Citrus Margarita With Smoky Chile Salt Food

CITRUS MARGARITA WITH SMOKY CHILE SALT

Steps:

• To make Simple Syrup, mix sugar and water in 1-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; let stand 30 minutes. Transfer to storage container. Cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. Makes 1 1/4 cups.
• To make Smoky Chile Salt, mix sea salt, ancho powder and chipotle powder in small bowl until well mixed. Spread mixture on a small plate.
• To make margarita, rub outside rim of cocktail glass with lime wedge to moisten; roll in chile salt to coat rim of glass. To cocktail shaker, add 3/4 oz of the simple syrup, the tequila, orange-flavored liqueur, lime juice, orange juice and lemon juice. Fill shaker with ice; cover and shake vigorously. Strain into cocktail glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish as desired.

CHILE-CITRUS MARGARITA

Steps:

• Run a lime wedge around the edge of glass, and dip into a shallow dish filled with coarse salt to coat rim. Add tequila, triple sec, agave, lime juice, and orange juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, and pour into prepared glass, and garnish with lime wedge.

SMOKY CHILI BEER MARGARITA

Steps:

• Cut 1 lime into wedges. Squeeze the juice from the second lime and set aside.
• Mix the dehydrated lemon peel if using with 1 tablespoon salt in a small shallow bowl and set aside.
• Wipe the rims of 2 glasses with a lime wedge to moisten. Dip the rim of each glass into the lemon-salt mixture to evenly coat.
• Place 1/2 teaspoon sugar in each glass. Add 5 slices Fresno chile to each glass. Using the end of a wooden spoon, muddle the sugar and chile together.
• Fill each glass with ice. Pour 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of tequila into each glass. Top each with 1/4 cup club soda, 1 tablespoon lime juice, a dash of cayenne pepper and 2 small drops of liquid smoke. Stir gently to combine.
• Top each glass with 1/2 bottle of beer. Garnish each with 1 cucumber spear and 1 lime wedge. Reserve remaining cucumber and lime for another use. Serve immediately.

WHOLE CITRUS MARGARITAS

Steps:

• Put the oranges, lemons, and limes through a juicer. Pour the juice into a large pitcher. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Then stir in the Cointreau, Triple Sec, and tequila.
• To serve: Pour salt onto a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the top of each glass and dip the glass in the salt. Fill each glass halfway with ice and pour in the juice mixture. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
• Chef's note: Farm freshness is the key here. Look for the citrus that is mostly in season and adjust the recipe. Tangerines, Meyer lemons, and key limes all have amazing flavor if you can find them.

SPICY MARGARITA WITH CHILI SALT

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the salt and 1 teaspoon chili powder.
• Rub the rim of a glass with a lime wedge and dredge in the chili salt.
• Fill a blender with the ice, tequila, lime juice, Grand Marnier, and superfine sugar.
• Blenduntil smooth. Pour into the glasses. Garnish with lime wedge, if desired.

CITRUS MARGARITA

Steps:

• Combine liqueur, tequila, orange juice, lime juice and grapefruit juice in a large pitcher and mix well.
• Chill covered in the refrigerator.
• To serve, rub the rims of margarita glasses with lime wedges and dip in margarita salt, rotating gently to cover the rims evenly.
• Fill the salt-filled glasses with ice.
• Shake the chilled margarita mixture in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and strain into the prepared glasses.
• Garnish each serving with orange, lime and/or grapefruit slices.

FISH WITH CITRUS-CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Toast the Timur pepper in a dry skillet over medium heat. When the pods are fragrant but not yet darker brown, remove them from the heat and let cool. Using a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle, crush into a fine powder, along with the white peppercorns.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, chiles, marjoram, juice, garlic and the freshly ground Timur and white pepper. Let sit for 30 minutes for the flavors to meld, then gradually whisk in the olive oil. Add salt. Taste and add more of whichever seasonings you like, whisking as you go. Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
• Make the fish: Pat the fish dry and season on both sides with salt and pepper. If cooking on the stovetop, coat a skillet with oil and heat over medium-high. (The skillet should be large enough to hold all the fillets with space between them. If it isn't, work in batches.) Carefully add the fish to the hot oil and pan-fry the fish until browned, about 3 minutes on each side. (Gently probe the fish with a fork; if it flakes, it's done.) Remove from the heat and transfer to plates.
• If grilling, heat a grill to medium-high. Generously brush or rub the fish with olive oil to coat. Place on the hot grill grates, skin side down if there's skin and cover if using a gas grill. Cook until the fish releases easily from the grate, about 3 minutes. For thinner fillets, the flesh will be just opaque throughout and starting to gape and the fillets don't need to be flipped. Simply transfer them to plates. For thick fillets or steaks, carefully flip the fish and cook until just opaque throughout, 2 to 3 minutes more, then transfer to plates. Spoon the sauce over the fish and serve.