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Pear Pitcher Margaritas with Chile-Lime Rims

One margarita glass filled with the cocktail on a dramatically lit serving tray.
Photo by Mandalyn Renicker

Fuel an entire fall fiesta with the push of a blender button. There are no bottled pear concentrates or simple syrups to simmer, and the result is a refreshing burst of spicy, crisp autumn flavors. It’s something you’d imagine sipping at the bar of a trendy modern taqueria, except you pulled it off at home, without any of the individual cocktail shaking. For a larger crowd, make extra pitchers a few hours before to have in the fridge and just keep ’em coming.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

Margarita:

2 ripe Bosc or Bartlett pears
1/3 cup lime juice, from about 3 limes
2/3 cup tequila blanco
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Ice cubes, for the blender and each glass
A small handful fresh cilantro, leaves and tender stems
Cardamom bitters, optional

Rim salt:

2 teaspoons chile powder
2 teaspoons fine salt
1 teaspoon lime zest, from one of the above limes pre-juicing

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Peel pears and scoop out just the seeds; the slightly harder parts of the flesh will purée well. Chop into large chunks and place in the blender.

    Step 2

    Add lime juice, tequila, maple syrup, and 3/4 cup ice. Give everything a long whir until you have a smoothie-like consistency. Add the cilantro and pulse a few more times for green, herby flecks.

    Step 3

    Now let the flavors mingle in the blender while you prepare the rims.

    Step 4

    On a small plate, mix the chile powder, salt, and lime zest.

    Step 5

    Grab 4 glasses—about 6-ish ounces each. Run one of the spent lime wedges along each rim, then dip in the salt mixture, evenly coating the rim.

    Step 6

    Fill glasses halfway with ice, add 1–2 dashes of optional bitters, then pour 4 margaritas for 4 lucky people.

The cookbook cover featuring a casual dinner party table with wine, candles, and a guest's hand using tongs to serve herself from the cocotte in the center of the table.
From The Huckle & Goose Cookbook: 152 Recipes and Habits to Cook More, Stress Less, and Bring the Outside In © 2019 by Anca Toderic. Reprinted with permission by Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Buy the full book from HarperCollins or from Amazon.
TagsMargaritaCocktailAlcoholBeveragesPitcher DrinkTequilaPearFruitLimeCitrusQuickEasyBlenderFallCookbooksHarper Collins

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