Make your own restaurant-quality Heirloom Tomato Margaritas at home with this seasonal, delicious recipe! It’s perfect for all of your summer tomatoes!
As longtime readers of this blog will know, I am a certified #FallGirlie, as evidenced by the deluge of fall recipes (comparatively) I come up with every year. However, this year I’ve been really trying to embrace summer cooking. In general, I hate summer. In fact I loathe it. The only redeeming quality to summer, in my opinion, is the availability of water-based activities. Other than that, I wish I could banish the oppressive heat, humidity, and bugs from existence.
Despite living in Connecticut, which is a coastal state, I find that all of the fun summer activities are just as easily enjoyed during the cooler months. I actually prefer our New England beaches in the winter – it’s less crowded, more peaceful, and just as beautiful. This is a preference that might be endogenous to New Englanders, though. But I digress.
Making the most of summer means making the most of summer produce! This year I’ve been leaning heavily into summer fruits, herbs, and tomatoes. Every year I see people online asking what to do with their mounds of summer tomatoes – and this is my answer. Because in-season tomatoes are just a tad sweet, they achieve an excellent balance in cocktails. The proof is in these Heirloom Tomato Margaritas. The trickiest thing to make here is the tomato simple syrup, which is to say, not tricky at all. Combined with fresh lime, tequila, and orange liqueur, tomato shines in this seasonal summer sip. I hope you love it! :)
Heirloom Tomato Margarita FAQs
What is a tomato margarita?
A tomato margarita is simply a tomato-flavored margarita, just like there are mango or pineapple-flavored margaritas.
What does a tomato margarita taste like?
It tastes as if you combined a margarita with a Bloody Mary, especially if you give your glass the (highly recommended) Old Bay rim. But where a Bloody Mary is kind of thick and filling, this margarita is much more light and refreshing!
Is this margarita sweet or savory?
It’s a bit of both! Tomatoes do have an inherent sweetness, but they’re almost exclusively associated with savory foods. In this recipe, you have the sweetness of the tomato syrup and the orange flavor from the liqueur making up the sweet side. But the tomato-y-ness does come through (especially when coupled with the Tajin or Old Bay rim) in a very savory way! All in all, it’s a delicious balance.
How is a tomato margarita different from a regular margarita?
Simple – it just has tomato flavor added!
How does the tomato flavor get into the margarita?
You get the tomato flavor by making an easy simple syrup. Simple syrup really couldn’t be simpler – it’s equal parts water and sugar simmered on the stove until the sugar is completely melted. In this recipe, I use a little more sugar than water because the tomatoes are a bit watery. That way the tomato syrup is flavorful and not diluted!
Do I need to use heirloom tomatoes for this recipe?
No, any in-season tomatoes will do! I do enjoy using heirloom tomatoes, though, because they have such interesting shapes and colors!
Can I use store-bought tomato juice for this recipe?
Definitely not! The tomato flavor is meant to be paired with the simple syrup.
What can I substitute for lime juice in a tomato margarita?
Classic margaritas are made with lime juice, and I really don’t recommend not using it. But if you must skip the lime, try lemon juice instead, or just omit altogether.
What is a good food pairing for this margarita?
Try this margarita with:
- Fresh garden salads
- Chips, salsa, and guacamole
- Tacos and enchiladas
- Grilled meats and corn on the cob
- Summery pasta salads
- Pasta tossed with herbs and lemon
What are some variations I can make to this recipe?
To spice up this margarita recipe, try:
- Making it with habanero tequila for a spicy version
- Using solely yellow heirloom or sungold tomatoes for a sunny yellow-hued version
- Adding basil to the simple syrup to amp up the savory flavor
- Using mezcal instead of regular tequila for a smoky version
Heirloom Tomato Margarita
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
Tomato Simple Syrup
- 1 Large Heirloom Tomato roughly chopped, approx. 1 cup
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 3/4 Cup Water
The Margaritas
- 3 oz Tequila
- 2 oz Orange Liqueur Triple Sec, Cointreau, etc.
- 2 oz Freshly-squeezed Lime Juice it must be fresh!
- 1 1/2 oz Tomato Simple Syrup
- Fresh Basil for garnish
Salted Rim (optional)
- 1/4 Cup Coarse Sea Salt
- Tajin or Old Bay optional
Instructions
Tomato Simple Syrup
- Roughly chop up one large heirloom tomato. This should come out to about 1 cup.
- Add the tomato, sugar, and water to a saucepot and stir.
- Bring the mixture to a boil on the stove, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- When done, let cool before straining the mixture through a mesh sieve, making sure to press the remaining tomato solids to get as much liquid as possible.
- Store the simple syrup in the refrigerator when not using.
The Margaritas
- Add the tequila, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, and tomato simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake cocktail for about 15 seconds, until the shaker is ice cold.
- Pour cocktail into glasses over ice. Garnish with basil, if you'd like.
Salted Rim (optional)
- Before pouring the margaritas, sprinkle the salt and Tajin or Old Bay (if using) onto a flat plate.
- Take your glasses and press a lime wedge around the rim, wetting it.
- Then, turn your glasses upside down and press onto the salt mixture on the plate. If the cocktail rim has been wetted, the salt will stick onto it.
- Now pour your margaritas!
Notes
- You don’t need to use heirloom tomatoes, any large in-season summer tomatoes will do.
- The tomato simple syrup will keep in the fridge for about 1 week.
- I highly recommend using a cocktail jigger to measure the ingredients. However, if you don’t have one, here are the liquid conversions:
- 1 1/2 oz = approx. 0.2 cup (about 3 tablespoons)
- 2 oz = 1/4 cup
- 3 oz = approx. .38 cup (1/3 cup + 1 tablespoons)
- To turn this cocktail into a lighter spritz, divide the mixture over 3-4 glasses, then top with lime seltzer.
P.S.
For more recipes and New England lifestyle inspiration, be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok! If you make a recipe, please tag me in the photo and use the hashtag #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your creations!
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