4 Ways To Cook With Tequila

¡Viva Tequila! This spirit is arguably the friskiest of them all, and it’s not just for sipping or for mixing into cocktails with lime and sugar. Try one of these 4 tequila-based food recipes and it’ll change the way you look at the agave-based spirit!

Tequila Lime Chicken Tacos

Tequila, lime and chicken are all just a natural fit for one another. Try this mouthwatering taco recipe!

Ingredients

• ½ cup tequila
• Juice from 4 limes, freshly squeezed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 jalapeños: 1 finely chopped and 1 sliced, divided
• Ground black pepper
• Kosher salt
• 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
• Corn tortillas, warmed, for serving
• 1 avocado, sliced
• ¼ head red cabbage, shredded
• ½ cup cotija cheese
• Lime wedges, for serving

Instructions

1. In a large baking dish, whisk together tequila, lime juice, garlic, and chopped jalapeño and season with salt and pepper.
2. Add chicken and marinate in the fridge for 20 minutes to an hour.
3. In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Cook chicken until golden and no longer pink inside, approx. 8 minutes per side.
4. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Serve in tortillas; add avocado, sliced jalapeño, cotija and squeezed lime.

Tequila Chili

Simple and quick! This single pot chili recipe is packed with robust flavor and is nice and hearty.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 can Italian-style stewed tomatoes
• 1 can light red kidney beans, drained
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 ½ fluid ounces anejo tequila
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat, breaking it up with a spoon while it cooks; drain.
2. Stir in the tomatoes, kidney beans, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, tequila, chili powder, cumin, salt, and cayenne pepper; simmer 20 minutes.
3. Let it cool and serve!

Margarita Grouper

This recipe is for more than just the tequila lover! The marinade reduction is a fantastic pairing with the firm-fleshed fish. Sea bass or any other firm textured fish may be used if grouper is not available.

Ingredients

• 4 (6 oz.) grouper fillets
• ⅓ cup Sauza Gold Tequila
• ½ cup orange liqueur
• ¾ cup fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3 large cloves garlic, peeled
• 4 tbsp. olive oil
• 3 medium tomatoes, diced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 small jalapeno, seeded and minced
• 4 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 pinch white sugar
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• Ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Place fish in a shallow baking dish.
2. In a bowl, stir together the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, 1 teaspoon salt, garlic, and olive oil.
3. Pour mixture over fillets, and rub into fish. Cover and refrigerate for ½ hour, turning the fillets once.
4. Preheat the grill for high heat. Next, in a medium bowl, toss together the tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and sugar. Season to taste with salt. Set salsa aside.
5. Remove fillets from marinade, and pat dry. Brush the fillets with oil, and sprinkle with ground black pepper.
6. In a small saucepan, boil remaining marinade for several minutes.
7. Remove from heat, and strain out garlic cloves. Set aside to cool.
8. Grill fish for 4 minutes per side, or until fish is easily flaked with a fork.
9. Transfer fillets to a serving dish. Transfer the fish to a serving plate. Spoon salsa over the fish, and drizzle with the cooked marinade to serve.

Tequila Marinated Fruit

Luscious, tropical fruit is a great finale to any meal. For best results, slice the fresh fruit in the morning and refrigerate, then sprinkle on tequila an hour before eating. Skewer before serving.

Ingredients

• ¼ watermelon (2 lbs.)
• 1 mango, peeled
• 3 oranges
• ½ cup tequila reposado
• 1 tbsp. lime zest

Instructions

1. Cut watermelon and mango into 1-inch cubes.
2. Slice off rind and pith from oranges; cut in half lengthwise, place flat sides down, and cut into semicircles.
3. Place all fruit in a large dish and sprinkle with tequila. Set aside for up to an hour.
4. Grate lime zest over fruit. Skewer and serve.

Your new favorite tequila is out there somewhere! And by somewhere we mean on the shelves of your nearest Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods. Ask the helpful experts of all things wine and spirits at your nearest Spec’s for the best deals!

Cheers!