Happy Tequila Thursday! Haha… it’s not really a thing but I’m totally making it a thing. Over the past few months I’ve really grown a liking, love actually, of tequila and mezcal.

Honestly, other than the occasional random tequila shot back in college I didn’t really drink tequila all that much. Maybe because back then I drank the bottom shelf tequila because it was all I could afford?

I also had never even heard of mezcal back then either. Plus, I didn’t think that the taste of tequila couldn’t get any better than that gold bottle of grossness that I was drinking.

But boy was I wrong.

I’m not even sure what got me to start linking tequila – and not for just taking shots – but for actually drinking on-the-rocks with a twist of orange or mixed into a super fun and delicious cocktail like this red dragon fruit margarita you see here.

Now that I think about it, I think I started liking tequila and mezcal recently when I went on a girls night when my sister was in town. We went out to a speakeasy bar in downtown and each ordered something different from each other every time we would order a drink.

The first round, I unknowingly ordered a drink with mezcal and egg white in it and I absolutely loved it. It had a beautifully smoky flavor profile but not so smoky that it was overwhelming to your palate.

After that I vowed to try rotating more tequila and mezcal into my bar cart.

Anyway, back to this gorgeous cocktail. Yes, before you ask… this is the actual color of the drink. Red dragon fruit has this naturally beautiful red-ish pink hue.

Of course there are regular dragon fruit that are white when you cut them open and they have the same flavor. If you cannot get red dragon fruit you can use regular dragon fruit but it just won’t be the same color.

Regardless of which one you use, they have a similar flavor profile – with the white dragon fruit being slightly more sweet than the red – so it will still taste fairly the same. The addition of the simple syrup is optional depending on how sweet you like your drinks.

Personally, I have to be in the mood for a super sweet drink, so I leave the simple syrup out. I’m more of a dry and smoky flavor profile type of person.

Which I even like when I’m making my sangria.

Red Dragon Fruit Margarita

4.38 from 62 votes

Ripe red dragon fruit gives this margarita it's gorgeous pink hue while also providing a sweet base for a delicious cocktail.

Yield 1 cocktail

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 oz red dragon fruit juice *
• 1.5 oz blanco tequila
• 1 oz lime juice
• .5 oz triple sec
• .5 oz simple syrup ** (optional)

Instructions

 

• Fill cocktail shaker 1/2 way with ice. Add dragon fruit juice, tequila, lime juice, triple sec, and simple syrup (if desired).
• Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
• Using a lime wedge, rim rocks glass to dampen. Dip rim of glass in shallow bowl of salt or sugar (your preference).
• Fill glass to top with ice and strain liquid from shaker into glass.
• Garnish with lime wedge and mint leaf, if desired.

Notes

* To make juice, hollow out two red dragon fruit and place fruit into blender.  Blend on high for 30-60 seconds. Strain through fine mesh strainer and discard solids.

** Simple syrup is made by simmering equal parts water and sugar just until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool completely before using in drink.

Equipment

Ninja Kitchen System

Cocktail Shaker Bar Set

Tried this recipe?Snap a photo and mention @JenniferMeyering