If you like the bright, fresh taste of cilantro, you will love this Cilantro Margarita!
I recently asked for cocktail ingredient suggestions on my Facebook Page, and the witty, adorable Lilly Sue of Lilly Sue’s Bites and Brews suggested cilantro. It has taken me a couple weeks to get to it, but I present to you the Cilantro Margarito! Not quite a mojito or a margarita, this fizzy cocktail stands out with bright cilantro flavor. I realize this isn’t a terribly creative cocktail, but I didn’t want to add so many flavors that the cilantro was lost or mismatched. Did you know that some people can’t eat cilantro because they think it tastes like soap? I find it fascinating that there is not only an actual genetic difference that affects cilantro tasting (how random), but that “tasting like soap” is a universal sensation. I don’t that that I really know what soap tastes like exactly, but I guess we can all agree that we wouldn’t want it in our salsa. Lucky for me, I’m not on the soap team, so I am free to enjoy the this tasty drink.
Somewhere between a margarita and mojito, you will find this fizzy cocktail with cilantro in the spotlight.
Total Time:3 minutes
Yield:11x
Ingredients
UnitsScale
1 teaspoon packed cilantro leaves washed and removed from stems
1/2 lime cut into quarters
1 teaspoon raw sugar or agave nectar
2 fluid ounces silver tequila
seltzer water
Instructions
In a 12 oz. glass, muddle together cilantro leaves, lime quarters, and sugar until lime juice is released and cilantro is bruised. Pour in tequila and gently stir.
Add ice to 3/4 full and top with seltzer. Gently stir once more and serve.
Notes
You can use lemon-lime soda in place of the seltzer, just eliminate the sugar from the recipe.
If you don’t like cilantro, why not try one of these alternatives?
Best Authentic MargaritaMojito with Dark Rum
Andi Gleeson
Andi Gleeson is a passionate blogger and mom based in San Francisco who focuses on easy and delicious dinner recipes.
8 comments
lisa@cookingwithcurls
12 years ago
I love the name, that is awesome!!! Thankfully I am not one of those that taste soap, I use cilantro all of the time :)
The Weary Chef
12 years ago
Thank you, Lisa! My mom is a soap taster. She loves Mexican but always asks that her food have no cilantro when we go out. That’s a tall order in a Mexican restaurant!
Julie @ This Gal Cooks
12 years ago
I love Cilantro! I’ve heard the same thing from people who don’t like it – that it tastes like soap. This looks like a refreshing drink. I’d say my all time favorite would be the Mojito but I’d definitely give this one a try! :)
The Weary Chef
12 years ago
Ack, sorry I didn’t reply sooner! My all-time favorite is definitely a margarita. Sometimes it’s hard to make different stuff every week because I could just have a margarita any time I want a cocktail!
Lilly Sue
12 years ago
This looks super refreshing! I try to like Mojitos but since they typically pack so much sugar in them I would way rather a cocktail like this :) (too much sugar gives me a headache) Thanks for using the cilantro. I love cilantro and think it is crazy about how some people think it tastes different…I have also heard it tastes like metal to them. Yuck!
Have a great weekend!
The Weary Chef
12 years ago
I make my mojitos just like this except with mint instead of cilantro and rum instead of tequila. (That’s why I said this wasn’t terribly creative!) I’m glad to hear you like the recipe, and thanks so much for stopping by!
Liz
12 years ago
deLizious is back in the saddle on this one and I’ll say “yum.” Nicely done :-) Had to leave shortly after making and snapping the photo (wanted good daylight, so made it then instead of waiting), so stuck it in the freezer before running out of the house. When I returned it was slushy and even better than just chilled. Cilantro Margarito Slushie? Needs a fancier name as it’s a classy drink. This one made me very happy. Hope you have a great longer weekend, Andi.
The Weary Chef
12 years ago
So glad you liked it, Liz! I’m impressed that you had cilantro on hand. I always have to buy it as needed for recipes. It’s definitely not a staple for me (although I do use dried cilantro in recipes quite a bit). Enjoy your weekend!
This simple cranberry syrup recipe is great to use in cocktails, on desserts, and pancakes or in lemonade. Perfect for the holidays and all year round.
8 comments
I love the name, that is awesome!!! Thankfully I am not one of those that taste soap, I use cilantro all of the time :)
Thank you, Lisa! My mom is a soap taster. She loves Mexican but always asks that her food have no cilantro when we go out. That’s a tall order in a Mexican restaurant!
I love Cilantro! I’ve heard the same thing from people who don’t like it – that it tastes like soap. This looks like a refreshing drink. I’d say my all time favorite would be the Mojito but I’d definitely give this one a try! :)
Ack, sorry I didn’t reply sooner! My all-time favorite is definitely a margarita. Sometimes it’s hard to make different stuff every week because I could just have a margarita any time I want a cocktail!
This looks super refreshing! I try to like Mojitos but since they typically pack so much sugar in them I would way rather a cocktail like this :) (too much sugar gives me a headache) Thanks for using the cilantro. I love cilantro and think it is crazy about how some people think it tastes different…I have also heard it tastes like metal to them. Yuck!
Have a great weekend!
I make my mojitos just like this except with mint instead of cilantro and rum instead of tequila. (That’s why I said this wasn’t terribly creative!) I’m glad to hear you like the recipe, and thanks so much for stopping by!
deLizious is back in the saddle on this one and I’ll say “yum.” Nicely done :-) Had to leave shortly after making and snapping the photo (wanted good daylight, so made it then instead of waiting), so stuck it in the freezer before running out of the house. When I returned it was slushy and even better than just chilled. Cilantro Margarito Slushie? Needs a fancier name as it’s a classy drink. This one made me very happy. Hope you have a great longer weekend, Andi.
So glad you liked it, Liz! I’m impressed that you had cilantro on hand. I always have to buy it as needed for recipes. It’s definitely not a staple for me (although I do use dried cilantro in recipes quite a bit). Enjoy your weekend!