Margarita

By Rosie Schaap

Updated March 28, 2024

Margarita
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
3 minutes
Rating
5(3,454)
Comments
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Tequila, lime, a touch of orange in the form of triple sec and salt (if that's your thing) is all you need to make a great margarita. No one really knows the true history of the cocktail — there are as many origin stories as there are variations of the beloved drink — but it's a practically perfect drink nonetheless. (Try a frozen margarita, too.)

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink
  • 2ounces blanco tequila
  • Juice of 1 whole lime
  • ½ounce triple sec, preferably Cointreau
  • Salt for rim (optional)
  • Lime wedge, for garnish
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (1 servings)

186 calories; 0 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 8 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 1 gram protein; 340 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add tequila, lime juice and triple sec.

  2. Step 2

    Shake until combined.

  3. Step 3

    Pour, with the ice, into a highball or footed glass (salt rim first if you like). Garnish with wedge of lime.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
3,454 user ratings
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Comments

Colleen

What could be a more useless measure than the juice of one whole citrus of any type? I am a fan of 3:2:1 tequila:lime juice:Cointreau.

Gordeaux

From years of making margaritas, and after trying many recipes, these proportions work best:

1/2 c. tequila
1/3 c. Cointreau
1/4 c. lime juice

On ice or stained. Salt or not. I have had so many people say this is the best margarita they ever tasted. Thank you Rick Bayless.

John Niedermeyer

Like, how does this scale to be a pitcher of margarita(s?)? I need more volume, or else I won’t be able to attend to my guests.

Help me Rosie!

Yodagirl

4oz. pour from the freezer in a glass from the freezer, juice from half a lime, fill with ice, top with Triple-sec or Cointreau. 21 Seeds Mandarin Orange tequila on the rocks is a great substitute if your feeling lazy!

Winifred

Per person: 1oz silver tequila 1 oz lime 1 oz triple sec— Cointreau is good. Grand Marnier is good. de Kuypers also good. Any other triple sec is mostly sugar water without enough alcohol.. To be honest, after it’s all in the blender I had another splash of tequila for good measure !

Bon on NM

This is exactly what I had in Baja California years ago. Mexicans know their stuff.

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