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13 Fresh Margarita Takes to Get You Ready for Summer

July 06, 2011
Photo: Hector Sanchez
When chip-and-salsa joints lean on the sugar to make tall, sweet drinks, it adds up fast in the glass. Our lower calorie variations are favor fresh ingredients for maximum flavor without sacrificing taste. Frozen, fruity, or on the rocks, find the perfect margarita recipe to satisfy your craving.
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Cilantro-lime Margaritas

Victor Protasio
View recipe: Cilantro-Lime Margaritas

Skip the sugary margarita mix and welcome the warmer weather with this twist on a classic margarita. This is a great use for cilantro stems, which have all the flavor of cilantro, but are often overlooked.

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Watermelon-Mint Margarita

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Watermelon-Mint Margarita

Fresh mint is, without a doubt, one of our favorite flavors. Whether it's a handful left from the farmers' market or a bumper crop of your own, use leftover leaves to create a new twist on the classic margarita.

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Honeydew-Jalapeño Margaritas

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Honeydew-Jalapeño Margaritas

Meet your new favorite poolside cocktail. This slushy sipper offers sweet, floral honeydew flavor with a nice slow burn from jalapeño-infused tequila.

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Cantaloupe Margarita with Hint of Mint

Photo: Hector Sanchez
View Recipe: Cantaloupe Margarita with Hint of Mint

Want to make a bigger batch? Doubling the melon should yield enough juice to make 6 drinks. Process and strain in 2 batches, and then mix up 3 times the rest of the ingredients in a pitcher.

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Blueberry Margaritas

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Blueberry Margaritas

To get a half-salted rim, you'll need to start with a tablespoon of salt—but only about 1 teaspoon ends up sticking to the glasses.

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Mezcal Margarita

Photo: Hector Sanchez
View Recipe: Mezcal Margarita

Mezcal gets its signature smoky flavor from the slow-roasted and distilled hearts of agave plants.

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Roasted Strawberry Margaritas With Aquafaba Whip

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Roasted Strawberry Margaritas With Aquafaba Whip

Aquafaba, the viscous fluid from canned chickpeas, is the surprising key to making a plant-based whipped topping. The process is pretty miraculous: The liquid whips up to a thick, fluffy foam that mimics whipped cream. Just be sure to use the liquid from unsalted chickpeas for the best results (we like Eden brand).

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Chile-Agave Margarita

Photo: Hector Sanchez
View Recipe: Chile-Agave Margarita

If you really like heat, don't seed the chile before muddling. Tender-tongued? Skip muddling; just shake and strain.

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Classic Margarita

Photo: Hector Sanchez
View Recipe: Classic Margarita

Hint: Our nutrition guidelines don't allow for it, but this is easily doubled. Use respectable tequila ($28 or so a bottle) and fresh-squeezed lime juice—the ingredients define this cocktail as much as the technique.

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Blackberry Margaritas

Photo: Levi Brown
View Recipe: Blackberry Margaritas

The perfect way to welcome guests to a dinner party—an ice-cold Blackberry Margarita.

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Champagne Mango Margaritas

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Champagne Mango Margaritas

Champagne mangoes have a deep golden color and are sweeter and tangier than their larger cousins. Here they make for a boozy, summer treat with triple sec and tequila.

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Cucumber, Honey & Thyme Margarita Slush

Photo: Hector Sanchez
View Recipe: Cucumber, Honey & Thyme Margarita Slush

This simple margarita comes together in no time flat. The cucumber infuses the slush with a cool flavor, which balances the sweet notes from honey at the end of each sip.

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Hibiscus-Lemon Margarita

Photo: Hector Sanchez
View Recipe: Hibiscus-Lemon Margarita

Club soda is unconventional in margaritas, but the added sparkle elevates this drink. Look for dried hibiscus flowers in Latin markets where chiles and spices are found.

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