Shaken Mango Margarita

If you love margaritas and the honey-sweet taste of ripe mangoes, then this refreshing mango margarita is for you. It’s tangy and sweet with the floral, perfumed flavor of real mango and fresh lime juice. We prefer reposado tequila for this mango margarita recipe, but you can use whatever you like.

Margaritas are my favorite summer drink. We make big pitchers of them to take on the boat when we’re anchored at the sand bar. We love to sip them in the back yard while grilling and there’s nothing better on a hot summer day then dunking your feet in cool water of the lake or pool and sipping an icy cold mango margarita.

Unlike some frozen margarita recipes, this refreshing cocktail doesn’t require a blender, just a standard cocktail shaker (to get the drink S-U-P-E-R C-O-L-D). With just a few simple ingredients, this summer sipper will be your go to libation all season long.

Ingredients for Mango Margarita recipe

• Reposado tequila
• Mango Simple Syrup
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Ice
• Salt or Spice Blend (for rimming the glass)

The ingredients for this cocktail recipe are very simple and they use that gorgeous mango syrup I shared with you last week. The mango syrup doesn’t take long to make and you can make it in advance, so it’s ready to go for these tasty ‘ritas.

Best rimming salt for mango margarita:

One of the best parts of a margarita for me, is the rim. Thrillist says a simple salted rim can actually enhance the sweet and sour notes in a margarita. For this mango margarita recipe, I take it a step further with Tajin.

Tajin is essentially a spice blend of chili pepper, lime zest (or citric acid) and sea salt. The combination hits your tongue all at once and is especially well paired to rimming the glass for your mango margarita.

If you can’t find it in your local market, make your own Tajin.

Rimming a margarita glass

Most people will wet the rim of a margarita glass in water before dipping it into the salt or other rimming mixture. It works initially, but to really get it to stick, so that you can enjoy the seasoned rim for the duration of your mango margarita, I recommend using agave instead of water.

Agave nectar comes from the blue agave plant and aside from using it to make tequila, it’s also a great sweetener. Agave is sticky, like honey and makes a great adhesive for rimming a glass.

1. Use a pastry brush (or even a small clean paintbrush ~ 1/2″ wide) to brush the agave around the rim of the margarita glass or use it to brush one side in a half moon flourish like I did in the photo (above right).
2. Dip the rim into the tajin to set it or if you’ve brushed the side of the glass like I did above, just sprinkle the spice blend over the agave. It sticks like a charm.

How to make a mango margarita:

1. Rim the margarita glass with agave, then dip it in the salt or Tajin (whichever you’re using). Set aside.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the lime juice, tequila and mango simple syrup.
3. Secure the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds until the outside of the shaker is super frosty and the margarita is a bit frothy inside.
4. Fill the rimmed glass with ice and strain the mango margarita over it.
5. Garnish with extra lime wedges or rounds and fresh chunks of mango.

This is a straightforward mango margarita recipe, but you can make lots of variations and swaps to make this cocktail recipe your own. Here are a few suggestions:

Swaps and Variations:

• Muddle a few slices of jalapeno for a spicy mango margarita. Add the hot pepper to the shaker before adding the rest of the ingredients, shake well and strain. Garnish with a slice or two of jalapeño.
• Use 1 1/2 ounces of tequila and 1/2 ounce of Cointreau with the lime and mango simple syrup to enhance the citrusy flavors.
• Add a splash of sparkling water (we like La Croix lime-flavored) to cut the sweetness and add effervescence.
• Use different alcohol, like vodka or rum in place of the tequila. (Technically not a margarita, but tasty just the same).
• Top the mango margarita with a splash of chilled Cava or sparkling wine for a bubbly finish.

Make mango margaritas by the pitcher:

If there’s just one or two people enjoying the margaritas, it’s no big deal to shake them up individually. However, if you’ve got a party going, you’ll want to make these mango margaritas by the pitcher ahead of time and keep them refrigerated until serving.

I’ve given the measurements in the recipe card for a 32 ounce pitcher of margaritas. To make a whole pitcher, just combine the mango syrup, fresh lime juice and tequila. Mix well and chill in the fridge. Don’t add the ice as it will just melt and water down the drinks.

To serve, rim each glass with agave and either margarita salt or Tajin, fill the glasses with ice and pour the drinks. Voila!

FAQ’s

What goes with mango margaritas?

I love to serve snacks to go with poolside cocktails like this one and I usually look for something that can either be made ahead of time or is quick and easy to assemble on the spot. They need to be casual, not fussy and they need to be GOOD.

Here are some of my favorite snacks to serve with icy mango margaritas:

• Zesty Black Bean Dip with crispy tortilla chips
• Florida Stone Crab Claws with mustard dipping sauce
• Florida Style Smoked Whitefish Dip with pita chips
• Ahi Tuna Poke Appetizer with plantain chips
• Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Salsa with crispy tortilla chips
• Sweet Spicy Tuna Poke
• Grilled Shrimp Cocktail with dipping sauce
• Chunky Guacamole
• Spicy Edamame
• Hummus with Basil Cilantro Olive Oil and warm pita wedges

Other favorite snacks — that take a little more effort, but are TOTALLY WORTH IT:

• Bahamian Style Conch Fritters
• Accras De Morue
• Conch Chowder
• Grilled Octopus
• Deep Fried Oysters with Remoulade
• Asian Chicken Wings

More margarita recipes you’ll love:

• Sparling Cara Cara Margaritas
• Quenching Hibiscus Margarita
• Spicy Passion Fruit Margarita
• Cucumber Kiwi Jalapeno Margarita
• Watermelon Margaritas

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