Cooling cucumber juice adds a fresh finish to an already refreshing summer quencher. Cucumbers make a fantastic addition to tequila drinks like cucumber margaritas. Their natural sweetness balances the tequila’s sharpness and their fresh, vegetal flavor brings out the spirit’s citrusy, grassy undertones. You don’t need any added sugar to make this cocktail taste great: just tequila, Triple Sec, limes and cucumbers (plus ice for the cocktail glass).
Normally, we make a classic margarita with a 3-2-1 ratio of tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice for that perfect balance of sweet and sour. Here, we increase the tequila slightly for an extra punch of sharp agave flavor. The cucumber juice mellows the additional heat, but there’s also an opportunity to lean into the spice by adding jalapenos for a spicy cucumber margarita.
Cucumber Margarita Ingredients
- English cucumber: These mostly seedless cucumbers are our favorite choice for cocktails. English cucumbers are sweeter than other types of cucumbers, and the skin is less bitter. If your cucumber tastes bitter, remove the skin with a vegetable peeler before juicing it.
- Tequila: The best tequila for margaritas is blanco tequila (aka silver tequila). This clear, unaged tequila won’t overpower the cucumber flavor like reposado or añejo tequila. Learn more about what tequila is made from and the different types of tequila.
- Triple Sec: Triple Sec is the generic name for orange liqueur. This sweet liqueur balances the tequila’s heat and lime’s acidity, eliminating the need for added sugar.
- Lime: Freshly squeezed lime juice tastes much brighter than bottled lime juice. Use leftover lime wedges to moisten the rim of the cocktail glass to help a salt rim stick (if you decide to add one).
- Coarse sea salt: Salt is optional, but you’ll need it to create a salt rim for the cocktail glass.
Directions
Step 1: Juice the cucumber
Place 1 cup of sliced cucumber into a food processor, and process until pureed. Press the pureed cucumber through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl. Discard the pulp.
Editor’s Tip: If you have a juicer, feel free to use it instead of the blender. And if you don’t want to throw away the pulp, try mixing it with yogurt to create a tasty sauce for tzatziki chicken.
Step 2: Prepare the cocktail glass
Moisten the rim of a cocktail glass with a lime wedge. If desired, sprinkle salt on a plate, and dip the rim in the salt. Fill the glass with ice.
Editor’s Tip: Spice up the rim by adding lime zest or Tajin seasoning to the salt. Or give it a sweet-and-salty finish by mixing sugar into the salt.
Step 3: Shake the cucumber margarita
In an empty cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice and 1 ounce of strained cucumber juice. Fill the shaker with ice. Cover and shake until frost forms on the outside of the shaker, 15 to 20 seconds.
Editor’s Tip: If you like your cocktails on the sweeter side, add simple syrup or agave nectar to the cocktail shaker.
Step 4: Finish
Strain the shaken cocktail into the prepared glass. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup cucumber slices. Garnish with lime wedge.
Recipe Variations
- Cucumber jalapeno margarita: To turn this into a spicy cucumber margarita, thinly slice a jalapeno pepper. Before adding ice to the cocktail glass, place the sliced pepper in the glass, and muddle it with a cocktail muddler or the back of a bar spoon. Alternatively, you can use jalapeno-infused tequila to give the cocktail a spicy kick.
- Cucumber mint margarita: Cucumber and mint pair well together, so why not combine them in a cocktail? Muddle a few mint leaves in the glass before adding ice, similar to a mojito recipe. Add a few extra mint leaves to the glass.
- Watermelon cucumber margarita: Add a cucumber twist to watermelon margaritas. Blend the cucumbers with a few pieces of chopped watermelon, then strain the juice through a fine-mesh strainer.
- Cucumber mezcal margarita: Mezcal and tequila are related but have different flavor profiles. Tequila is made with blue agave, and mezcal is made with any type of agave. It tastes smokier than tequila, which gives a mezcal margarita an added element of complexity.
- Frozen cucumber margaritas: To make frozen margaritas, add the ingredients to a blender. Add ice, and blend until the ice is crushed and the margarita is smooth.
Can you make cucumber margaritas ahead of time?
You can make cucumber margaritas up to three days ahead of time. Instead of shaking the cocktail with ice, combine the ingredients in a jar with a tightly fitted lid. Store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. Feel free to scale the recipe up for make-ahead pitcher margaritas for a party.
Cucumber Margarita Tips
Can you make cucumber margaritas with frozen cucumbers?
Cucumber margaritas are a smart way to use up frozen cucumbers. It’s generally discouraged to freeze raw vegetables like cucumbers, as they become mushy when thawed. However, if you’re juicing the cucumber, its texture doesn’t matter! Thaw the cucumber in the refrigerator overnight, and juice it as directed.
Alternatively, you can juice the cucumbers ahead of time. Freeze cucumber juice in ice cube trays or freezer-safe containers for up to three months.
Can you make cucumber margaritas without Triple Sec?
There are several alternatives to Triple Sec for cucumber margaritas. Triple Sec adds sweetness to margaritas to balance the tart lime, but any sweet ingredient works as a replacement, like agave nectar or simple syrup. Even a splash of orange juice works in a pinch. You can also use another type of orange liqueur like Cointreau or Grand Marnier. These substitutes vary in flavor and will change the margarita’s flavor slightly.
