How do you make a prickly pear margarita with fresh fruit?

This recipe uses fresh prickly pear pads and a simple syrup to create a delicious and authentic prickly pear margarita.

Yields: 2 servings

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

* 1 cup prickly pear pads, peeled and diced (about 2-3 pads)

* 1/2 cup water

* 1/4 cup sugar

* 2 ounces tequila

* 1 ounce Cointreau or other orange liqueur

* 1 ounce lime juice

* Salt, for rimming the glass

* Lime wedges, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Prepare the prickly pear syrup:

* Combine diced prickly pear pads and water in a saucepan.

* Bring to a boil over medium heat.

* Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the prickly pear is softened.

* Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible.

* Combine the strained prickly pear juice with sugar in a small saucepan.

* Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.

* Let cool completely.

2. Prepare the margaritas:

* Rub a lime wedge around the rim of two margarita glasses and dip the rims in salt.

* In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and prickly pear syrup.

* Shake vigorously until well-chilled.

* Strain into the prepared glasses.

* Garnish with lime wedges.

Tips:

* You can find prickly pear pads at some grocery stores or specialty markets. If you can’t find them fresh, you can use frozen prickly pear juice.

* Adjust the sweetness of the syrup to your liking.

* For a less sweet margarita, use less syrup or add a splash of agave nectar instead of sugar.

* If you don’t have Cointreau, you can use another orange liqueur, such as triple sec.

* For a spicier margarita, add a pinch of chili powder to the rim salt.

* To make a frozen margarita, blend the margarita ingredients with ice until smooth.

Enjoy your refreshing prickly pear margarita!