What’s a fiesta without margaritas? With their lime-icey-salty-goodness, not many can resist their allure and they definitely say “Weekend!” This blended margarita recipe is the perfect accompaniment to guacamole and carne asada tacos.

Exactly who invented the drink and where it first appeared is up for contention. Among the most popular claims is a bar owner in Tijuana, Mexico in 1938 and a Dallas socialite who invented it in 1948. Whoever it was, “¡Muchas gracias!”

While every household probably has their own version, I learned mine from a former manager who would often host a gaggle of us designers at her place for Friday night cocktails. Now every time I make these, I smile, think of her and know she’s looking down at me with one of her “Boy! Howdy!” grins.

The stage includes: a blender (this baby of mine is reserved for drinks only and truth be told, it pretty much is exclusive to weekend maggies), kosher salt (no need to waste money on “margarita salt”), limes, plenty of ice, triple-sec (an orange liqueur), your favorite good quality tequila and the star ingredient – limeade concentrate. 

Fill the blender with ice.

Add 6 ounces of tequila (1 full shot is 1.5 oz so that means 4 shots).

Add 3 ounces (2 full shots) of triple-sec.

Now here, I deviate from the original recipe taught to me. Instead of using an entire 12 oz container of limeade, I add only half (or 6 ounces). An entire container makes for a very sweet maggie. However, if you’ve got a serious sweet tooth, go for it! Also, it’s important to note that I’ve made this with generic limeades and to paraphrase a cliché: Not all brands are created equal. It’s definitely worth it to buy Minute Maid. There is just so much more lime-goodness kick to it.

Mmm, look at that juicy color. Now, if you're not into the icy goodness like I am, you could put all the ingredients up to now directly into your big pitcher, mix well and serve. Me? Well, I say...

Blend, baby, blend!

Rub the rim of a margarita glass with a lime wedge and...

...immediately swirl rim in a plate of kosher salt.

Pour. Decorate the glass with a lime slice and enjoy.

Lisa’s Blended Margaritas

Serves 4-6 

ice
4 shots (6 ounces) good quality tequila
2 shots (3 ounces) triple-sec
6 ounces (half a container) Minute Maid Frozen Limeade Concentrate
kosher salt
limes, come cut into wedges for salting the glass, others sliced to garnish the glasses

DIRECTIONS:

Fill a blender with ice. Add tequila, triple-sec and limeade concentrate. Blend until ice is crushed.

Place enough salt on a plate to just cover. Rub the rim of a glass with a lime wedge. Invert glass in salt and spin glass until desired amount of salt is transferred to rim. 

Fill glass with blended drink mix and garnish glass with a lime wedge.

Note: Be aware that if you have a blown glass pitcher like my Spanish glass one featured in the photos, you'll need two batches of the recipe to fill. 


Next installment: Carne asada!

All photography ©Anita L. Arambula