A little sour, salty and a bit of sweet. Make the lemony-pineapply four ingredient Mexicana Margarita your new fresh margarita of choice.
Are you thirsty?
It wasn’t until a few months ago that I finally started mixing up my own fresh margaritas. The problem was having never tried fresh. Somehow, after all these years, the only margaritas I’d ever come into contact with were the syrupy, overly sweet varieties that made me pucker and move on.
Not one had a lasting impression, which lead me to believe all margaritas were created equal. Perhaps because they were all processed and either came out of some mixer machine or a premade plastic bottle from a store shelf.
I lacked inspiration.
Then my sister, the one who inspired the almost famous, The Big Sister, nudged me with her intriguing bottle of white tequila, of which her visiting friend Maggie gifted her. Maggie knows tequila and called it good tequila. This was not the tequila I had experienced in my younger days in the form of a shot washed down with a squeeze of lime and a lick of salt. The kind I swore I’d never try again. No.
This tequila had a light floral, mild scent. It was pleasant. Like the feeling I get when I nose a fine glass of wine or a bottle of good bourbon. It was smooth and mellow.
I began to change my mind. It didn’t help seeing all the margaritas on popping up on Pinterest.
When I spied the tequila on sale at the store… well, that was all the motivation I needed to reacquaint myself with a margarita. And so I did.
But then I started looking at grenadine. I’d been checking it out at the store and was dissatisfied with the ingredients. So I started looking to find out how I could make homemade.
I first started with Lisa’s Pomegranate Molasses recipe, then used Jeffery Morganthaler’s DIY Grenadine recipe to make my homemade grenadine. Both were very simple to make and only required a bit of attention while simmering on the stove. There’s plenty of pom molasses leftover to make more grenadine and to use in marinades, salad dressings or other inventive applications.
Both are sublime and worth the effort. I can’t wait to whip up my childhood favorite with the grenadine; the Shirley Temple.
The final push for sharing this Mexicali Margarita with you came from Kate at Hola Jalapeño. She asked if I would join her for Margarita Week in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. I enthusiastically said yaaaas and appreciated the opportunity to step outside of my margarita box.
Find the Margarita party on her blog. Be sure check back often as over the next week, more margarita love will be shared there. Also, follow #margaritaweek on social to stay up to date!
I’d love to hear your margarita journey. Are you a fan? What’s your favorite? Drop a link to share the margarita love!
xo
Mexicana Margarita
Ingredients
For the Glass (optional):
- 2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 2 tsp Evaporated Cane Sugar
- 2 Slices Lemon
- Ice
For the Drink:
- 3 oz White Tequila 78g, I use Milagro
- 3 oz Pineapple Juice 90g
- 2 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice 56g
- 4 tsp Grenadine* see note
Instructions
Mix the salt and sugar in a small bowl large enough to dip the rim of the glasses with. Rim a low-ball cocktail glass with a lemon wedge, then dip into the salt mixture, shallow for a little or deep for a lot!
- Combine the tequila, pineapple and lemon juice and grenadine into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a low-ball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon slice.
Recipe Notes
*I just started making homemade grenadine. It's worth the effort. First make pomegranate molasses, then the grenadine. It lasts forever in the fridge and is so easy to make.
Recipe adapted from Drinkology.
Dennis Noson says
May 4, 2016 at 11:04 amTraci– thanks for the reminder that summer is on the way! That’s what a beautiful glass of margarita says to me (especially one that is beautifully photographed). In April a year ago, Leslie & I were hanging out on the beach in La Paz (Baja), and I ordered up a ‘Margarita Especial’ in my pidgin Spanish, and the pool-side barmaster brought us two huge (that’s one way to make them special) margaritas, which set us on our ears. But the taste was also quite unique and wonderful, even special, you might say.
You may want to try it some day, but it takes a local La Paz liqueur to do it properly, called Damiana. The bottle looks like the torso of an Inca fertility goddess, and he used the local and very inexpensive version of orange liqueur, coyly called Controy. I have the proportions written down somewhere …
–Dennis
Traci says
May 5, 2016 at 2:09 pmWoah… it’s been one year already!? OMGeee where does the time gooooo!? I’m dreaming of that beach now, Dennis… what a pleasure, that and sippin on a Margarita Especial, getting tipped on your ears. Oh my. If you find that recipe, somewhere, please send it on! I’d love to enjoy it. Would cointreau do?
Zainab says
May 3, 2016 at 6:06 pmThese are so pretty!! I would love a glass of it now :)
Traci says
May 4, 2016 at 9:07 amHi Zainab! Thank you so much! I think you’d love these! :D
[email protected] says
May 3, 2016 at 5:41 amTruth is I’ve never been a big fan of the margarita and now I know why – I’ve never had a fresh, from scratch, with all the finest ingredients margarita… Thanks for mending my ways! I need to give this beauty a try! Thanks for sharing, Tracy! Cheers!
Traci says
May 4, 2016 at 9:01 amRight!? That’s where I was too, Annie! I heard some mumbling about fresh margaritas years ago, but never gave them a chance. My mind was made up. But I soooo glad I finally tried fresh, because, WOW! What a difference! I think you’d love this, Annie! xo
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
May 2, 2016 at 11:43 amFresh Margaritas are where it is at! I’m so glad you decided to give margaritas another go and create your own, Traci! I don’t really have a favorite margarita, per say, but I love ones with a spicy kick and I am LOVING this one! Your use of pineapple and grenadine sounds wonderful! I happen to have everything I need to mix up one of these beauties, so as soon as I’m feeling better I WILL be making these happen! Pinned! Cheers friend – to a day as beautiful as these Mexicana Margaritas!
Traci says
May 4, 2016 at 8:35 amNow I know your wisdom, Chey! No doubt, fresh is best, right? A spicy kick would be good too… I’m thinking about a floating jalapeño or something! Thank you for your pin, Chey. Feel better soon. xo
Lisa says
May 2, 2016 at 11:06 amTraci, this margarita looks fantastic! I’ve never made fresh ones before. I think the only time I made margaritas at home was during college, and they were absolutely awful! Hah. Thank you SOO MUCH for trying out the pomegranate molasses recipe and for the shout out!
Traci says
May 4, 2016 at 8:34 amI LOVE it Lisa! And that homemade grenadine made all the difference! I’ve got so much work to do now that I have that on the ready! Thank you for your recipe! xo
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
May 1, 2016 at 10:39 amHomemade margaritas are a total game changer. I can’t even order the ones at restaurants anymore – way too sweet for me. And who knows what else is in them. Love these bright photos! Cheers, friend!
Traci says
May 4, 2016 at 8:32 amRight? Thank goodness I know now… ! I’ve been missing this all my LIFE!! Cheers, Liz!
Julie @ Cooks with Cocktails says
May 1, 2016 at 7:51 amI hear you! I used to hate margaritas cuz I only had one with the bad pre made syrup. Debbie introduced me to fresh juice margaritas and I have been won over completely. I love the sweet tang of a properly made margarita and this one looks like it would be exactly that with the pineapple/lemon combo. I cant bring myself to use store bought grenadine either. How is it that something so simple to make naturally has been turned into a sweet chemical concoction. Gross! Homemade is the only way to go. Cant wait to try this marg. Cheers!
Traci says
May 4, 2016 at 6:04 amWhat a difference between fresh and pre-made, right? So surprising! Makes you wonder what in the world is in those mixers.. I’ve not looked. Ooooh, I need to see if you’ve blogged about grenadine. After reading about homemade grenadine, I found there are multiple ways to make grenadine. I ended up using orange blossom water.. I loved the results! You’re going to love this Julie!
MB @ Bourbon and Brown Sugar says
May 1, 2016 at 3:04 amWow Traci… LOVE the homemade grenadine in this… may try my hand at it this afternoon. A friend brought a fabulous bottle of tequila to our home last week as a hostess gift (we have amazing friends!) and Margaritas have been on my mind… love the color of this one :) Happy weekend!
Traci says
May 3, 2016 at 4:24 pmWhat a generous hostess gift! Indeed, amazing friends with good taste! The homemade grenadine is worth it! DO it MB! You’ll love it!
Amisha says
May 1, 2016 at 12:12 amGAWD these margaritas look amazing! I would love to share these with you Traci! :)
I do not like margaritas from out that are just so sweet! I love making them at home and they come together pretty quickly .. which is great! I especially love making margaritas with fresh fruit.. whatever is in season.. yum yum!
Traci says
May 3, 2016 at 4:23 pmAnd I, you, Amisha <3 ! I'm with ya. Too sweet, no bueno. I'm excited to try new varieties and will be looking at your blog for a jammed up variety! xo
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
April 30, 2016 at 6:34 pmHo, ho, ho. Now we’re talking. Fresh margaritas (never that yucky mixer stuff) on the rocks is my all time favorite cocktail. Lucky for me we have several Mexican restaurants within walking distance to my place. . .so it’s easy enough to get my fix. But on days that we stay in. . .the Mr. mixes up a mean margarita. We usually go for the classic lime. . .but can’t wait to give this pineapple number a try. Glad you finally discovered margaritas aren’t so bad after all.
P.S.. Homemade Pom molasses tastes divine on pancakes. :-)
Traci says
May 3, 2016 at 4:21 pmOh wow Lynn, thanks for the tip! Sounds like I need to make some waffles posthaste! Hooray for fresh, on the rocks margaritas! I hope you enjoy this one! :D
rebecca | DisplacedHousewife says
April 30, 2016 at 7:14 amOh my goodness, YES!!! Would you come over and make these for me? Tonight? ;)
Traci says
May 3, 2016 at 4:12 pmOh Yes! You got it Rebecca! As long as you whip up some of your chai cookies for me?! Okay?
Aysegul says
April 30, 2016 at 7:03 amOh man! I love anything served with pomegranate molasses. And this margarita is no exception. Such a good way of enjoying the season with amazing flavors.
<3
Traci says
May 3, 2016 at 4:11 pmI wasn’t familiar with it until I made it and WOAH! I can’t wait to slather it on some recipes I have in mind. Loving the flavors of this new to me margarita too, Aysegul. :D
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
April 30, 2016 at 6:05 amWow Traci, I never thought of making homemade grenadine! I’m always looking for special drink recipes for the summer when we entertain. I’m definitely putting this one on my list. Have an awesome weekend and as usual thanks for sharing another great recipe!
Traci says
May 3, 2016 at 4:04 pmOh my, it’s sooo good, Mary Ann! If it weren’t so darn sweet, you may catch me with my head in the refrigerator sippin on the jar! I hope you enjoy it with all your Summertime events!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen says
April 29, 2016 at 2:15 pmI love a good, fresh margarita, Traci – and this one looks awesome. It’s amazing how smooth they can taste when you use a good tequila. It’s been a long week and I think I’m going to make this tonight – never thought of adding pineapple juice but that sounds like a lovely addition. Just need to stop at the store on the way home!
Traci says
May 3, 2016 at 4:03 pmThank you, Geraldine! I had no idea Fresh was soooo good! I hope you love it my dear…. better yet, I wish I could make this one for you and we could toast to good food and good friends! xo
Kate says
April 29, 2016 at 12:04 pmYay!! I’m so glad you’ve come over to the margarita side. Thanks so much for your brilliant addition to margarita week!
Traci says
May 3, 2016 at 4:02 pmYayaya! Thank you so much for your nudge my dear! xo
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
April 29, 2016 at 10:03 amOh yes, fresh margaritas are where it’s at! The color of this one is so pretty. I love that you used homemade grenadine. It’s so much healthier than what you can get at the store. Pineapple juice sounds like a delicious addition too.
Also, I kinda love the blog name Hola Jalalpeno. That’s adorable!!
Traci says
May 3, 2016 at 4:01 pmThank you Sarah! OMGeee that grenadine! I’m in love. I know, right? Hola Jalapeño is snappy as are her recipes! Love it too!