A Delicious Prickly Pear Margarita!

This Prickly Pear Margarita will have you saying “Move on over margarita…there’s a new kid in town”!

Have you ever heard of a Prickly Pear Margarita? I hadn’t until we went on vacation to Cape May, New Jersey in the Summer of 2020. One of our favorite restaurants had changed hands and this was one of their signature drinks. OMG! That is all I can say. I have not seen one on a menu locally so I don’t think it is well known, but trust me you have to try this!

What exactly is a Prickly Pear? Well, it is not a pear or from the pear family, but it is actually part of the cactus family. The fruit of the cactus is mainly used for syrups, candies and jellies. By looking at the picture you may think it has a citrus taste like grapefruit, but it is actually sweet almost like a watermelon meets bubblegum.

You could make your own Prickly Pear Syrup if you are lucky enough to find them in your market or if you grow the plant in your yard. Well, I could not find Prickly Pears and I surely can’t grow cactus in the northeast! I scoured my markets for pre-made mix to no avail and I am too impatient to order on line and wait for it to arrive. I saw Prickly Pear Water at Walmart and that got my wheels turning. Every good Margarita needs a simple syrup so why not make that with the water! It worked!

The Method of a Prickly Pear Margarita

ingredients:

• Prickly Pear Water
• sugar
• Tequila Blanco
• lime juice
• Chambord
• limes
• salt for rimming

directions:

First make the Prickly Pear simple syrup. Mix equal parts sugar and Prickly Pear water in a saucepan over medium heat whisking until the sugar melts. Cool completely.

To a shaker add Tequila, simple syrup, lime juice and Chambord. Fill with ice and shake 30 seconds. Yes, your hands will be cold! Slice a lime and run it around the rim of your glass and dip in salt.

Cook’s Notes:

A traditional Prickly Pear Margarita recipe calls for Triple Sec or Cointreau, but I think the raspberry liquor is a better fit. You can however use the aforementioned if you prefer.

This drink is on the sweeter side so I rimmed using salt, but you can change it up and use sugar. Try grinding some freeze dried strawberries to mix in the sugar too!

This drink would pair nicely for happy hour with my Mango Salsa with Chili Lime Chips! It would go great with spicy shrimp or fish tacos or a Mexican spice rubbed steak fajita!

If you make my Prickly Pear Margarita and LOVE it, please come back and give it a rating!