Fresh Raspberry Margaritas

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Fresh Raspberry Margarita2

Who turns down a refreshing summer cocktail, especially a pretty one? Some folks will turn their nose up at anything but the classic margarita, but I’d suggest a sip of this fresh raspberry margarita might win them over.

I adapted my recipe from one in this month’s Cooking Light  for a batch of gooseberry margaritas. I’m not certain I’ve ever seen a gooseberry here in San Diego, but the CL recipe suggested raspberries as a substitute – and those I could find, of course. I cut back on the sugar, increased the Grand Marnier and decided to stick with salt only on the rim – no extra sugar or ground red pepper. I have discovered that you really want a salted rim with a fruity cocktail to balance the sweetness. I should switch out the sugared rims for salted in my recipe for watermelon margaritas

At the last minute, I dropped the club soda. I wanted the cocktails as undiluted as possible, so I used stemmed glasses, a cocktail shaker and did not serve the drinks over ice. Because our martini glasses are packed away during our house remodel, I found these wine glasses that date back to 1922, when my grandparents married in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I seldom use them, terrified one will be broken, but thought they would be perfect for our raspberry margaritas.

TIP: Chill your glasses in the fridge for several hours before serving the cocktails.

Fresh Raspberry Margaritas
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Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6 four-ounce cocktails
 
A twist on the classic margarita, using fresh raspberries and Meyer lemons.
Ingredients
  • 2 cups fresh raspberries,
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup Meyer lemon juice
  • 1 cup white tequila
  • 3 tablespoons Grand Marnier
  • 3 tablespoons sea salt
  • 1 Meyer lemon wedge
Instructions
  1. Chill 4 martini glasses - or any stemmed glasses large enough to hold the cocktail.
  2. Place raspberries in a food processor and purée until smooth.
  3. Using a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Heat just until sugar has dissolved. Pour into a bowl, add the mashed berries and allow to cool.
  4. Force the mashed berries through a fine sieve to remove as many seeds as possible.
  5. Combine the berries, lemon juice, tequila and Grand Marnier in a pitcher. Chill in fridge at least 2 hours.
  6. Pour sea salt into a small plate.
  7. Rub the rims of each martini glass with the lemon wedge.
  8. Dip and twirl the rim of each glass in the sea salt.
  9. Pour 2 cups of the margaritas into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, reserving the rest of the margaritas for refills. Shake for 30 seconds, strain and pour into prepared glasses.

 

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24 Responses to Fresh Raspberry Margaritas

  1. Jayne August 2, 2013 at 11:35 am #

    What a gorgeous drink, stunning color. Such a fabulous photo! Your Margarita sounds lovely, it’s not a Margarita without a salt rimmed glass to me! Lets hope we can have one together one day!

    • Liz August 2, 2013 at 12:20 pm #

      We will share that margarita together one day, Jayne!

  2. TheWimpyVegetarian August 2, 2013 at 1:20 pm #

    Oh man, I need one of these! And your photo is stunning. The margarita looks like a jewel on a crown. It glows. I love it!!

    • Liz August 2, 2013 at 2:35 pm #

      I remember you are a margarita fan, Susan – these were pretty good, especially with the salted rims.

  3. Beth (OMG! Yummy) August 2, 2013 at 1:39 pm #

    Lovely Liz. Plan to file this away right next to my friend’s hibiscus margarita. Who says they have to be traditional and I love that you made it less watered down w more grand marnier and also used salt. We had a lemon drop recently with a salted rim and thought they made a mistake but we liked it and now I’m thinking it was intentional!

    • Liz August 2, 2013 at 2:35 pm #

      The lemon drop sounds terrific!

  4. mare August 2, 2013 at 7:40 pm #

    I could sure dive into one of these right now!!! (be careful of chilling your pretty glasses in the freezer…the cold will make them brittle)

    • Liz August 3, 2013 at 7:45 am #

      I only do it in the fridge – learned that the hard way.

  5. Wendy Read August 3, 2013 at 5:09 am #

    Love your pic Liz! What a gorgeous twist on a classic, pinning for later my friend 🙂

    • Liz August 3, 2013 at 7:46 am #

      Thanks, Wendy – you, Jayne and I need to share a batch of these!

  6. Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence August 3, 2013 at 2:39 pm #

    I would definitely not turn my nose up at this! Looks pretty darn tasty.

    • Liz August 3, 2013 at 5:45 pm #

      Thanks, Brandon – make sure to use the salted rim to cut fruitiness of the cocktail.

  7. sippitysup August 5, 2013 at 7:56 am #

    I actually do chill my glasses in the freezer. In fact I have about a dozen coups and cocktail stems in there at all times. Nothing beats a well-chilled glass. But I agree with Mare it could be a problem so I only keep durable (less expensive) glasses in the freezer. No problems so far. GREG

    • Liz August 5, 2013 at 9:54 am #

      Good to know – thanks, Greg.

  8. Lisa @ Whisk & Cleaver August 6, 2013 at 11:23 am #

    Liz I’m always so impressed by your cocktails, you inspire me to break out of V&T rut! I have similar glasses to yours, they were also my grandmother’s but I’m not sure when she first bought them. Hers have a platinum rim, I’m guessing they were for fancy “the boss is coming over” dinners. I was going to give them away but you’ve convinced me they need to stay! xoxo

    • Liz August 6, 2013 at 1:43 pm #

      I’m determined to keep using my family “treasures” – hope you will too. I’d love to see them next time I visit you.

  9. Laura @ Family Spice August 7, 2013 at 8:24 am #

    Oh yum! I love the traditional margarita, but your raspberry version is making me want to branch out. That stemware is gorgeous, too! Glad to see that the bathroom remodel is complete!

    • Liz August 7, 2013 at 8:35 am #

      Thanks, Laura – our bathroom is almost ready – should be good to do by end of tomorrow. Today makes 4 weeks…

  10. Jamie August 8, 2013 at 6:58 am #

    wow – the color is fantastic. I love the idea of margaritas – but can’t do the tequila. However, these would taste quite good with a vodka substitute. Will make these this weekend, something lovely to sip on while the kids play in the backyard ! When we visited Sweden where my wife is from, there were Gooseberries everywhere ! (and the raspberries are literally weeds there…growing by the sides of the road).

    • Liz August 8, 2013 at 8:43 am #

      I’m sure these would be just as tasty using tequila.

  11. Kim August 9, 2013 at 1:44 pm #

    Beautiful, Liz. And perfect for a day like today. I hope the house remodel is going well. 🙂

    • Liz August 9, 2013 at 2:28 pm #

      Bathroom just about finished except for a few odds and ends – like towel racks!

  12. Bridget from Refined Vintage August 13, 2013 at 12:25 pm #

    These sound wonderful, and I love that you are using those vintage family glasses, why not enjoy them, life is too short, to save things!

    • Liz August 13, 2013 at 12:32 pm #

      Agree – and my grandmother would be the first to say the same.

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