The Story Behind The Spicy Strawberry Margarita
This week I had a real craving for something Mexican, and as soon as I think about Mexican drinks and food I think of spice. I love playing a little balancing act with my cocktails in which I find out how much of each opposing flavor I can get into a concoction before it all goes crazy. This time, because I wanted something spicy, I knew I had to find something sweet to counter it.
A quick visit to the local market and I started my search for a chili, settling on some hot serrano peppers to bring the kick I was longing for. With that in order it was time to hunt down my balancing ingredients, and it didn’t take too long to come across an amazing basket of fresh strawberries, which I promptly purchased, only to find out they were a little more tart than anticipated. Not to worry, I picked up a bottle of agave nectar, the secret ingredient that would tie everything together.
The shop also had a bottle of Tajín, which just happens to be my one of my favorite salt replacements when enjoying Mexican fare. I returned home and began playing around with the ingredients. The balance of the tequila, serrano peppers, strawberries and agave nectar was too good to be true. I poured the cocktail into a glass rimmed with a little Tajín and realized all I needed now were some tacos to wash down.