This colorful and seasonal Blood Orange Margarita is perfect for when you see Blood Oranges available in your local grocery store. This is a colorful variation of the classic margarita recipe that uses fresh, seasonal ingredients, as well as premium tequila. A perfect way to use this gorgeous seasonal fruit with a show-stopping cocktail.
So just the other day I was at Trader Joe's and the food sample being distributed wasn't something that was processed or really pre-packaged was offered: blood oranges. Yes, these cute little fruits have hit shelves. And while I love to snack on them, I also don't mind them in a margarita. The ones available were labeled as "Moro." I tend to not see these oranges all year long.
Pictured below are two oranges: a navel and a blood orange. The color is different in the fruit but also on the exterior. Most blood oranges I've seen also seem to be a bit smaller as well.
When Are Blood Oranges in Season?
You might find blood oranges hitting shelves between December and May. In fact, they may not even be the same variety of blood oranges. Blood oranges come in several varieties. The most common varieties include:
- Moro- The most common, native to Sicily, and is more intense in flavor and aroma than a regular orange. It is also more bitter.
- Taracco- This is the sweetest of the three varieties available and also contains the most Vitamin C. This variety is seedless.
- Sanguinello- Similar to the Moro variety but has "veins" of blood coloring instead of the intense red color. You probably won't find this at the early part of the season as many don't mature until February.
Making this perfectly
- Don't buy cheap tequila. You want to avoid anything that is a Mixto. Be sure it says 100% Pure Agave. Mixtos only need to be 51% agave, which is why many of us in college ended up not liking tequila or have bad memories of tequila.
- Blood oranges are nearly as pigmented as beets. Therefore, be sure to wear an apron or some other protective clothing, otherwise, you will be testing out laundry detergents.
- No need to buy a margarita glass rimming set. As long as you have kosher salt, you are good.
- Because of the different varieties of blood oranges, you may need to adapt the amount of simple syrup. I had the Moro variety available when I made this, which is more bitter. Therefore, this recipe might need to be adapted if you find other varieties.
- Rimming the glass- There are different ways of going about this. Feel free to figure out which one you like best.
- Ice. One of the single most important and overlooked ingredients. If your ice is funky, your cocktail will be too. If you live in an area where the water tastes off, then make ice with bottled water or buy ice.
- Use only freshly squeezed juice. The bottled lime juice never tastes the same as fresh.
Watch me make this (30 Seconds)
Directions
Step 1 (optional): Rimming the glass. Do this first, as I personally am so excited about a cocktail, that I remember this step after I pour it into a glass and it is too late. Lesson Learned: Do it first so you don't forget. You can use the juice from the fruit or simple syrup to achieve a beautiful rim. Dip into kosher salt on a small plate after you have rimmed the glass. Set aside.
Step 2: In a cocktail shaker tequila, fresh blood orange juice, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup (agave nectar can also be used here). Add ice to shaker. For this recipe I am skipping the triple sec to enjoy the sweet tart taste of the blood orange with the lime juice.
Step 3: Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds until the sides of the shaker are cold. Pour into a filled glass of ice and garnish with a blood orange slice.
And the look from overhead:
The difference between using quality ice and regular ice. To get clearer ice boil water and fill a ice cube container. Place in freezer. This will eliminate a good portion of the cloudiness:
I hope you enjoy this Blood Orange Margarita!
Other Cocktails You Might Enjoy
Spicy Jalapeno Limeade Margarita
If you try this, would you mind hitting the “Rate” button? I’d love to know what you thought of it. If you modified the original recipe here, please let me know how it turned out. I love comments!
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Blood Orange Margarita
Ingredients
- 3 ounces Tequila
- 2 ounces Blood Orange Juice Freshly squeezed
- 1.5 ounces Lime Juice
- .5 ounces Simple Syrup
- Ice Sufficient for both mixing and pouring
Optional
- 1 slice blood orange
- 1 tsp simple syrup (corn syrup, agave, or juice from slice to rim glass)
- kosher salt sufficient for rimming the glass
Tools and Glassware
- Shaker
- Cocktail Glass Margarita glass or old fashioned glass work well here.
Instructions
Optional (step)
- If you wish to rim your glass, now is the time. Either rub the rim of glass with a lime wedge or put 1 tsp (no need to measure) of simple syrup on a plate and run the rim of the glass against the liquid.
- Place kosher salt on separate plate, and run the rim of the glass along the rim to get good coverage.
To Make This Blood Orange Margarita
- Add lime juice, tequila, and blood orange juice to the shaker
- Fill cocktail shaker with ice
- Shake for 15-20 seconds until the shaker is very cold
- Pour into your glass
- Enjoy responsibly!
Video
Notes
- Be sure to use quality ice and tequila
- Depending on the variety of Blood Orange you may need to vary the amount of simple syrup
This looks like real fun! Two sips and I would be under the table. "She just can't hold her liquor"!!!
Virtual hugs,
Judie
Hey Judie! Sounds like a case of one tequila, two tequila, three tequila floor! Oh well, you can always reduce the amounts here. Thanks as always for stopping by and sharing!
You got it! Next trip coming up in ten days! ;->
Great recipe, thank you! I love to use blood oranges in Sangria when they’re available!
Hey Jen! That sounds delicious as well. Do you make white or red sangria? Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and share!
I absolutely love blood oranges and blood orange juice. I can't wait to make this drink. thanks for the tips and the recipe. Also speaking of drinks I came across a Trader Joe's Coffee ranking article on the Kitchn. They recommended the Cameroon coffee as the best. I have been looking for it. Have you tried it?
Hey Dag! I just looked up that article. I bought it and it's still sitting in its bag. Unfortunately with the small lot coffees, by the time I get them home and really try them they might be off the shelves within a week or two. They're always limited run and I haven't seen many of them reappear. I honestly haven't seen it carried in my stores shelves lately. The coffee aisle has been paired down significantly over the last year. I think they are shifting away from regular varieties to small lot. Which means if you find something you really like, you have to stock up. Or with the Zambia coffee I reviewed a while back I had a reader who happened to have lived in the area and added some clarity to that variety: https://www.becomebetty.com/trader-joes-zambia-aa-small-lot-coffee/
Thanks so much for the info! I have also noticed they have pared down on their coffee section. I have to remember to stock up on products I really like because they always end up not carrying them anymore...the paneer naan, the rose facial oil, the red sauce jalapeno and cheese chicken tamales etc.
Its almost Valentine's day, I would not be surprised if we see the rose facial oil back on shelves. If not by mother's day. Fingers crossed on my end.
Fantastic!! 💕 Now I need to find blood oranges!!
If you can find them, they add so much color to anything you pair them with.
I am now on a mission to find them!! 💕 💕 💕