Easy Holiday Mistletoe Margarita Recipe | Inspire • Travel • Eat (2024)

FAQs

How do you ask for a skinny margarita? ›

The “skinniest” option is a classic Margarita without any syrup at all. If you want a sweeter version without adding too many carbs, add some Xylitol simple syrup to avoid the sugar and calories of Agave. So if you're not sure what you're ordering, just talk to your bartender!

The traditional recipe is 3:2:1 – three parts Tequila, two parts Triple Sec and one part lime juice; however, the IBA standard is 7:4:3 = (50% tequila, 29% Triple Sec, 21% fresh lime or lemon juice), which keeps 50% tequila, but uses slightly less Triple Sec and correspondingly slightly more lime juice.

But with traditional margaritas weighing in at 500-plus calories and more than 60 grams of sugar, many summertime sippers are opting for "skinny" margaritas instead. Kenny Harrison / The Times-PicayuneWhen served according to directions on the labels, nearly all of the lightened-up margaritas have 130 to 160 calories.

A regular Margarita is higher in sugar from sweetened lime juice and orange liqueur. A Skinny Margarita uses natural sweeteners, fresh juice, and little to now orange liqueur to reduce the calorie count. Taste: A Skinny Margarita will taste less sweet, but may have a fresher taste from the fruit juices.

The secret to the perfect margarita, we discovered, is to skip Cointreau/orange liqueur altogether and replace it with freshly squeezed orange juice. The difference is remarkable.

To make this margarita, shake 2 ounces tequila, 1 ounce triple sec, and 3 ounces fresh sour mix with ice. Strain it into an ice-filled Mason jar (rimmed, if you like) and add a few lime wedges.

Triple sec is an orange-flavored liqueur that is commonly used in margaritas. If you don't have triple sec handy, you can substitute with another good-quality orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or Cointreau.

A skinny margarita is a low-calorie version of a regular margarita. Instead of using orange liqueur like triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier, a skinny margarita uses fresh orange juice and a small amount of agave nectar.

The most basic tip for choosing low-cal options is to opt for soda water with your spirits instead of something sugary like soda. You can order any spirit with plain soda water, and some bars will even serve it up with a lemon or lime wedge alongside.

Opt for lighter spirits such as vodka, gin, or tequila, which have fewer calories than their darker counterparts. Fresh Citrus: Citrus fruits like lime, lemon, and grapefruit are indispensable in low-calorie alcohol co*cktails, providing acidity and brightness to offset the sweetness of the drink.

What does it mean for a margarita to be skinny? ›

About This Skinny Margarita

The results of my salt-rimmed research, this is what a skinny margarita is comprised of: Fresh lime juice. Fresh orange juice. This is a low calorie alternative to a more calorie-laden orange liqueur (like triple sec).