It’s easy to see why margaritas are such a staple in the beverage world. Few drinks are as refreshing and customizable as this classic cocktail. Here’s a bit more on what makes margaritas so special, plus three new varieties by Flying Embers that you have to try.
What Is a Margarita?
In its simplest form, a margarita is a cocktail made of just three ingredients: tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. They occasionally feature agave or other sweeteners as well, but we’re not so sure you need those. However, with innovations like frozen margaritas, skinny margaritas, mezcal-based margs, and more, the definition of a “margarita” is ever-changing.
The History of the Margarita
The exact origin of the margarita (Spanish for “daisy”) is unclear, as multiple people claim to have been the inventor. However, we know this cocktail was created in Mexico around the mid-1900s with just those three aforementioned ingredients.
How Have Margaritas Evolved?
Margaritas have come a long way since starting with just a few ingredients. Nowadays, there are countless types of margaritas out there, and it’s entirely possible that the only real limit is your imagination.
Just a few common varieties of margaritas include:
- Grapefruit margaritas
- Mango margaritas
- Watermelon margaritas
- Spicy margaritas
This is far from an exhaustive list, but we must say that our favorite flavors are the three in our Canned Margarita Variety Pack.
3 Margaritas You Have To Try This Year
These are three margarita flavors that we can’t get enough of: Classic Lime, Strawberry Guava, and Blood Orange Pomegranate.
1. The Classic Lime Margarita
First on our list, we have our Classic Lime Margarita found in our Margarita Variety Pack. For those who think that the best margarita recipes are the simplest, where each individual ingredient gets to shine, look no further.
2. The Strawberry Guava Margarita
Our answer to the classic strawberry margarita, our Strawberry Guava Margarita is bright, sweet, fruity, and complex. Feel free to garnish with a sliced strawberry or mix it with strawberry puree to make your next Cinco de Mayo celebration or Taco Tuesday unforgettable.
3. The Blood OrangePomegranate Margarita
Another fruity delight, we round out our Margarita Variety Pack with the Blood OrangePomegranate Margarita. Full of complex yet complementary flavors, this drink is well-balanced and delicious.
What Foods Pair Well With Margaritas?
Just like with margaritas themselves, the foods that you can pair with this delicious drink are just begging to be customized. Certain palates will enjoy specific flavors more than others, so it can just be a matter of trial and error when discovering what tastes you enjoy the most.
We can honor the margarita’s Mexican roots by pairing it with a variety of Mexican foods. Not only is this an appropriate callback to the beverage’s origins, but the flavors seem to effortlessly mesh well together.
Since there’s so much customization possible with margaritas, it’s best to explore what flavor notes are prominent in your drink and then go from there. It also depends on whether you’re personalizing your meal to go with your drink or your drink to go with your meal.
If you’re beginning with the drink and using that to inform your menu, then consider the main tastes of the beverage. If it’s a classic margarita, perhaps it’s particularly lime forward. Meanwhile, if you’re drinking a mango marg, try to pair the food with that flavor, like mango salsa.
If you’re searching for the perfect drink or margarita recipe to go with your food, you should work in the other direction. What are you planning to serve, and how do you want you or your guests to feel?
Very spicy cuisine may call for a lighter beverage, but those who enjoy a bit of heat could enjoy a jalapeño margarita or another hot cocktail with a touch of fresh lime juice and a salt rim.
Vegetarian Fajitas
Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will be clamoring over a delicious vegetarian fajita recipe. This scrumptious Mexican dish calls for bell peppers, onions, black beans, avocados, and a variety of spices. If you suspect that your guests might have different tastes, feel free to make a fajita bar for added fun.
Not only will this allow all your guests to make just the right meal for them, but it’s also a fun activity for everyone to engage in together. You can also include different kinds of beans like black beans, pinto beans, and refried beans to make this a vegan or vegetarian dish to remember.
Be sure to properly season the vegetables to taste. If you don’t want to go too overboard with the spice, you can provide a variety of spice options for your guests so that they can customize their dishes. Some might love nothing more than piling on the cayenne pepper on a hot summer day, but others might prefer something tamer.
Lay out your ingredients side by side, and provide your guests with an abundance of tortillas. You can even make them from scratch for a uniquely customizable dining experience.
Homemade Vegan Tacos
Perhaps the most recognizable of all Mexican cuisine, you can never go wrong with enjoying a classic taco with the perfect margarita. This match made in heaven will suit nearly all tastes, but just like with the fajitas, you can set up a taco bar to ensure everyone gets what they want.
When it comes to tacos, there are as many varieties as there are people ready to eat them. There are a plethora of wonderful vegan taco recipes, many of which feature ingredients like onions, tomatoes, avocados, corn, mushrooms, peppers, and more.
You could even try marinating seitan in a fresh-squeezed orange juice mixture for a carne asada substitute that guests won’t be able to get enough of. All of these ingredients are just begging for a refreshing drink to go along with them.
We encourage you to cultivate your cocktail recipe around the components of your taco. Not only is this a fun, exciting part of meal planning, but it also gives you a greater appreciation for the ingredients you’re using. This is so much more rewarding than just using a margarita mix — and yummier, too.
Our ready-to-drink margaritas come prepared with a variety of flavors that wonderfully compliment classic taco ingredients. You can also add components like fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and more.
By adding any fresh fruits or any other margarita ingredients that you want, you’re turning a classic margarita recipe into something that really reflects who you are. Once it’s all prepared, simply pour it into a margarita glass, top it off with a lime wedge, and enjoy.
Grilled Vegetable Kabobs
Unlike the other two delicious dish entries on our list, kabobs originated in the Middle East (more specifically, modern-day Turkey) rather than in Mexico. However, fusing the flavors of a margarita and a kabob still feels like a perfect match. To keep with the theme, you can craft fajita kabobs, or you can stick with a more traditional recipe.
A kabob is just a variety of ingredients (vegetables and sometimes meats) put on a skewer and grilled. This way, the components all achieve a delightful smokey flavor. This smokiness pairs wonderfully with many different kinds of margaritas since this is a flavor profile that’s also common in a lot of Mexican food.
Some of the most common vegetables used in a kabob include peppers, onions, zucchini, mushrooms, and more. Really let your own taste shine when preparing your perfect kabob.
Rediscover a Classic Cocktail
Whether you’ve been enjoying margaritas for years or you’re new to this kind of cocktail, there’s so much to discover. By experimenting and trying new flavors, you’re sure to discover favorites you never thought you’d find.
Sources:
The History of the Margarita | Smithsonian Magazine