This Blood Orange Margarita is a delicious, refreshing cocktail made with the gorgeous red-fleshed blood orange. The orange's sweet and tart juice is the perfect foil for tequila, lime juice and triple sec. Easy to make with or without the sugared rim. A happy hour favorite for two or make it by the pitcher for your next get-together.
I love me my margaritas! Whether it's a margarita on the rocks, my coconut-flavored Christmas margarita, summer Strawberry Lemonade Margarita or my Halloween Black Widow Margarita, there is one for any time of year. So when blood orange season rolls around, I had to celebrate with this spectacular Blood Orange Margarita in its honor.
What is a blood orange?
A blood orange looks identical to a regular orange but, when cut open, has a deep red-colored fruit. This red color derives from anthocyanin, a flavonoid with antioxidant properties, which develops as the citrus ripens. It is the same pigment that can be found in blueberries, purple pansies and black rice.
Now you're probably wondering if this citrus tastes like an orange. Well, yes you could say it tastes like an orange but I feel the taste is slightly sweeter but with a slightly tart edge to it. And it is absolutely delicious!
Varieties of blood oranges
Not all blood oranges have that bright red color inside. It depends on the variety but all work with this margarita cocktail.
Moro - is the most common variety sold at most grocery stores. It is the deepest red color and some can be so dark as to be almost black.
Sanguinello - has an orange colored flesh with streaks of red. It has an extra sweet taste too.
Tarocco - is also extra sweet and has a speckled orange and red flesh.
Blood oranges make delicious cocktails like my Island Breeze but this blood orange margarita stands above them all. It's a simple cocktail to make with only 5 basic ingredients. The usual margarita ingredients of tequila, triple sec and lime juice with the addition of blood orange juice and a little agave. It makes one of the most refreshing sippers imaginable.
NOTE: Blood orange juice can stain, so do be careful.
Variations
- No blood oranges available? You can make this same cocktail with tangerine juice, or other types of oranges like Cara Cara Navel, which is flavored like a cross between strawberries and cranberries or even clementines.
- I think Triple Sec is a must add to margaritas. It provides a fruity flavor that is both sweet and bitter and adds a smoothness and balance to the whole. I also sub in Grand Marnier, Curacao or Cointreau at times in place of Triple Sec.
- The sugared rim can be replaced with a combination of 2 teaspoons of sea salt and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar. This gives a nod to both the sweet and tart flavors of the cocktail. It's also great with none, my actual preference.
- Want a frozen drink? Just add 1-2 cups of ice and ingredients to blender and mix until smooth.
How to make
Gather ingredients as it only takes 5 minutes to make this citrusy cocktail.
It doesn't matter what order you add the ingredients. I am just showing you how I did it.
- Add tequila to a shaker filled with crushed ice. (photo 1)
- Pour in triple sec or Grand Marnier. (photo 2)
- Add the lime juice for the typical margarita tartness. (photo 3)
- Sweeten with a little agave. How much you use depends on how sweet or tart you like your margaritas. (photo 4)
- Pour in ½ -¾ cup of blood orange juice. I like to add the upper limit as I love the taste of the blood orange to come through strongly. (photo 5)
- Pour into two sugar-rimmed glasses filled with ice. (photo 6)
Just look at that gorgeous color! And, believe me, it tastes as good as it looks. These Blood Orange Margaritas may not be around long, as the season typically runs December through March, so enjoy them while you can. Here's to a colorful happy hour. Cheers!
More margarita-flavored recipes
Strawberry Margarita Crisp has a fresh strawberry base flavored with tequila and orange liqueur then topped with a crispy macaroon crumb crust. A light delightful dessert for any time of year.
Margarita Cheesecake is a creamy New York cheesecake flavored with orange and lime zest and, you guessed it, tequila and Grand Marnier. It's like taking a bite of a margarita!
Carrot Margaritas are perfect for Easter. You won't believe how delicious carrot juice is when combined with other margarita flavors, especially this frozen version.
Find more delicious margarita cocktails on 2CM.
Love quick & easy recipes? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for all the latest recipe inspiration! Plus join my email list and receive a free e-book.
Blood Orange Margarita
Ingredients
- ½-3/4 cup blood orange juice
- 2 Tablespoons triple sec
- 3 Tablespoons lime juice
- 3 Tablespoons tequila
- 1 teaspoon agave syrup
- Garnish: optional sugar for rim slices of blood orange or lime
Instructions
- Prepare two margarita glasses by rubbing rim with blood orange juice then dipping in sugar.
- In a cocktail shaker with ice, add all ingredients except garnishes.
- Divide evenly between prepared glasses.
- Garnish with blood orange slice.
Notes
Variations
- No blood oranges available? You can make this same cocktail with tangerine juice, or other types of oranges like Cara Cara Navel, which is flavored like a cross between strawberries and cranberries or even clementines.
- I think Triple Sec is a must add to margaritas. It provides a fruity flavor that is both sweet and bitter and adds a smoothness and balance to the whole. I also sub in Grand Marnier, Curacao or Cointreau at times in place of Triple Sec.
- The sugared rim can be replaced with a combination of 2 teaspoons of sea salt and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar. This gives a nod to both the sweet and tart flavors of the cocktail. It's also great with none, my actual preference.
- Want a frozen drink? Just add 1-2 cups of ice and ingredients to blender and mix until smooth.
Leave a Reply