Preserved Lemon Spicy Margarita is the perfect lemon-limey, tangy, tart, slightly spicy cocktail to serve to your special Valentine or make for Taco Tuesday!
So, I wasn’t planning on making a recipe with the preserved lemons I made a few weeks ago until late February; however, Rachelle with Beer Girl Cooks planted alcoholic seeds in my mind when both of them commented on using the lemons in a cocktail.
I’ve only added these lemons to a Bloody Mary before but the idea of combining them with a vibrant herb in a gin and tonic or a margarita had me all excited. The tonic is out of the question, due to my take-no-prisoners sugarless eating plan, that I am currently trying to follow, so that left me with tequila.
Tequila is actually a pretty good liquor to drink if you are trying to be “healthy”. After all, Time Magazine came out and practically announced it’s a health food, so who the hell am I to argue with the reputable and highly educated folks at Time??
Healthy people rejoice, as I hereby present to you the supremely good for you drink…Preserved Lemon Spicy Margarita!!!!
Here’s to your health!
Plus, it’s Taco Tuesday!!!!! What better time to drink a refreshing preserved lemon spicy margarita than on the most perfect day of the week for it? I mean, if you can’t drink this on Taco Tuesday, when can you drink it? FYI, in case you need some recipes, here’s a shredded beef taco one and a slow cooker tomatillo pork one.
This drink is simple, quick, easy, and delicious…and it has tasty tequila in it. The little bit of spiciness comes from this unbelievable Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur. This stuff is the best mixer for all kinds of drinks, but especially good in margaritas. Definitely look for it at your local stores, if you like this sort of thing and if you can’t find it, feel free to leave it out. Just make a preserved lemon margarita, sans spicy 🙂
Lately, I’ve been making all my margaritas, including this one, without a simple syrup; however, for the sake of people who don’t mind a little sugar in their drinks, I added it to this recipe. By the way, please don’t bother with buying simple syrup at the store to mix your drinks, just make your own.
How to make a simple syrup:
- 1 to 1 ratio of sugar and water (for example: 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water). I use turbinado or demerara sugar, in place of white.
- Place the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until all the sugar melts. Remove from heat and let cool. Put mixture in a covered container and store in the refrigerator. I’ve kept mine in the refrigerator for weeks at a time and it stays perfectly fresh.
Hope you show your Valentine, or your tacos tonight, how much you love them by making this Preserved Lemon Spicy Margarita!
- 1/4 preserved lemon rind, cut into thin strips (about 4 strips)
- 1 teaspoon fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 1/2 ounces silver tequila
- 3/4 ounce Ancho Chili Liqueur
- 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- coarse salt to line the glass rim
- ice cubes
- Place the preserved lemon strips and cilantro in cocktail shaker and muddle together for a minute or two. Add all of the remaining ingredients to the lemon and cilantro mixture in the cocktail shaker. Shake well.
- Place some coarse salt on shallow bowl, lightly wet rim of glass, and dip into salt so it coats the rim on all sides. Add the desired amount of ice to the glass and carefully pour in the prepared margarita mixture.
- Cheers to a good life!
So I’m on a tight deadline right now and shouldn’t be on the internet at all but I had a moment of weakness and checked Bloglovin, and then I saw THIS and I dropped EVERYTHING!!! I absolutely LOVE this idea and will have to make it ASAP! Friday can’t come soon enough!!
There’s always enough time for a margarita!! hahaha!
I’m so glad you decided to turn those preserved lemons in to a delicious diet friendly cocktail! It’s such a relief that you have my health in mind when creating boozy masterpieces! And since it’s Taco Tuesday, I can enjoy a Tuesday margarita!
I’m glad too! Drink to your health, my friend
It’s Tuesday afternoon, but is it too early for a drink? Haha.
I love how you have used preserved lemons in this.
Never too early for a drink Dannii, especially when it’s healthy
Tequila is healthy? That’s another excuse to poor me some Especially when it’s in your delicious margarita! That salt on a rim is making my mouth water!
Thank you Melanie and it’s always great news to find out that one of my favorite drinks is good for me too!
So glad some of our friend inspired you to make a boozy concoction with those preserved lemons, Karrie! Because OMG, I’ll take a few! Love the spiciness you have going on here! Hand me some maracas and a couple of these beauties! cheers doll, *clink clink*!
Ps hope the move is going well!! Xo
Wish we lived closer to each other and we’d make a day out of drinking these! Cheers and the move has and still is sucking
I would put it towards family vacation.
That sounds great and hope you win!
I love the combination of preserved lemons, some spice and alcohol! Is it weird that an alcoholic drink just made my mouth water a little bit?! It just sounds so refreshing and with a little kick too!Also gorgeous photos Karrie. Will this be your drink of choice in drowning your Superbowl sorrows this weekend?
Thanks Erika! No, it’s not weird and it is so refreshing. I drank a lot of beer watching the super bowl but should have drank these instead.
So tequila is healthy? Since I’m trying to eat a little more healthy these days, I should incorporate it into my diet! I was wondering what you were going to do with those preserved lemons. Glad to see it being put to good use in a little drinkie drinkie. This would be a hit with company! Congrats on your first giveaway Karrie! My husband and I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, but this would be an awesome Valentine’s treat!
Isn’t it wonderful news Thao? If I wasn’t already on a diet, I would start one just to drink tequila! lol!
Oh my – this drink is pure genius! I never would have thought to use preserved lemons in a cocktail – brilliant! And I’m loving the spicy element to it (I LOVE all things spicy)! And best of all, this looks like the type of cocktail that’s social exceptable to drink before noon… am I right?!
Anything with tequila in it is pure genius and totally acceptable to drink before noon. P.S. you’re my kind of girl Kathleen!
So I’m not that into regular margaritas (and you know I prefer my bourbon) but I LOVE the sound of this spicy version! The freshness of the lemon flavors and the kick of heat, plus tequila – this is a winner! Pinning!
I swore off Tequila for personal reasons. hahaha But this little cocktail is seriously making me rethink it.
Hahahaha! That’s too funny Tammy! If I was smart, I would swear off tequila too
Absolutely in love with this spicy lemon margarita, Karrie. Glad you used those lemons — such a genius idea.
Thank you so much Anu!
Everything about this is sooo inviting! Which means I’ll be right over! Thanks for your warm hospitality! DELICIOUS!
It’s an open door policy over here Annie! Cheers
This looks SO freakin good! It’s TGIF and I am totally craving a cocktail! :p I love this idea of using preserved lemons…so so tasty!
Thanks Beeta. I’m always craving a cocktail. lol!
I like very much cocktails and I wanted to learn to prepare them at home I even bought some tiny measuring cups This Margarita looks delicious and I wouldn’t refuse one, though it’s 7 am now in my country Congratulations for your first giveaway!
Too cute on the tiny measuring cups for cocktails, Simona. I love stuff like that! 7am isn’t too early for a cocktail, is it? heeheehee
Ow Ow! This is a drink I know lots of people would drink WAY too much of!! Oh the peeps who love spicy! Me… Not so much
What? No spicy? I would think you would like it all spicy and such.
Nada! I like in MILD… but… SPICY in the bedroom?! LOL TMI???
It’s not too much TMI, as long as you don’t get specific on the degree of spiciness
I am in love with this. Looks so good and amazing clicks! WOW!
Thank you Kushi! I’m in love with it too…and that’s why I’m almost out of preserved lemons
OMG!!! I LOVE THIS!! I think you have to submit this recipe to a contest Karrie!! The sweet, the spicy, the amazing preserved lemons…. This has got to be the best Margarita EVER!! Thanks for the Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur recommendation. I will have to add that to my liquor cabinet!
Aww Katie, thank you. I will enter this in a contest and if I win a trip, you can go with me That chile liqueur is the best!
A spicy margarita! Wow!!! That sounds totally amazing. I love how you used preserved lemons too!
Thanks Kathy. The spiciness is so good in this!
Congrats for your first giveaway Karrie, that’s awesome! These margaritas look incredible — love that you use preserved lemons!
Thank you Sharon! I drank a lot of these margaritas
Hey Karrie! Somehow I messed up my previous comment here, cause I can’t find it!! I guess it was my mind so distracted with this amazing preserved lemon alcohol twist! I love this recipe, and as you already know I have a batch of my own waiting in the closet corner!! hehehe!! THank you for sharing! Happy Valentine’s day, again, hugs
Thanks Gaila! I want to do a lamb post once I’m fully moved in so let’s get together on our preserved lemon recipes
I had one not so great tequila in college (to be honest…) but you have convinced me to give it another try! Cheers to your first giveaway too- that’s so exciting!!
You know we all had that one not so great tequila experience in college! lol! Bad memories but trust me, you should try it again and with this recipe. Good luck. Hahaha
I’d use it to build a new computer, I built my current one in 2009 and it’s slow old and buggy now
Wow, you must be a serious technie Daniel to have built your own computer! Slow and buggy computers are no good so I hope you win this giveaway so you can build a better one. Good luck!
I would definitely use the money to buy gifts for my family- buy my daughter some nice stuff for her birthday, some games for the hubby, and something nice for my mom and dad!
That’s so sweet Jessica to buy gifts for family members if you win the gift card. If you win, hopefully you buy a little something for yourself too Good luck!
This sounds amazing – I love a spicy Margarita! I make one using Sriracha and everyone thinks I’m crazy but I it’s so delcious! I’ll have to find this Ancho Chili Liqueur!
Thanks Holly! Sriracha margarita? That’s right up my alley! Is the recipe on your blog? I’m going there now to search for it. And you definitely have to get this ancho chili liqueur. It’s so good and has the right amount of spicy kick to it
Karrie–this looks FABULOUS!!! Calling my name!
I hear it too Mahy! You better make one quick
How did you know I love margaritas?? I definitely can’t wait to try a spicy one!
I just knew Shelby. heeheehee If you like spicy, then this drink (and that ancho chili liqueur) is for you!
Preppin’ for summer!
Preppin’ hard, my friend
That s lovely drink. The picture itself says how wonderful it is. Nice photography Karrie
Thank you Smitha! I really appreciate all your kind comments 🙂
Is there supposed to be ice in the shaker? We made it with ice and it’s is super good. Ancho Reyes is amazing.
Hey Jeff! I LOVE that you made this drink! Ancho Reyes is so amazing and it’s a great mixer to have around ? Sure ice can be added directly to the shaker. I only added ice to the glass but it was just out of personal preference. So glad you liked this recipe and thanks again for taking the time to let me now how it turned out. Also, please let me know if you try any other cool drink recipes with the Ancho Reyes ?