The deliciously flavorful tamarind fruit, commonly used in Latin American cuisine, adds depth and infuses this margarita with exotic flair. I have always thought that the combination of tamarind and salt was just sublime, but then again, I love tangy flavors.
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Tamarind has always been one of my favorite fruits. In Guatemala, I loved to sit at the kitchen table with a plate of tamarinds. I would remove the hard shell and then dip them in coarse salt before putting them in my mouth, where the tangy flavor made my mouth water. After eating all the pulp, I would spit out the seeds and start with the next one. Except for eating it with salt or making refresco de tamarindo (a tamarind drink with sugar) and tamarind candy, we did not use the tamarind much as an ingredient for cooking.
As I grew up, I discovered that tamarind is also commonly used in Asian cuisine and is truly versatile, adding depth to so many recipes, from sauces to desserts to cocktails.
I bought some tamarind concentrate recently to make a tamarind sauce. Now that I have it in the house, I figured I should experiment with other tamarind recipes. I love the classic margarita on the rocks or frozen. Today, as the day wound up, I was craving a margarita and thought it would go great with tamarind. I had experimented before making a beer margarita and a chocolate margarita for Valentine’s, but a tamarind margarita… this sounded like heaven.
I experimented a little, starting with a basic margarita recipe until I got the desired result. The tamarind gives the margarita a fruity tart flavor that combines perfectly with the lime and salt. I have to tell you that after more than 15 years of drinking margaritas, the frozen tamarind margarita is now my favorite cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces of silver (white) tequila made from 100% agave
- ½ ounce of Cointreau orange liquor
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ once simple syrup
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 ounce tamarind concentrate (you can find this in most Latino or Mexican markets and can be substituted by 2 tablespoons of tamarind paste or pulp)
- ice cubes
- Kosher salt for rimming
- thin lime wedge for garnish
How to Make Tamarind Margarita Cocktails
- If you are using the tamarind pulp, simmer the tamarind and water over low heat, stirring, until the pulp dissolves. Press the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve.
- Put the salt or Tajín seasoning in a shallow dish. Rub the rim of the glass with lime, then dip it in the salt.
- For a frozen margarita: put 1 cup of ice in a blender and add the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, simple syrup, orange juice, and tamarind. Blend on high until almost smooth.
- For a margarita on the rocks: fill a shaker with ice and add the same ingredients. Shake until the shaker starts to sweat, then pour into the glass over ice.
- Garnish with the lime wedge and serve right away.
Try These Other Cocktail Recipes
Frozen Tamarind Margarita Cocktail
A tamarind margarita made with silver tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime, and tamarind paste. Blend it frozen or shake it and serve it on the rocks!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces of silver (white) tequila, 100% agave
- ½ ounce of Cointreau orange liquor
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ once simple syrup
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 ounce tamarind concentrate (or 2 tablespoons tamarind paste)
- Ice cubes
- Kosher salt for rimming
- Thin lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Put the salt or Tajín in a shallow dish. Rub the rim of the glass with lime, then dip it in the salt.
- For a frozen margarita: put 1 cup of ice in a blender and add the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, simple syrup, orange juice, and tamarind. Blend on high until almost smooth.
- For a margarita on the rocks: fill a shaker with ice and add the same ingredients. Shake until the shaker starts to sweat, then pour into the glass over ice.
- Garnish with the lime wedge and serve right away.
Notes
No tamarind concentrate? Use 2 tablespoons of tamarind paste instead. You can make tamarind paste from whole pods by soaking, straining, and simmering them.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 482Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 8mgCarbohydrates: 99gFiber: 2gSugar: 89gProtein: 1g
Nutritional values are estimates calculated using standard databases. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients and brands used.
Salud!
Tell me in the comments, what is your favorite cocktail?
Through her writing, Paula helps travelers discover Guatemala beyond the typical tourist route with practical advice, local recommendations, and authentic experiences that connect visitors with the country’s people, culture, and traditions.
Planning a trip to Guatemala? Paula offers personalized Guatemala itinerary planning and trip consultation services tailored to your interests, travel style, and budget. Contact her at [email protected] to learn more.
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Sounds yummy 🙂
This could be nice for parties. It’s an added factor that tamarind is not costly.
This sounds so good, I have to try this! Thanks for sharing!
I rarely drink but if I do these are the type of drinks I enjoy. Thanks for sharing this and I will be giving this a try the next time we have company.
This looks like it taste really good. Thank you for sharing.
I love margaritas, but I don’t think I have ever tried tamarind. Now I have to go find some!
Oh wow, been a while I have tasted this, very nice. Memories.. love to have a nice flavorful drink.:)