Love and Olive Oil

Kumquat Margaritas (Happy Cinco de Mayo!)

Kumquat Margarita Recipe

Feel free to tell me enough with the kumquats already. And I’ll stop. Really, I will.

Ok, maybe not.

It’s not my fault they just happened to be on sale this week. And my complaining about the high price of kumquats earlier made it necessary for me to buy them. Even though I didn’t have any plans to use them.

I never pass up a good deal.

Sadly, they just kind of sat there, because I was really and truly too busy to use them. Until, of course, today, when I realized that the simple fact that it was the 5th of May made it perfectly acceptable to drink margaritas on a Thursday.

And when the only citrus you have in your fridge is a pint of kumquats, it’s pretty obvious how I’d be using them. The margaritas practically made themselves.

Kumquat Margaritas

Aww, kumquat, I love you too!

I’m actually kind of surprised I couldn’t find a recipe for kumquat margaritas. Surely I’m not the first one to stumble upon the idea. Maybe it’s because it’s not exactly easy to juice a kumquat. Believe me, I tried. And when that didn’t work, I just threw them in the blender. Whole. It doesn’t get any easier than that.

The kumquat gives this margarita an extra punch of sourness, something you just don’t find in ordinary orange and even lime margaritas. Almost like you’ve dissolved a sour patch kid along with the sugar syrup. But I promise, it’s not too much pucker. Just right. Delicious.

I’m actually kind of hoping they’ll be on sale again next week. So I can buy more. Question is, what should I do with them? Please, dear readers, share your favorite kumquat recipes!! I need more fuel for my tart obsession.

Kumquat Margaritas

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Ingredients:

  • 12 ounces kumquats, halved and seeded
  • 1/2 cup water
  • tequilla
  • triple sec
  • sugar syrup*
  • ice

Directions:

  1. Combine kumquats and water in a blender and blend on high until smooth(ish). Pour mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove pulp and big chunks.
  2. For each drink, in a cocktail shaker, combine 3 ounces (5-6 tablespoons) kumquat puree with 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) tequila, 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) triple sec, and sugar syrup to taste (I used 2 tablespoons, Taylor preferred it with 1). Shake well to combine. Pour over ice. Garnish glasses with kumquat slices and salt, if desired.

*To make a quick sugar syrup, combine equal parts water and sugar in a microwave safe bowl or glass measuring cup. Microwave on high for 1 minute or until hot, and then stir until sugar is completely dissolved.

All images and text © / Love & Olive Oil

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33 Comments

  1. Kumquats are terrific in salads, jams, baking and glazes and sauces for pork, chicken and seafood.

    A very versatile fruit when you open your cooking imaginations!

    Kumquat meringue pie? G&T with a ‘bruised’ kumquat? Savory scallops with kumquat marmalade with a dash of horseradish?

  2. I have a kumquat tree and am always looking for ways to use them. I’m going to try this recipe this weekend since I also have some tequila left over from cinch de mayo. Thanks for sharing.

  3. I have a neighbor with a kumquat tree. I’ll have to do some stealth picking one night :). They look darling on a drink, really, TOO cute!

  4. This looks yummy! Now, to find kumquats!

  5. That sounds wonderful!

  6. Those are the cutest little kumquats ever! They make the perfect margarita. I made kumquat marmalade once. They’re photogenic little critters, aren’t they?

  7. Gah! Kumquats are so cute!! And when sliced it looks like it’s filled with hearts!

    *sigh* I’m in love.

  8. I love this idea! Actually I was at Taco Mamacita a couple weeks ago and they had Kumquat Margaritas (or was it Mojitos) as their special drink and I thought of you.

    Did you throw the kumquats in with the skin and all? I’ve never tried kumquats before, but I’m really curious now after reading all your posts. I love some sour citrus!

  9. Why don’t you make few jars of kumquat marmalade? So you’ll have it for a long time! It’ll be great on toast, pancake, cheesecake, scones, etc.
    I hope they’ll be on sale again!:)
    White on Rice Couple is a incredible site, their recipes never disappoint:
    http://whiteonricecouple.com/recipes/kumquat-marmalade/

  10. Thanks for sharing the recipe…kumquat margaritas looks refreshing. Nice photos too.

  11. I’m constantly buying kumquats, they are just so cute! I keep thinking I’m going to do something with them, and have a couple times made a kumquat garnish, but usually they languish on the counter, looking cute, until they no longer look cute and go into the compost. I think a kumquat margarita is the perfect solution to the dilemma!

  12. What beautiful pictures!!! I’ve just got to try making this sometime because of how pretty they look! I just don’t think it’s fair that I can only look at these gorgeous drinks when I want one so bad!! :)

    I’m never had a kumquat in my life and I want to see what I’m missing out on!
    I’ll see if I can find some in the store, but I have a question. Do you put the kumquats in the blender whole…with the peel?

    • Yes, you do eat the entire kumquat – peel and inside, spitting out the seeds (or eat them, great source of pectin!)

      Terrific in salads, jams, baking and glazes and sauces for pork, chicken and seafood.

      A very versatile fruit when you open your options.

  13. Lindsay,
    Your photos get better and better with each post…and I love this kumquat margarita idea!

  14. I love your blog !
    AMAZING!
    With love Little Sable

  15. love how bright and colorful they look! :) Salud!

  16. Beautiful photos Could I use Grand Marnier instead of Triple Sec? Looks so refreshing.

  17. The kumquats are so adorable!! And this margarita recipe looks fabulous. Wish I had one of those yesterday. :)

  18. Wow I love this margarita idea. It’s fabulous. I once made kumquat white choclate chips cookies that came out pretty well. I did the same as you did for the ritas – pureed them whole and dumped it in the batter.

  19. omg the little kumquats are SO cute!!! And this looks absolutely delicious… Perfect for Cinco de Mayo or the Friday after!! :)

  20. This is such a wonderful idea for flavor combinations! Love the color too!

  21. I’ve never tried a kumquat which is pretty sad… I have a recipe for kumquat marmalade that I’ve been wanting to make though!

  22. Kumquat is such a fun word to say! I think it will be stuck in my head all day. I’ve never had a kumquat, but since it sounds fun and looks colorful, it has to be good! I love your twist on margaritas!

  23. hmm… never ever had a kumquat & now I feel like i’m missing out! :) See you at BlogHer food in a couple of weeks! :)

  24. Idea?: a kumquat pie made key lime pie style!!! Would be SO YUMMY

  25. Delicious!

  26. Lurking at the back of a cupboard, I do actually have a bottle of kumquat liqueur. Although it’s a rather disturbing colour, I might actually use it for something now and see if I can incorporate it into a proper drink rather than just being a bit scared of it!

  27. That looks delicious! Although I have never used kumquats before. I can see why they would be frustrating though because I recently tried juicing key limes… not fun!

  28. YUM! Kumquats always look so enticing, but I’ve never stumble across a must-have recipe… until now!
    PS-My favorite way to infuse a tequila is with hibiscus and rosehips-it makes THE BEST margarita! Of course, I haven’t tasted this one… yet. :)

  29. The color is stunning and I agree: the tiny kumquat slice on the edge of the glass is adorable. Very nice photos; makes me want to drink one and I don’t drink.

  30. How adorable is the tiny kumquat slice on the side of the that glass? Yum.

  31. Looks and sounds really good.

  32. I’ve yet yo try a kumquat!

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