This Lemon Basil Margarita recipe should be on your must-try list this week, and not just because of Cinco de Mayo. It’s because tequila makes everything better! (Unless it’s a hangover. Tequila might not help that.) It’s also #MargaritaWeek, celebration of all things margarita hosted by my friend Kate Ramos. Check out Kate’s Ginger Mezcal Fig Margarita recipe and her Spicy Raspberry Jalapeno Margarita too. So good! Fox & Briar made a color-changing margarita that I’m slightly afraid of, so I’ll let y’all know if I give it a go.
On the Lemon Basil Margarita! I add a splash of club soda, which is in no way traditional margarita-making protocol. You can leave the club soda out if you’d like, but if you do, use a small glass than I show pictured here, and cut the lemon simple syrup in half. Otherwise it’ll be way too sweet.
It’s easy to make your own simple syrup – just combine equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan over medium and stir until sugar dissolves and liquid becomes clear. Then boil the mixture for a minute or two, and allow it to cool. You can flavor your syrup with lemon by adding a few lemon wheels (seeds removed) while the syrup is cooking and then straining once it’s cool, or just buy some lemon simple syrup and skip the sugar-boiling part altogether.
If you make a few Lemon Basil Margaritas for you and your friends, snap a photo and tag @gfreefoodie on Instagram – I love to see your creations! You can check out my Pomegranate Pineapple Margarita recipe too, that was last year’s #MargaritaWeek libation!
Lemon Basil Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz Tequila
- .5 ounce .5 ounce Grand Mariner or Triple Sec
- 4-5 torn basil leaves
- 1 oz. lemon simple syrup
- club soda
- garnish: lemon wedge and basil leaf
- lemon sugar rim optional but encouraged
Instructions
- If you're going to add a lemon sugar or salt rim to the glass, do that first, by rubbing a sliced lemon around the rim of a glass and ten dipping the rim in lemon sugar or salt.
- Add the tequila, Grand Mariner or Triple Sec, torn basil leaves and lemon simple syrup to the glass, and stir briskly to combine. (You don;t want to beat up the basil, but you want it to release its flavorful oils.)
- Add ice to the glass, then fill with club soda. Stir to combine, then garnish with lemon wedge and a basil leaf.
Bottoms up!
photos by Katie Roletto
