If you’ve been looking for an excuse to drink a Margarita in the colder months, let the Cara Cara orange be your season pass.
Cara Caras, with their pinkish-red seedless flesh, are similar to navel oranges, but with a distinctive cranberry-like tang. This tart component makes them a perfect sour-flavoured complement to a traditional margarita.
It may come as no surprise that oranges are a great source of nutrients, including B vitamins, folate, vitamin A, and of course vitamin C. With almost 100% of a your dietary intake of the Big C, here’s why you should care about eating (or drinking) oranges from time-to-time: Vitamin C is the body’s chief water-soluble antioxidant.
This hearty vitamin does its job by neutralizing free radicals to prevent damage to cellular structures. Because cancers are readily spread in areas of the body where cellular turnover is particularly rapid, antioxidants play an especially important role in cancer prevention.
So nevermind the fact that it’s not summer beach weather; let the Cara Cara orange, with all of its nutritional benefits, put a seasonal margarita on your table right now.
Cara Cara Orange Margarita Ingredients
Serves 1, but is easily doubled or otherwise multiplied
- ½ oz tequila
- ½ oz Cointreau
- ½ oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
- 1½ oz fresh-squeezed Cara Cara orange juice (or regular navel orange juice, plus a little more lime juice)
- Slice of lime to garnish
Chile Salt Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp dried chile flakes
- 1 Tbsp flaky kosher salt
Method
- Pulse the chile and salt together in a spice grinder, or grind in a mortar and pestle, until a semi-fine powder is formed. Stir to combine. (Note: If the powder is too fine, it will create chile dust that might be irritating to your nose and throat. It’s not harmful, but will likely make you cough and/or sneeze.)
- This recipe makes enough for several drinks or for sprinkling on roasted veggies, pasta, eggs, or grilled meats.
- Rim the glass by running a cut slice of lime around the edge of a short glass to wet it. Pour the chile salt onto a plate or wide bowl and dip the lime-rimmed glass into the salt to coat. Carefully add in 3-4 ice cubes and set aside.
- Add the tequila, Cointreau, lime, and Cara Cara juices in a shaker half-filled with ice. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds then strain into the salt-rimmed glass. Garnish with a slice of lime.
- To drink: Run the lime around the rim of the glass to collect the chile salt. Squeeze the lime (and salt) into the drink. Enjoy!
