Whole Lime Margarita

These whole lime margaritas are made with (spoiler alert) whole limes. They're chock-full of flavor and will impress even your pickiest friends. Once you try this whole lime margarita recipe, you'll never go back to a mix.

Why Use a Whole Lime In Margaritas?

There are so many reasons to make whole lime margaritas! Let us name a few:

1. The lime pith is full of flavor that you'd otherwise be tossing in the trash. With this recipe, you get the most bang for your buck.
2. These whole lime margaritas are a gorgeous green color. They look almost as bright as margaritas from a mix, but these are au naturel.
3. It reduces food waste — and who doesn't want to reduce food waste?

Whole Lime Margarita Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to make whole lime margaritas at home:

· Limes: Choose medium, thin-skinned limes. You'll need two for the margaritas, plus more slices for garnishing.
· Water: Make sure the water is ice cold before pouring it into the blender.
· Tequila: Use your favorite tequila for this recipe.
· Sugar: Half a cup of white sugar is all you'll need for the perfect amount of sweetness.
· Orange liqueur: Such as Cointreau or Triple Sec.
· Salt: Even if you don't salt the rim of the glass, a pinch of salt in the margarita itself brings out the other flavors.

How to Make Whole Lime Margaritas

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make these restaurant-worthy margaritas:

1. Cut: Wash two limes and cut them into quarters. Discard the center part of the rinds.
2. Blend: Transfer the lime quarters to a blender with water, tequila, sugar, orange liqueur, and salt. Blend until completely smooth.
3. Strain: Strain the margaritas before serving to get rid of any extra pulp or grit.

How to Serve Whole Lime Margaritas

Serve in margaritas glasses over ice for a traditional presentation. If you prefer a salted rim, run a lime wedge alongside the rim and then dip in salt to coat. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Nicole's Top Margarita Tips and Tricks

Culinary producer Nicole McLaughlin (a.k.a. NicoleMcMom) is famous for this flavorful recipe, which she says makes "the best margaritas you'll ever have." Here are a few of her expert tips and tricks:

· Choose thin-skinned limes — you'll know they have thin skin because they'll be smoother and easier to squeeze.
· You might not always think to wash your citrus peels, as you usually don't eat them. In this case, though, you'll want to give each lime a thorough rinse before putting it in the blender.
· Don't forget the most important step: Strain the margaritas before serving! Otherwise, you'll end up with a mouthful of pulp and grit.

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams