Nigella Lawson Grapefruit Margarita

Nigella Lawson’s grapefruit margarita is a sharp, refreshing twist on the classic, shaken with tequila, orange liqueur and fresh grapefruit juice over ice, in a salt-rimmed glass. It makes 1 cocktail, from her book At My Table.

She says one quick gulp of a cold, sharp margarita and she feels she’s on holiday. It isn’t the classic version, but it’s one she’s come enthusiastically to prefer, with grapefruit juice in place of the usual lime-forward mix for a bittersweet, grown-up edge.

The clever part is how easily it scales. Keeping the same proportions, you can skip the shaker and make a whole pitcher for a party, poured into frosted, ice-tumbled glasses, which makes it a brilliant drink for entertaining.

Nigella Lawson Grapefruit Margarita

Recipe by Pinch Perfect

5.0 from 1 vote

Course: DrinksCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy

Servings

1

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking timeminutes

Calories

180

kcal

Total time

5

minutes

Nigella’s refreshing twist from At My Table: tequila, orange liqueur and fresh grapefruit juice shaken over ice and served in a salt-rimmed glass, with lime to taste. Makes one (scales to a pitcher).

Ingredients

• 50ml tequila

• 50ml Triple Sec or Cointreau or other orange liqueur

• 100ml fresh grapefruit juice (plus extra for dipping the glass rim)

• fresh lime juice (to taste)

• Maldon sea salt flakes

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Directions

• Rim the glass:Squeeze a grapefruit and dip the rim of a glass into the juice (Nigella likes a tumbler, but use a margarita glass if you prefer), then into some lightly crushed sea salt flakes.
• Shake:In a cocktail shaker generously stacked with ice, shake together the tequila, Triple Sec and grapefruit juice. Strain into the salt-rimmed glass, adding fresh ice if you like.
• Finish:Spritz with lime juice to taste, for added sharpness, if wished.

Notes

• (make a pitcher): Forgo the shaker and follow the same proportions. To serve 6, use 300ml tequila, 300ml Triple Sec, 600ml grapefruit juice and lime juice to taste, poured into frosted, ice-tumbled glasses.
• (make ahead / store): It’s not advisable to make ahead or store, as it’s best mixed fresh.

FAQs

How is this different from a classic margarita?

A classic margarita leads with lime; Nigella’s leads with grapefruit. Swapping most of the lime for fresh grapefruit juice gives a softer, more rounded, bittersweet drink, less sharply sour and more refreshing, which is why she’s come to prefer it. The lime here is just a finishing spritz for extra sharpness, rather than the main event.

It sits somewhere between a classic margarita and a paloma (the Mexican grapefruit-and-tequila drink), keeping the margarita’s orange liqueur and salt rim. The grapefruit’s gentle bitterness is what makes it feel grown-up and moreish rather than sweet. Use fresh grapefruit juice, not from a carton, for the brightest flavour.

What tequila and orange liqueur should I use?

For a clean, citrus-forward margarita, a blanco (silver/white) tequila is ideal, since it keeps the drink bright and lets the grapefruit shine, where a gold or aged tequila adds an oaky note that competes. A 100% agave tequila gives the best flavour and a smoother drink.

For the orange liqueur, Nigella lists Triple Sec, Cointreau or any orange liqueur. Cointreau is smoother and a little stronger; Triple Sec is lighter and more budget-friendly. Both work well, so use what you have. The liqueur adds sweetness and orange depth that balances the grapefruit’s tartness.

Why the salt rim, and can I skip it?

The salt rim is classic margarita, and it does real work: each sip past the salt heightens the sweetness and tames the bitterness of the grapefruit, balancing the whole drink. Nigella crushes the flakes lightly with her fingers and uses grapefruit juice, rather than the usual lime, to stick the salt, tying it to the drink.

You can skip it if you prefer, or rim only half the glass so you can choose sip to sip. Flaky sea salt like Maldon gives a better texture and burst than fine table salt. A little chilli salt or Tajín on the rim is a lovely spicy variation.

How do I make a pitcher for a party?

This is where the recipe shines for entertaining. Skip the shaker and simply mix the same proportions in a jug: for 6, that’s 300ml tequila, 300ml Triple Sec, 600ml grapefruit juice and lime to taste. Keep the 1:1:2 ratio of tequila to liqueur to grapefruit and you can scale it up or down freely.

Chill everything well first and serve in frosted glasses tumbled with ice, so it stays cold without over-diluting. Salt the rims before pouring. Stir the pitcher well and taste for lime and balance before serving. It’s an easy, hands-off way to serve a crowd.

What should I serve it with?

Its sharp, salty, citrussy character makes it a natural with Mexican and spiced food, cutting through rich or chilli-hot dishes beautifully. Think tacos, grilled meats or anything with a kick. It’s also just a lovely aperitif to start a relaxed gathering, holiday-feeling and refreshing.

On a party table it goes well with sharing nibbles and dips, next to something like Nigella’s devilled eggs or caramelized garlic hummus. There are more recipes for entertaining on the Nigella Lawson recipes page.

Can I make a non-alcoholic version?

Yes, easily. For a virgin version, keep the fresh grapefruit juice and the lime spritz, add a splash of orange juice or a non-alcoholic orange syrup in place of the liqueur, and top with soda water for lift. Keep the salt rim, which does just as much for a mocktail.

You could also use a non-alcoholic tequila alternative if you want to keep it close to the original. A little simple syrup balances the grapefruit’s bitterness if it’s too sharp without the sweet liqueur. Serve it just as cold and salt-rimmed, so it still feels like a proper margarita.