Orange Cardamom Margaritas
Posted on: December 6, 2024. Updated on: December 6, 2024.
by Carolina Gelen
Orange Cardamom Margaritas
These margaritas are inspired by my orange cardamom olive oil cake: the cocktail captures the floral, citrusy notes of the cake in a refreshing drink, perfect for the holiday season.
To capture the unique flavor of the citrusy olive oil cake, the margaritas are made using olive oil-washed tequila. Fat washing is a process in which a fat and spirit are mixed together and left to infuse over time. While the two don’t mix or emulsify, the spirit absorbs some of the flavor compounds in the fat, in this case, retaining some of those citrusy floral notes in olive oil. After freezing, the olive oil turns into s solid block and is very easy to separate from the tequila.
Lastly, combine the tequila with lime and orange juice, orange liqueur and orange cardamom syrup. Serve the tequila in a orange cardamom salt-garnished chilled glass.
If you’re looking for a proper Hanukkah signature cocktail, this one should be the first one on your list! Pair with my orange cardamom olive oil cake.
Orange Cardamom Margaritas
Servings: 1
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes, plus 12 hours chilling
Ingredients
Olive Oil-Washed Tequila (10 ounces tequila)
- 10 ounces (300 grams) tequila
- 2 ounces (60 grams) extra-virgin olive oil
Orange Cardamom Salt (4 to 6 servings)
- The zest of one small orange
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 tablespoons flaky salt
Orange Cardamom Margaritas (makes 1 drink)
- 2 ounces olive oil-washed tequila
- 1 ounce orange liqueur
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1 ounce orange juice
- 0.5 ounces orange cardamom syrup (equal parts water and sugar simmered with cardamom and orange slices)
- find the recipe and method HERE
- Ice
- Candied oranges, for garnishing, optional
Instructions
- In a jar, combine the tequila and olive oil. Tightly close the jar with a lid and shake vigorously. Keep at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours, occasionally shaking the jar every couple hours or so. After 12 to 24 hours at room temperature, place the jar in the freezer for a few hours, until the olive oil has solidified.
- Place a coffee filter in a funnel. Place the funnel over a clean jar. Remove the olive oil block—no need to discard it, you can use it for cooking—and pour the olive oil-infused tequila through the funnel.
- To a plate, add the orange zest, cardamom and salt. Rub them together until the salt turns a light orange color.
- Make the orange cardamom margaritas: Place the serving glass in the freezer for a few minutes. To a cocktail shaker, add the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, orange juice, orange cardamom syrup and ice. Vigorously shake until the cocktail shaker feels cold to the touch.
- To help the salt adhere to the glass, brush a bit of orange cardamom syrup on the side. Dip the glass in the orange cardamom salt. Fill the glass with ice. Pour the freshly shaken margarita in the serving glass. Top the glass with a slice of candied orange, if using.
- Optionally, drizzle a few drops of olive oil on top.
