This Pomegranate Tequila Margarita is a refreshing twist on the traditional margarita that harmonizes the boldness of tequila with pomegranate. The marriage of pomegranate and tequila creates a vibrant and festive drink perfect for any occasion. The striking deep red color makes it as much an ideal winter holiday drink as it is a summertime cocktail refreshment.
About this Recipe
Pomegranate has a natural tart freshness and a sweetness that begs to be included in a drink. Here its sweet and sour nature is perfectly at home in a margarita. This recipe omits the traditional triple sec, letting the natural sweetness of agave syrup complement the tartness of pomegranate juice.
One other personalization is with the salt rim. Instead of an ordinary margarita salt rim, I prefer to liven it up the salt with a bit of sugar and anardana. Anardana is dried pomegranate arils that provide some pink color to the glass.
This drink pairs well with various Indian snacks like pakora, methi ghota, kachori, and paneer tikka. Consider exploring other pomegranate-based cocktails, like pomegranate mimosa or pomegranate gin fizz, or non-alcoholic options like pomegranate lemonade.
Ingredients
Tequila – Any tequila will do; tequila blanco is best. It is a young tequila with stronger flavors of agave and citrus that make it ideal for any margarita.
Pomegranate Juice – sweet and tart, pomegranate juice is a natural flavor variation for margaritas.
Lime Juice – adds that traditional margarita tartness.
Agave Syrup – the sweetener to balance the lime juice. You can use simple syrup instead.
I choose to omit the orange liqueur (Triple Sec or Cointreau), a common component of margaritas. The added citrus flavor tends to compete with the pomegranate flavors.
Pomegranate Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz tequila
- 2 oz pomegranate juice
- ¾ oz lime juice
- ½ oz agave syrup
- Ice
Rim:
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Anardana ground dried pomegranate arils
Garnish:
- Pomegranate arils
- 1 Slice of lime
Instructions
For the Rim
- Grind anar dana using a mortar and pestle.
- Combine anar dana, 1 tsp sugar, and 1/2 tsp salt on a small plate.
- Rub the glass with a freshly cut lime. Then rub the glass in the mixture.
The Drink
- Pour pomegranate juice, tequila, lime juice, and agave syrup into the glass. Stir. Top with ice.Garnish with fresh pomegranate arils and a slice of lime