This tamarind margarita recipe adds a unique twist on the classic margarita. Tangy tamarind paste adds a delicious depth of flavor and makes this recipe super refreshing while the savory Indian chaat masala rim lends to that perfect salty sweet combination.
Flavors in this tamarind margarita
This tamarind margarita is super delicious and refreshing! It’s a little bit tangy thanks to the tamarind paste, slightly sweet from the jaggery (unrefined cane sugar) and so refreshing because of the fresh lime juice. If you’re looking for a different take on the classic margarita, you've got to try this one. It’s one of those cocktails that feels so fancy and exotic, but is so simple to whip together!
Apart from the tamarind, what makes this cocktail unique is the use of Indian chaat masala and kala namak (black salt).
Chaat masala is an amazing spice mixture in Indian cuisine often consisting of amchoor (dry mango powder), cumin, coriander, chili and black salt (also known as kala namak). It has a spicy, sour and savory flavor and makes everything it is added to, taste lip smacking delicious. It pairs especially well with fruits and drinks and adds that perfect salty sweet combination.
Kala namak (black salt) is Indian volcanic rock salt. It starts out as Himalayan Pink Salt or sodium chloride and is then heated to extremely high temperatures and mixed with Indian spices and herbs including the seeds of the harad fruit which contains sulfur. It also contains trace impurities of sulfates, sulfides, iron and magnesium which all contribute to the salt’s color, smell and taste. When dry, this salt has a mild eggy, sulfurous aroma. When added to water (or in drinks, on fruit), that aroma becomes stronger.
Together with the tamarind paste and lime, chaat masala and kala namak add an amazing savory sour sweet flavor to this margarita making it absolutely irresistible, I highly recommend that you give it a go!
How to make tamarind margarita
This yummy cocktail is incredibly easy to make. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Add all the ingredients + shake/stir – add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker or mason jar along with ice. Shake or stir until everything is combined.
- Rims of your glasses – This step is optional but it adds so much to these margaritas! Run a lime wedge around the outside of your margarita glass rims, then dip them in chaat masala and shake off any excess.
- Pour + serve – pour the margaritas into your rimmed glasses, then serve!
Tamarind paste
Tamarind is a dark brown, sticky fruit that grows in pods from a tamarind tree. It has a sour taste if eaten raw, with a slight hint of sweetness.
You can either buy tamarind paste premade or make it yourself. It keeps for an extensive amount of time and has an amazing flavor that goes well it both savory and sweet dishes as well as drinks and cocktails. This is the brand of tamarind paste that I like to use. If you'd like to make it yourself, here's a recipe you can use.
Tequila
While it is common to use silver or blanco tequila in margarita, I really enjoy the smokey and deep flavor in Anejo or Reposado varieties. However, feel free to use your favorite kind in this recipe!
If you don't drink alcohol, you can totally leave it out and make a tamarind cooler instead of a tamarind margarita. It will still taste very delicious.
Frequently asked questions
What ingredients make a classic margarita?
A classic margarita usually has tequila, lime juice, orange juice (or orange liqueur), an optional sweetener and ice.
Do I need orange liqueur to make this margarita?
Nope! Some recipes call for orange liqueur (like triple sec or Cointreau) but you can just use orange juice instead. If you do have orange liqueur on hand then you can definitely replace orange juice with it, in this recipe.
Can I make this without alcohol?
Yes, absolutely! I have made this recipe without the alcohol as a tamarind cooler and it still tastes fantastic and super refreshing!
What if I don't have tamarind paste?
You can either buy tamarind paste premade or make it yourself. It keeps for an extensive amount of time and has an amazing flavor that goes well it both savory and sweet dishes as well as drinks and cocktails. This is the brand of tamarind paste that I like to use. If you'd like to make it yourself, here's a recipe you can use.
More cocktails to try!
This tamarind margarita pairs well with
Tamarind jaggery margarita with chaat masala rim
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 1.5 tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ cup tequila
- ½ cup water
- 2 teaspoons tamarind paste
- 4 teaspoons jaggery powder or brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon chaat masala
- ¼ teaspoon kala namak/Indian black salt
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt (optional)
- ice to fill the shaker
For the rim
- 1 wedge of lime
- ½ teaspoon chaat masala
Instructions
To make the chaat masala rim
- Run a wedge of lime around the rim of each glass. Spread the chaat masala on a plate and invert each glass onto the plate so the rim gets coated with the chaat masala.
For the margarita
- Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Close the shaker tightly and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.
- Pour the margarita into the prepared glasses filled with more ice and serve. Garnish with lime slices if desired.
Video
Notes
Estimated Nutrition
I hope you like this recipe as much as I do. Please leave a comment below to let me know what you think and subscribe to my social media if you would like to see more easy and delicious recipes.
Val R says
Looks so so tempting! Pretty simple recipe too!