Meyer Lemon & Lime Margarita

Apparently Monday was National Margarita Day. Most legitimate cocktail websites knew that and posted all their favorite recipes. By the time I caught on, I had already decided to make risotto for dinner and while I’m not a stickler when it comes to pairings, risotto and margaritas don’t really go together! So obviously, I decided to make margaritas on Tuesday!

Margaritas can get a bad wrap because so many of them are made with crappy mixes. When you use fresh citrus, a margarita is one of the best cocktails out there. A few months ago, my mom found a great recipe from America’s Test Kitchen. The recipe calls for freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice, along with finely grated zest from each. I decided to make a variation of this using Meyer lemons. Meyer lemons are an amazing winter treat. They’re a little less acidic than regular lemons and also a little sweeter, which means you can use less sugar. The America’s Test Kitchen recipe involves making a mix by combining freshly grated zest and juice, sugar, and a pinch of salt. You let this mixture steep for at least 4 hours. After it steeps, you simply add tequila and triple sec. This is a great cocktail to make as a batch but I kept my citrus juice separate for individual servings. You know, because Covid: Margarita, party of one!

Margaritas have the ability to transport you. Between the bright citrus and the tequila, you can just about feel spring coming around! I’m so looking forward to outdoor happy hours again! In the meantime, let’s get happy with some Meyer lemons, shall we? Cheers!

Meyer Lemon & Lime Margarita, adapted from America’s Test Kitchen

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 teaspoons finely grated lime zest

4 teaspoons finally grated Meyer lemon zest

1/2 cup lime juice

1/2 cup Meyer lemon juice

2 TBS sugar

Pinch of salt

1 cup tequila, preferably reposado

1 cup triple sec or cointreau

lime wheels, as garnish

Method:

To make citrus mix: combine citrus zest and juices, sugar, and salt in a 2 cup measuring cup. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.

For serving as a batch cocktail: strain juice into a pitcher. Add tequila and triple sec. Stir. Combine mixture in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into ice filled rocks glasses. (You may have to do this a couple of times, depending on how many cocktails you’re making.) Garnish with lime wheels.

For individual servings: combine 2 ounces each of tequila, triple sec, and citrus juice into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with lime wheel.