The non-sweet clean margarita recipe you’ve been missing. If you are looking for a simple, delicious, tart margarita recipe look no further! I’m sure you can recall a time or two where you have (over) indulged in some margaritas only to wake up and find yourself with a splintering headache and upset stomach. If you’ve sworn off margaritas due the high sugar content and terrible hangovers, this clean margarita recipe will allow you to welcome margaritas back into your life with open arms.

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Clea Margarita Recipe — *Disclosure: The post may contain affiliate links. This means, at no additional cost to you I may make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.*

It all comes down to quality ingredients. Put good in, get good out. My college days are behind me, along with the cheap beer and cocktails. Don’t even get me started on those hangovers. After switching to a healthy lifestyle, I’ve learned so much about ingredients: What tastes the best, what textures are best, and most importantly, what makes me feel best!

Related: 5 Simple Clean Eating Rules To Follow

A few things to note… AKA me being particular when it comes to a #meanmargarita.

It all starts with the perfected rim.

For a flavor + texture win, use a lime wedge to wet your rim, not water. Use kosher salt vs. iodized or sea salt (or any other salt for that matter). Kosher is mined from the ground and has a much less salty flavor and the perfect amount of coarseness.

Lime juice the old fashioned way.

Always use fresh squeezed lime juice, nothing from a bottle or can. It’s inevitable the manufacturer will use some type of preservative to prolong shelf-life. This comes through in the flavor, it just doesn’t taste “clean.”

Even the most “pure” of processed juices can have some type of shelf life preservative and I just don’t understand why you would choose that when you could have the most fresh, best tasting, best for you option, lime juice – direct from the lime.

No, agave is not a healthy alternative.

Agave nectar sounds like a marvelous all-natural fruit-of-the-gods type of substance. And that’s exactly what marketers want you to think. But in reality, it’s as processed as it’s high fructose corn syrup cousin. Take a look at Food Renegade for the entire process detailed.

First of all, any sugar in any form, adds unnecessary calories at a rapid pace. Avoiding sugar = less calories in = less potential weight gain = a better morning-after for your entire body.

Also, adding additional sugar to the most splendid cocktail there ever was, IMO is just sad. Grand Marnier lends itself to a just sweet enough flavor. Which, by the way, is not lost on me alcohol has sugar. Orange liqueur does have sugar, but then again, it’s alcohol so either you’re going to drink or your not. And if you are? Well, just use the good stuff and save on the calories where you can.

Clean Margarita Recipe

Jigger (shot) of blanco or reposado tequila (I prefer reposado)
3/4 – full jigger grand marnier or orange liqueur
Juice of one lime or more to taste
Lime wedge for garnish
Kosher salt

Directions

Fill a highball glass with ice
Pour shots of tequila and orange liqueur into glass
Pour juice of one lime into glass
Grab a shaker and shake your cocktail, vigorously
Take a lime wedge and wet the rim of a new highball glass
Circulate the rim into a mixture of salt and Tajin (see below)
Pour shaken cocktail into salt-rimmed glass, fill with ice, enjoy

*For and added flare mix your kosher salt with Tajin! A yummy Mexican spice you can find in some grocery stores or just grab it here (low sodium of course).