I’m writing this quickly from the middle of a South American vacation — there are tans to be earned and cocktails to be enjoyed — so I’ll keep it short. I’m taking notes and filming Logan’s attempts at Spanish for future amusement, but right now I realized Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner and I couldn’t skip sharing a margarita recipe for the holiday.
Cinco de Mayo ranks high on my personal holiday list (after my birthday and Thanksgiving), and it’s always a reason to celebrate. This year it falls during my trip, so I plan to stretch the festivities across the week.
I won’t dive into history here, but Cinco de Mayo marks a moment tied to the Battle of Puebla and is a great excuse for a festive gathering. My definition of celebrating is simple: tequila, guacamole, and a lively playlist. With a couple of days to plan, invite friends, set out a few sombreros and maybe a piñata, and serve something memorable — like these Mango Margaritas.
Full disclosure: I’m not a tequila-shot person. Tequila shots were never my thing, and a bad tasting experience left me wary. But a well-made margarita? I’ll always make room. Cinco de Mayo is the perfect occasion to embrace margaritas, and these Mango Margaritas are bright, fresh, and dangerously drinkable.
These are nothing like the overly sweet frozen blends you might have suffered through. Fresh mango and lime let good tequila shine while a touch of light agave nectar keeps sweetness balanced and lighter on sugar than many margaritas. They’re refreshing, zippy, and easy to make by the pitcher — ideal for a party while keeping your beach-body and hangover concerns in mind.
Serve your Mango Margaritas with hearty snacks so everyone has something in their stomach before drinking. Good pairings include shrimp tacos, chipotle steak quesadillas, or chipotle pork tenderloin with mango-avocado salsa. At minimum, make plenty of guacamole and chips. Fiesta ready.
Cinco de Mayo Party Tip: Get a piñata. Adults get surprisingly excited about being blindfolded, spun around, and allowed to whack a cardboard creation. Many stores sell empty piñatas you can fill with miniature bottles, candy, or any grown-up treats you like — it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
| Most fun I’ve ever had. |
Mango Margaritas: (Makes 4 party-size cocktails)
Preparing your margaritas:
– Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Simple and fast — fewer steps means more time to enjoy the party.
To prepare your glasses:
– Pour salt onto a plate or into a shallow bowl. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of each glass, then dip the rim into the salt. Pour the margaritas into the prepared glasses and garnish with a lime slice if you like.
Mango Margaritas
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh mango, chopped (about 2 whole mangos)
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup light agave nectar
- 1 cup good-quality light tequila
- 2 cups ice
For garnish (optional)
- Salt
- Lime slices
Instructions
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Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth.
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To prepare your glasses, pour salt onto a plate or into a shallow bowl. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of each glass and dip the rim into the salt.
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Pour the margaritas into the salt-rimmed glasses, garnish as desired, and serve.
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