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This delicious tamarind margarita recipe is sweet and tangy with a touch of heat from the chili lime rim. If you’re looking for a refreshing tequila cocktail to enjoy this summer, look no further than this one! Perfect for a weeknight happy hour and cookouts alike.
If you’ve never tried tamarind margaritas, allow me to show you what you’ve been missing out on. The first time I tried this tamarind cocktail, I was immediately hooked. Now, you might be wondering, ‘what the heck is tamarind?’ Many people have never even heard of this tropical fruit, so that’s a fair question to ask.
Tamarind is native to the tropical regions of Africa and comes from the tamarind tree. More specifically, it’s the pulp inside the bean-like pods produced by the tree. As the pods ripen, the tamarind pulp takes on the texture of a paste and develops a sweet and sour flavor. You can then mix the tamarind paste with sugar and water to create an easy tamarind simple syrup, which just so happens to work perfectly in this margarita.
Don’t worry; you don’t have to go on safari to source your own tamarind. You can find tamarind paste in the international aisle of most major grocery stores near the Indian section.
This easy margarita recipe is uniquely delicious and makes a fantastic way to impress friends and family who have never tried tamarind before. Every time I’ve served this tequila cocktail, it’s been a major hit. Try it for yourself, and let me know what you think!
Tamarind Margarita Key Ingredients
Let’s break down the tamarind margarita ingredients you’re going to need.
- Tamarind Paste: This is the key to the flavored simple syrup that lends this tequila cocktail its amazing sweet and tangy flavor.
- Sugar and Water: You’ll need regular white sugar and water to serve as the base of your delicious homemade tamarind simple syrup.
- Reposado Tequila: Some people use silver tequila, but you’ve got to go with reposado for the smoothest margaritas. This amber-hued tequila is naturally sweeter than silver tequila, so it blends better with the flavors of the cocktail.
- Triple Sec: This orange liqueur brightens up the margarita and tastes incredible when paired with tamarind. If you can’t find triple sec, Cointreau would also work.
- Lime Juice: It wouldn’t be a true margarita without fresh lime juice, so this ingredient is a must! I highly recommend using fresh limes—not lime juice concentrate from a bottle for the best-tasting cocktail.
How to Make Tamarind Margaritas
You can make this refreshingly delicious tamarind margarita recipe if you have a few minutes to spare. All you have to do is follow the steps below. Be sure to check out the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements.
Step 1: Tamarind Simple Syrup
Heat a medium pot over medium heat, then add sugar, water, and tamarind paste. Stir and cook until sugar dissolves, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 2: Combine Ingredients
Rub each glass with a wedge of lime, then dip in the Tajin. Add a handful of ice, tequila, triple sec, tamarind syrup, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker.
Step 3: Shake and Serve
Shake it well, then pour evenly among two margarita glasses. Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy!
Tamarind Margarita Recipe Tips and Tricks
Here are some of my top tips and variations to help you make the best tamarind margarita:
- I love coating the rim of my glass with tajin because it has the perfect combination of spicy, salty, and citrus flavors. It also adds a nice pop of color! However, feel free to coat your rim simply with salt or sugar if preferred.
- Want to try something else? You can make this margarita recipe with any flavored simple syrup you want. Strawberry, mango, pineapple, and peach would all make great options.
- To tame down the alcohol content in your cocktail, feel free to swap the triple sec for orange juice or orange extract.
- You can use agave or honey instead of white sugar for an all-natural simple syrup.
- Want to make this tamarind margarita frozen? Toss everything (including the ice) into a blender and pulse until smooth.
- Are you hosting a party? You can make a tamarind margarita pitcher by doubling the recipe and leaving out the ice. Store in a pitcher in the fridge until you’re ready to serve, then add ice to each glass as you fill it.
- Save your tamarind simple syrup to mix into other cocktails and flavored lemonades! It should stay good in the fridge for up to 1-2 weeks.
Tamarind Margarita FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most popular questions about this refreshing tamarind margarita recipe:
Much like a classic margarita, tamarind is sweet and tangy. The exact flavor depends on the ripeness of your tamarind, as tamarind gets sweeter as it ripens. That being said, a tamarind margarita tastes sweet, refreshing, and perfectly tangy. Many people also add a spicy component like chili powder or tajin to round out the sweet and sour flavors.
Tamarindo is a popular drink made with tamarind paste, sugar, and water. To make tamarind simple syrup, you essentially do the same thing except that you cook the mixture to dissolve the sugar and thicken it into a syrup. Then, you’ll use your syrup to make this delicious tamarindo margarita.
This tropical fruit is pretty versatile and goes well with most flavors. Usually, I’m serving a tamarind cocktail during the summertime, so I like to pair it with something vibrant and flavorful like beer battered fish tacos or some grilled meat like my bbq brisket or bbq chicken.
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Yes! Tamarind is a rich source of beneficial vitamins and minerals like magnesium and calcium. It’s also been proven to decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol. Additionally, tamarind has been used as a digestive aid since ancient times and is an anti-inflammatory.
More Delicious Cocktail Recipes
Looking for more refreshing cocktail recipes? Try these next:
- Watermelon Mojito
- Hibiscus Bacardi Rum Punch
- Watermelon Limeade Daiquiri
- Sloe Gin Fizz
- Blackberry Mint Sangria
Ready to make your own delicious tamarind margaritas at home? Scroll down for the recipe. And don’t forget to leave me a 5-star rating if you give them a try!
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Tamarind Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
Tamarind Simple Syrup:
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 5 oz. tamarind paste
Margaritas:
- 4 tablespoons of Tajin
- 4 wedges of lime plus more for garnish
- Ice
- 8 oz. Reposado tequila
- 4 oz. Triple Sec
- 4 oz. tamarind syrup
Instructions
- Tamarind Simple Syrup: Turn on the heat to medium, in a medium pot, combine sugar, water and tamarind paste, cook until sugar dissolves about 1-2 minutes.
- Margaritas: Rub each glass with a wedge of lime, then dip in the Tajin. Rub each glass with a wedge of lime, then dip in the Tajin. Add a handful of ice, tequila, triple sec, tamarind syrup, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker. Shake for 10 seconds then pour evenly among two margarita glasses, garnish with a lime wedge.
Notes
- I love coating the rim of my glass with tajin because it has the perfect combination of spicy, salty, and citrus flavors. It also adds a nice pop of color! However, feel free to coat your rim simply with salt or sugar if preferred.
- Want to try something else? You can make this margarita recipe with any flavored simple syrup you want. Strawberry, mango, pineapple, and peach would all make great options.
- To tame down the alcohol content in your cocktail, feel free to swap the triple sec for orange juice or orange extract.
- You can use agave or honey instead of white sugar for an all-natural simple syrup.
- Want to make this tamarind margarita frozen? Toss everything (including the ice) into a blender and pulse until smooth.
- Are you hosting a party? You can make a tamarind margarita pitcher by doubling the recipe and leaving out the ice. Store in a pitcher in the fridge until you’re ready to serve, then add ice to each glass as you fill it.
- Save your tamarind simple syrup to mix into other cocktails and flavored lemonades!
- It should stay good in the fridge for up to 1-2 weeks.
