Even though they taste so good, margaritas have a reputation of being not so good for you. The classic is packed with alcohol, sugar and, usually, extra large serving sizes—especially if you’re ordering out alongside some fantastic Mexican food.
But don’t fret. You can make a skinny margarita that tastes just as good, if not better than the classic! It’s lower in calories, sugar and carbs, too.
Blogger Melissa Erdelac of MamaGourmand shares a skinny margarita recipe that’s served up on the rocks, but see below for how to blend a frozen marg. The trick to both? Focus on fresh, all-natural ingredients rather than sugary mixers.
How to Make a Skinny Margarita
Melissa points out that the typical 8-oz. restaurant margarita has about 450 calories when it’s served on the rocks. Whoa! Her skinny margarita recipe has between 130-180 calories, depending on how much sweetener is added.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces high-quality tequila
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1/2 ounce fresh orange juice (about 1/2 orange)
- 2 teaspoons agave nectar or simple syrup
- 1/2 ounce triple sec or orange liqueur
- Coarse salt
Instructions
Step 1: Rim with salt
If you prefer a salt-rimmed glass, use a wedge of lime to moisten the rim of the glass, then dip into a plate filled with coarse salt. Fill your glass with ice.
Step 2: Shake and pour
Combine margarita ingredients in a cocktail shaker (like this one) with a few cubes of ice. Shake well and strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lime slice and enjoy!
Bonus: More Takes on the Skinny Margarita
Make It Even Healthier
For a skinnier version of the same recipe, swap the triple sec and orange juice for 1/4 teaspoon of orange extract instead. You can also substitute the agave nectar with liquid stevia. It’s important to remember that it will not be a 1:1 substitution because artificial sweeteners are much sweeter. Try starting with a few drops and adjust to taste.
Make It Frozen
In the mood for a frozen margarita instead? Blend all the ingredients with 1/2 cup of the frozen fruit of your choice and a few ice cubes.
Mix It Up
Shake up your cocktail game with these fun—and guilt-free—variations on the classic margarita:
- Shake ingredients with a couple slices of jalapeño to add a spicy kick.
- Muddle fresh fruit, such as blackberries or strawberries, at the bottom of the glass for a fruit-flavored margarita.
- Try fresh herbs, such as basil or cilantro, shaken with the ingredients. The herbs also go well with fruit additions.
Serve Your Margs With a Fresh, Light Mexican Main Dish
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The post Yes, You Can Make a Healthy(ish) Margarita. Here’s How! appeared first on Taste of Home.
Lauren Naru