Summer Margarita
by Rick Bayless
INGREDIENTS:
» 3 cups Peeled, seeded, and thin-sliced cucumber (1 large or 2 medium cucumbers)
» 1.5 cups 100-percent-Agave silver tequila (Milagro or Cazadores)
» 1 cup Fresh lime juice
» 1 cup Simple syrup*
» Half a lime
» Kosher salt or other coarse salt
» Garnish: Cucumber slices
» Glass: Martini
PREPARATION:
In a blender, combine the cucumber, tequila, lime juice and simple syrup, and blend until the mixture is as smooth as you can get it. Strain into a pitcher, cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour. Moisten the rims of three 6-ounce Martini glasses with the cut side of the lime half. Spread the salt on a small plate and upend the glasses into the salt to crust the rims. Fill a cocktail shaker three-quarters of the way with ice and add 1.5 cups of the cucumber mixture. Cover and shake for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into the prepared glasses. Garnish with cucumber slices. Repeat with the remaining cucumber mixture, to make a total of 9 cocktails.
*Simple Syrup
» 1.5 cups Granulated sugar
» 1.5 cups Water
» 1 tbsp. Fresh lime juice
Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat, cool and store in a closed container, preferably in the refrigerator for optimal freshness.
From Fiesta at Rick’s by Rick Bayless.
