Quick Blood Orange Margaritas Recipe (With Simple Ingredients)

• Food: Blood Orange Margaritas
• Writer: Lizzie Green
• Content-Type: Food Blog

There is no orange liqueur in this margarita, unlike my “thin” margarita recipe. Through intensive margarita testing (hiccup).

I’ve discovered that margaritas taste best without it—a disgrace to some, on par with last-minute dress shopping—but it’s real.

Liquor made from oranges is syrupy, medicinal, and pricey. If you must, add half an ounce to this margarita, but you may find that you prefer it without.

Try adding a teeny little drop of pure vanilla essence to each drink if you want to boost the flavor. The combination of blood oranges and vanilla is delicious.

If you can’t locate blood oranges in your area, use this recipe to make fresh orange margaritas instead. I’d recommend any of the excellent, in-season varietals over the conventional orange, such as Cara Cara’s, for the finest flavor.

Blood Orange Margaritas

Fresh blood oranges, limes, agave nectar, tequila, and a hint of vanilla go into these simple margaritas. The quantities listed below make one drink, so multiply as needed.

INGREDIENTS

Margarita

• 2 ounces silver/Blanco tequila
• 1-ounce fresh lime juice (about 1 lime, juiced)
• 1 teaspoon light agave nectar or simple syrup, to taste
• 2 ounces fresh blood orange juice (about 1 large blood orange, juiced)
• 1 tiny drop of pure vanilla extract (optional)

Salt and brown sugar rim (use all salt if you want)

• 2 teaspoons kosher sea salt and/or Himalayan salt
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar (optional)
• Lime wedges

INSTRUCTIONS

1. On a small plate, combine the salt and sugar (preferably one just slightly larger than the top of your margarita glass). Wrap a lime wedge over the rim of your glass. To catch the salt, dip the top of the glass into the salt blend at a 45-degree angle and roll it from side to side. Fill your glass with ice cubes and set it aside.
2. Ice should be added to a small cocktail shaker. Pour in the tequila, blood orange and lime juice, and agave nectar, all freshly squeezed. If desired, add a drop of vanilla essence (I used the blunt end of a fork as a dropper because I didn’t want to pour it straight from the container).
3. Shake for 30 seconds with the lid on. Strain the liquid into your glass and, if wanted, garnish with a blood orange slice.

NOTES

• Espolón, Milagro, or any other 100% agave silver tequila are recommended.