Cilantro

Smoky Mango Margarita with Cilantro

by:
May  9, 2012
4
3 Ratings
Photo by Erica
  • Makes 2 cocktails
Author Notes

This began life as a grilled mango pizza, as in "Hey! For this week's contest, let's grill some mango and make a pizza out of it!" Like a few - well, more than a few - of the ideas we come up with after a couple of cocktails, this was not outstandingly successful. One day I will tell you about "Gas Up and Get Down," the Spouse's idea for a combination gas station and dance club. But not now. Anyway, the grilled mango part of the pizza recipe was terrific (but why on earth did we think it would go well with cheese?). We had some leftover grilled mango, and what better use for a mango than in a margarita? The excess cilantro we incorporated into a simple syrup, and the remaining red onions, well, we didn't use them.
wssmom

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Cilantro simple syrup
  • small handful of cilantro leaves, bruised
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Mango Margarita
  • 1 nice, ripe mango, peeled and cut into slices and/or wedges (about 3/4 cup)
  • 3 ounces silver tequila
  • 2 ounces Grand Marnier or other orange liquer
  • 3 ounces fresh-squeezed lime juice
  • 2 ounces fresh-squeezed orange juice
  • 2 ounces cilantro simple syrup
Directions
  1. Cilantro simple syrup
  2. Bring ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan, stir until sugar is dissolved. Let cool and strain into a jar.
  1. Mango Margarita
  2. Fire up your grill. Heat up one of those non-stick perforated pans you put on the grates for things like shrimp and veggies. When nice and hot, add the mango slices/wedges in a single layer and grill for a couple of minutes per side, or until it takes on a nice color. Remove and let cool in the fridge.
  3. In a blender, combine the grilled mango, tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice, orange juice and cilantro simple syrup and whiz until blended. Pour into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes, shake, and strain into two Margarita glasses that you have rimmed with salt, or sugar, or Aleppo pepper, depending on whether your guests are the sweet or spicy type.
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  • meganvt01
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  • boulangere
    boulangere
  • gingerroot
    gingerroot
  • LeBec Fin
    LeBec Fin

14 Reviews

meganvt01 May 15, 2012
This looks phenomenal - a summer staple!
 
wssmom May 17, 2012
I know I will be wanting one of these on a snowy January day, just to remind me of the summer!!
 
hardlikearmour May 13, 2012
This is simply awesome! You should throw a big food52 cocktail party!
 
wssmom May 17, 2012
When you come to town HLA will surely do!!!
 
boulangere May 10, 2012
Yes, thank you, first seat alongside the pool. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to the story of The Gas Up and Get Down. Lovely, yes, I'd adore another.
 
wssmom May 11, 2012
:)
 
gingerroot May 10, 2012
Yes, please! Fill 'er up...lol, I think I understand the appeal of Gas Up-Get Down : ) This sounds dangerously good.
 
wssmom May 10, 2012
I will not let the Spouse know, it would only encourage him! Thanks!
 
LeBec F. May 10, 2012
love your sense of humor; and you have such a good sense of timing with it!
 
wssmom May 10, 2012
Haha, if you can't laugh, it's so not worth it! Thanks!
 
EmilyC May 9, 2012
Love your headnote just as much as the drink you've created! : )
 
wssmom May 10, 2012
Thanks, EmilyC!
 
wssmom May 9, 2012
LOL what's not to like, right?
 
Bevi May 9, 2012
Cilantro simple syrup? Grilled mango? Fresh juice and booze? I'm yours.