Simple Citrus-Basil Margarita – a wonderfully refreshing spin on the classic margarita, just in time for Cinco de Mayo!
I am so excited to share this wonderfully delicious cocktail with you guys! If you are planning your Cinco de Mayo party, this NEEDS to be on the menu.
I really haven’t been in the mood for cocktails lately, it just isn’t what my body wants (and hello, being a hung over parent is like the absolute worst soooo…), but I knew I wanted to conjure up something amazing for Cinco de Mayo and this is what happened. And I am so glad it did. Although I am not sure taste testing margarita mixtures at 11:00am on a Saturday was a great idea… in retrospect.
The main ingredient is orange juice, but not just any orange juice, you literally take an entire (peeled) minneola orange and pop it in the blender. Strain it. And then add the rest of your ingredients. I wanted to try and get as much of the nutrients out of the orange as possible, which is why I blended it. Squeeze in some lime and lemon juice, add tequila and triple sec (and some honey if you want), rim the glass with salt and boom. Amazingly refreshing drank accomplished.
If you want to re-create the glass exactly, layering and all, the layers go like this:
- Lime
- Minneola orange
- Navel orange
- Grapefruit
- Lemon
And, if you wanted to go really wild and crazy, you could experiment with adding some grapefruit and navel oranges to the blender.
I love that this drink is so simple. Yes, it requires you to get your bender out, but I promise you it is so worth it to press that little tiny “puree” button.
If you are looking for other light and refreshing drink options – I would HIGHLY recommend the Refreshing Cucumber Vodka Water – it’s like sipping cucumber water at the spa…. but with alcohol….
Whelp – I hope you guys had a fabulous weekend! Mine was pretty fantastic – spent all of it either in the kitchen or snuggling up my little loves. So, it was my version of a perfect weekend 🙂
Did you guys like the black background or the white background better? I started out with the white, but then switched it up and I am so glad I did! I love the light, beachy feel of the white, but I am also loving how the black makes the colors pop. I can’t decide which one I like better!
Don’t forget to check out my Instagram account for some behind-the-scenes action! Or give me a follow on Facebook or see what I am pinning on Pinterest!
Made this recipe and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!
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Simple Citrus-Basil Margarita
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Counter Top
- Cuisine: American
Description
A wonderfully refreshing spin on the classic margarita, just in time for Cinco de Mayo!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup fresh minneola orange juice (peel one orange and place in blender – puree until completely liquid – pour through fine mesh sieve)
- 2–3 Tablespoons lime juice (add 2 Tablespoons first, more to taste)
- 1/2 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 Teaspoon honey
- 1 shot (approx. 1-1.5oz) tequila
- 2 oz triple sec
- 1 sweet basil leaf
- Salt
Instructions
- Rub citrus juice around rim of glass and dip in salt.
- Add basil to glass and crush/mull.
- Add ice to glass.
- Combine ingredients and pour over ice.
- Alternatively, you can add ingredients to a shaker with ice and then pour over layers of lime, minneola orange, navel orange, grapefruit and lemon.
- *everyone’s tastes are different, taste and adjust accordingly! Enjoy!
Lindsay | With Salt and Pepper says
LOVE these!!! Fresh made is the only way to go for margaritas in my world. I love that you blended the entire orange too! So delicious 😀
Erin says
Thanks, Lindsay!! They might have been little too good ?. Fresh is definitely the only way!! ?