Got abundant figs in my garden. Instead of making a cake, drink, or smoothie, today I am trying out a spicy margarita. In addition to figs, I am adding strawberries, Tabasco, and black pepper to call my own creation, though the ideas are from a handful of margarita classics and non-alcoholic options.

A spicy gin Margarita is a vibrant twist on the classic, replacing tequila with gin (often citrus or savoury, 50ml), mixed with fresh lime juice (20–25ml), orange liqueur or agave (10–15ml), and heat from muddled jalapeños or hot sauce. Shake with ice, strain into a salted-rim glass, and garnish with chili or lime.

Gin is a distilled spirit, typically with a minimum 37.5% ABV, characterized by a dominant flavor of juniper berries. Originating from the Dutch spirit jenever, it is produced by distilling or redistilling neutral grain spirit with juniper and other botanicals—such as coriander, citrus peel, and herbs—to create a varied, aromatic profile. Gin is rarely drunk straight and is a staple in cocktails, most famously in Gin & Tonic, martinis, and Negronis.

I don’t have agava nectar, search for substitute and found honey is the best to replace agava. This is trial and error experiment. It’s spicy, delicious. Let’s see and taste my margarita!!!

Ingredients

1.5 oz Rhubarb & Ginger Gin Liqueur
1 oz Cointreau
1 freshly squeezed lime juice, about 30 ml
4 plum strawberries, halved
2 plum figs, quartered
1 Tbs honey
3 ice cubes
2 Tbs water
3-5 dashes tabasco sauce
black pepper (OPT)
1 strawberry, stem removed and garnish

Method

In Nutri Bullet, add fresh strawberries, figs, water, and ice cubes. Blitz until they form a thick pulp. Pour in the gin, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and honey. Fine-strain the mixture into a jug.

Place in fridge for it to chill about 1 hour. Just before serving, dash 3 dashes of tabasco and shakes some black pepper. Gives a stir or two. Taste for spiciness. I added 2 more dashes of tabasco. Garnish with one strawberry. Enjoy!!!

https://helenscchin.com/2024/03/24/spicy-strawberry-fig-margarita-with-strawberry/

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