Cucumber Basil Margarita Recipe

These cucumber basil margaritas are sweet, strong, and all but guarantee a good time. They're "martini-strength" and are best served with a salty rim. Extra spice is optional.

Though it's a little more effort than the typical cocktail, it's a batch drink, perfect for entertaining a crowd.

Whether it's Cinco De Mayo, the Fourth of July, or just another taco tuesday, these martini-strength margaritas have you covered.

Looking for more cocktails? Check out my grapefruit moscow mule. Want some tacos to go with your marg? Try these mushroom tacos or brussel sprout tacos.

🌟 Why this recipe works

These margaritas are stronger than they taste, due to the balanced combination of sugar (pineapple juice), cucumber, basil and orange liqueur to even out the spicy tequila.

One will get you exactly where you want to be. Two and you're ready to party. Three and...well...good luck.

And remember: the correct ratio of water to margarita is 2:1.

📋 Ingredients

These cucumber basil margaritas seem simple, but pack a punch. Let's break down the ingredients:

1. Fresh pineapple juice for sweetness and cucumber juice to cool down the spicy tequila
2. Basil complements cucumber, lime, and pineapple and is in season in summer
3. Minute Maid Limeade because margaritas need lime, and this is the fastest, easiest way to get it.
4. Corralejo Reposado Tequila - only the best.
5. Orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier) for more soft citrusy notes

Keep lime, salt, and some spicy chipotle powder on hand to garnish.

See recipe card for quantities.

🔀 Substitutions & Variations

This recipe is perfect the way it is, however, somethings we have to make substitutions.

• Limeade - Minute Maid is the preferred brand, but other frozen limeade concentrates will do.
• Tequila - good tequila is key. The recommended tequila is Corralejo Reposado.
• Orange liqueur - Grand Marnier is the gold standard for this drink, but other brands will work in a pinch.

🔪 How to make this recipe

First, cut the fresh pineapple into chunks, removing the spiky skin and core. Then blend for 1-2 minutes. Pour into a strainer over a bowl and let sit for 30-45 minutes until you have ~2 cups of pineapple juice.

Then peel cucumber, slice into quarters hotdog style, and carefully remove seeds with a small knife. Blend cucumber with basil leaves, the strain until you have ~1 cup of cucumber basil juice.

Combine pineapple juice, cucumber juice, tequila, orange liqueur, limeade and water into a large pitcher and stir to combine.

Marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight so the flavors combine.

Serve over ice, and alternate servings with water to prevent a hangover.

Hint: be patient while the juice strains out of the pulp. It's ok to stir in the strainer every few minutes.

👩‍🍳 Expert tips

Make this cucumber basil margarita recipe ahead of time and let the flavors meld together in the fridge for a couple hours. Then serve over ice.

Cucumber Basil Margarita Recipe

The Hangry Chickpea

These cucumber basil margaritas are sweet, strong, and all but guarantee a good time. They're "martini-strength" and are best served with a salty rim. Extra spice is optional.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Beverages

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 10 drinks

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Alcohol:

• 24 oz Corralejo Reposado Tequila
• 6-8 oz orange liqueur
• Non-alcoholic:
• 12 oz Minute Maid Limeade Frozen*
• 12 oz Water
• Fruit:
• 1-2 large cucumbers peeled and seeded
• 4-6 leaves fresh basil
• fresh pineapple juice - 1-2 cups
• Optional:
• 1 tsp ground chipotle powder leave out if you don’t like smoky/spicy
• Salt for the rim
• Lime garnish

Instructions

 

• Blend fresh pineapple chunks in blender, then strain out pulp. Try to get 1-2 cups of pineapple juice (this can take a little while, so be patient!) If you're in a hurry, use two pineapples to get more juice faster. 
• Meanwhile, peel and seed cucumbers. Then blend cucumber with basil leaves and strain. You need about a cup of cucumber basil juice. 
• Mix tequila, orange liqueur, limeade, water and blended fruits you prepared in steps 1 and 2 together. Add chipotle powder if desired.
• Serve in glass with salted rim and ice.

Notes

WARNING: though these cucumber basil margaritas are lots of fun, these are NOT your average margaritas. They are martini-strength. Hydrate between servings. In my experience, the proper ratio of 8 oz glasses of water to margarita is 2:1. 

Only have more than 2 if you don't have anywhere to be tomorrow...

*Look for this in the frozen section, it comes in a little cylinder. 

Keyword cucumber basil margaritas, Margaritas, pineapple basil margaritas, pineapple cucumber basil margaritas, pineapple margaritas, pitcher margaritas, strong margaritas

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