Citrus Margarita With Smoky Chile Salt Recipes

WHOLE CITRUS MARGARITAS

Steps:

• Put the oranges, lemons, and limes through a juicer. Pour the juice into a large pitcher. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Then stir in the Cointreau, Triple Sec, and tequila.
• To serve: Pour salt onto a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the top of each glass and dip the glass in the salt. Fill each glass halfway with ice and pour in the juice mixture. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
• Chef's note: Farm freshness is the key here. Look for the citrus that is mostly in season and adjust the recipe. Tangerines, Meyer lemons, and key limes all have amazing flavor if you can find them.

SMOKY SERRANO-MINT MARGARITA

Steps:

• Place chile directly over a gas flame, or in a dry cast-iron skillet preheated over high and cook, turning a few times, until blackened all over, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; let cool completely. Rub a lime wheel around the rims of 2 rocks glasses. Combine salt and sumac on a small plate.
• Dip rims of glasses into salt mixture to coat. Halve chile lengthwise; remove stem, ribs, and seeds. Divide chile, sugar, and mint leaves evenly between 2 glasses; gently pound with a muddling stick or the handle end of a thick wooden spoon until sugar dissolves and chile breaks down into tiny pieces. Fill glasses halfway with ice. Divide tequila, liqueur, and lime juice evenly between glasses; stir to combine. Garnish each with a mint sprig and lime wheel, and serve immediately.

CITRUS MARGARITA

Steps:

• Combine liqueur, tequila, orange juice, lime juice and grapefruit juice in a large pitcher and mix well.
• Chill covered in the refrigerator.
• To serve, rub the rims of margarita glasses with lime wedges and dip in margarita salt, rotating gently to cover the rims evenly.
• Fill the salt-filled glasses with ice.
• Shake the chilled margarita mixture in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and strain into the prepared glasses.
• Garnish each serving with orange, lime and/or grapefruit slices.

SPICY MARGARITA WITH CHILI SALT

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the salt and 1 teaspoon chili powder.
• Rub the rim of a glass with a lime wedge and dredge in the chili salt.
• Fill a blender with the ice, tequila, lime juice, Grand Marnier, and superfine sugar.
• Blenduntil smooth. Pour into the glasses. Garnish with lime wedge, if desired.