Nothing goes with tortilla chips and queso dip (or guacamole, or both) like a Margarita, it’s one of my all time favorite combinations. Sit me down at an outdoor table at a Mexican restaurant with a basket of warm, house-made chips and a sweet/salty cocktail, and I don’t even need dinner, I’ve got everything.
But often I find those restaurant Margaritas way too sweet – do you? Overpowering and heavy, like having dessert in a glass. Over time making Margaritas at home I’ve cut back on the sugar more and more until arriving at this version, sweetened with nothing but triple sec, Grand Marnier, and – the surprise ingredient – orange juice. No need to make simple syrup! Don’t get me wrong, though – this is still a sweet drink, refreshing and fruity, the pure flavors of lime and orange shining through, unmasked.
Two additional notes before we get on to the recipe: First, in a classic Margarita the salt cuts the sweetness and gives the drink balance. You may find that with this less-sweet version, you need less salt, or maybe you don’t want to salt the rim at all. Experiment and find what works for you.
And last, this Margarita calls for Key lime juice. I use this bottled juice whenever I make a Key Lime Pie, and I freeze the leftovers for Margaritas or other uses. If you don’t have Key lime juice, use green Persian limes (the common limes found at every grocery store) and juice them yourself – just be sure never to use imitation lime juice, here or anywhere else.
For a complete summer menu that features this cocktail, see my post for Saturday August 8, 2020.
Key Lime Margarita
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons key lime juice, or other lime juice
- 3 tablespoons orange juice
- ½ cup tequila
- ¼ cup triple sec
- 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
- Coarse salt and extra lime juice (optional)
Directions
- Step 1 If you want to salt the glasses, spread some coarse salt on a small plate. Moisten the rims of two 8-ounce glasses with lime juice and dip them in the salt to coat the rims. Without or without salt, fill the glasses to the top with ice. Set the glasses aside.
- Step 2 Fill a cocktail shaker half full of ice cubes. Add the lime and orange juices, tequila, triple sec, and Grand Marnier.
- Step 3 Shake the shaker for 30 seconds. Strain the mixture into the prepared glasses, dividing evenly.
