocks glass and garnish with lime.
• Cactus Pear a.k.a Prickly Pear: The pulp of these cactus fruits is a brilliant red or, occasionally, a yellowish green, and it tastes a bit like watered-down watermelon. Cooks exploit the color by adding slices of the pulp to fruit salads, or by pureeing it and straining out the seeds. They're quite popular in Hispanic countries and around the Mediterranean.

Steps:

• Place tequila, orange liqueur, cactus pear juice, lime juice, and ice in a blender and blend until smooth. Carefully pour a few ounces of cactus pear juice onto a plate and a few ounces of salt onto another plate. Dip the rim of each margarita glass into the juice and then into the salt. Pour margaritas into each glass and garnish with a lime wedge.

Steps:

• Combine the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and pear syrup in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously to incorporate. Wet the rim of a margarita glass and dip into salt and sugar mixture. Pour margarita into glass over ice. Garnish with a kumquat and a curled piece of lime peel.

Steps:

• Rub lime wedge around the rim of cocktail glasses and dip the rim into a saucer of coarse salt. Place tequila, Cointreau, cactus pear and lime juice and ice cubes in a blender and blend until frothy. Divide among glasses.

Steps:

• Place tequila, orange liqueuer, Cactus Pear syrup, lime juice, and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake for 10 seconds.
• Place a few tablespoons of the cactus Pear syrup on a small plate. Dip the rim of the glass in the syrup, and let the excess run off, then dip in salt.
• Strain the mixture into the glass and garnish with a lime wedge.