Prickly Pear
Joelle said around mid-morning on February 25, 2008 while listening to Blossom Dearie - 'Deed I Do
This just in: prickly pear margaritas are nature’s gift. If nature is named Jose Cuervo, but whatever. They’re so good, I’ve not been able to stop thinking about them since I had one. If you don’t know what the hell I’m talking about, a prickly pear is the fruit produced by Nopales cactus… those flat wide ones with the purple doodad at the top. Like these.
Lushy and her mom are in town, so we all went to The Prado on Saturday for lunch with GFI and Modigli. That is probably in my top 3 places to eat in San Diego. The architecture, the gorgeous park… the giant vats of sangria… what more could you ask for? Normally, sangria is what I would go for, but since I’d never had a prickly pear, let alone a margarita made from one, I decided to live large. So I had two. I would have had three, but I was too full.
I can’t quite describe the taste… it’s tart and sweet and a wee bit sour, but not too sour. You don’t taste the liquor, really, yet you know it’s there. It’s an easy-drinkin’ cocktail, my friends. I’m now hell-bent on making them at home.
Here’s my assessment of their recipe, based on a combo of what their menu said, your basic top-shelf, Cadillac-style margarita and the addictive experience I had with it.
Prickly Pear Margarita
- 2 parts tequila of your choice (I prefer silver tequila, personally… Hornitos or Petron, preferably, but whatever you like)
- 1 part Grand Marnier
- 1 part prickly pear juice
- 1/2 part fresh lime juice
- 1 part simple syrup
You can shake with ice and strain into a glass rimmed with salt OR, how I had it, throw it in a blender with as much ice as you like and serve it frozen. I didn’t have salt and personally, I think either a sugar/salt blend or no salt at all on the rim would be ideal. Squeeze o’ lime. Viola!… alcoholic orgasm.
Don’t say I never gave you nothin’.
Moxie Design Studios™
from West Palm Beach, FL • Cocktail: Champagne Bellini
That’s it. Let’s go get one. We can write it off as “research and developement”. Yeah that’s it.
from Seattle
Yay for hanging out with the girls. Someday I will actually meet Lush.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Sizzle: She’s great fun.
from texas
So what are the other two places on your top 3 list? My gf and I are supposed to be in San Diego for a few days in April and I’m asking everyone for recommendation.
from Pasadena, CA
Wow, that sounds pretty nifty.
from Columbia City, IN
Speaking of Margarita recipes!!!
A friend of mine from Mexico gave me this recipe for Margarita’s and it is pretty good.
6 ounces of 100% Agave Tequila, (it has to say Respinoda!! (sp) on the label)
3 ounces Molson Beer
1 ounce Countreau (sp)
1 can of Lime Ade frozen concentrate
You can either blend or shake with ice.
They are remarkably smooth tasting. I think the beer cuts the sour from the lime ade. Anyway, they go down like Kool Aid, but catch up to you pretty quick.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@TK: A few of my very favorite places are no longer around unfortunately, but Karl Strauss in Sorrento Mesa is really delicious and their brunch is fantastic. The scenery is great and brunch is like $20 and you get all you can eat, plus neverending Champagne and mimosas. Plus one beer.
I also really like Cafe Sevilla downtown for tapas and sangria, Saffron Noodle on India Street for really some of the best Thai food ever (#18 Chicken Pad-See-Ewe is my fave, but I’ve heard their Pad Thai is to die for and 2 doors down is Gelato Vero, home of the most awesome chocolate hazelnut gelato).
And, if you’d really love an experience and don’t mind something a little chi-chi, go to Mr. A’s. Their Steak Dianne is fantastic, the service is high end and the view is absolutely spectacular. (The Wine List isn’t too shabby either.) Have fun!
You forgot one key ingredient: a heaping scoopful of love.
from Orlando • Cocktail: Sit-Down Straw-Rita
I love prickly pear margaritas - pomegranate and cranberry ones, too. Ok, probably would never turn down a margarita, period, but those three are the ones I get most frequently. I like the more tart-sweet combo typed rather than just one or the other.
On Tues and Thurs, there’s a restaurant called Pedro’s up here in Wisconsin where I am right now that offers 1/2 price margaritas all day, including their 32-oz. “mug"-arita, which ends up costing like $5. To me, it’s like the Big Gulp of margaritas. LOL
from texas
Thank you for the suggestions. They all sound great...especially the Karl Strauss one. Neverending mimosas and a beer sounds like some kind of fantasy.
from Chicago, IL
I am desperately in love with prickly pear margaritas. You can also find Prickly Pear concentrate and mix it up with lots of ice and some vodka for a little bit of heaven. mmmm...liquor.
from San Diego, CA
hmmmmm. I’ve actually never eaten at the Prado before. This drink gives me a reason! I’ve only had prickly pear as a chewy candy or stewed as a side dish.
from USA
Cheers sweetie!
from san diego • Cocktail: margarita
i love the prado… wish i was there!!
from usa
I love prickly pear margaritas - pomegranate and cranberry ones, too. Ok, probably would never turn down a margarita, period, but those three are the ones I get most frequently. I like the more tart-sweet combo typed rather than just one or the other.