Ina Garten Pink Grapefruit Palomas

Ina Garten pink grapefruit palomas use an easy salt and sugar rim instead of straight salt, which fixes the biggest problem with this cocktail. She mixes the two on a small plate, so this summer party drink comes out balanced instead of too salty.

Shake the cocktail mixture with ice for a full 30 seconds, and do not cut that short. The shake gets the drink ice cold and waters it down just enough to soften the tequila, which is what makes it taste finished.

Source: Go-To Dinners (2022)

Ina Garten Pink Grapefruit Palomas

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: BeverageCuisine: American, MexicanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking timeminutes

Calories

185

kcal

Fresh grapefruit and lime juice shaken hard with tequila blanco and simple syrup, then poured over ice into glasses rimmed with a salt and sugar blend. Tart, crisp and very cold.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup kosher salt
  

• 2 tablespoons sugar
  

• Grapefruit wedge, plus more for garnish
  

• 1 cup freshly squeezed pink or ruby grapefruit juice (1 to 2 grapefruits)
  

• 1 cup tequila blanco, such as Casamigos
  

• ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (2 limes)
  

• 2 tablespoons simple syrup

Directions

• Rim the glasses: Combine the ¼ cup salt and the sugar on a small plate. Run a wedge of grapefruit around the rim of four (10-ounce) glasses to moisten. Lightly dip the rims in the sugar mixture and set aside to dry.
• Mix, shake and serve: Meanwhile, combine the grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, and a pinch of salt in a pitcher and stir to blend. Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice and pour in the cocktail mixture (you may have to do this in batches). Shake for a full 30 seconds to chill and slightly dilute the cocktail. Pour into two of the prepared glasses, add a few ice cubes and a wedge of grapefruit, and serve ice cold. Repeat with the remaining mixture and glasses.

Tools for this recipe

• OXO Steel cocktail shaker, Zulay metal lemon squeezer, Bormioli Rocco glass pitcher with lid, Diamond Crystal kosher salt, 3 lb. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

Can I use bottled grapefruit juice instead of fresh?

You can, but the drink tastes flatter and sweeter. Bottled juice is pasteurized, so it loses the bright edge that carries a paloma. If bottled is all you have, pull back on the simple syrup and add a little extra lime.

How long does it keep?

The stirred pitcher base holds in the fridge for about two days, covered. Once a drink is shaken it does not keep at all, because the melted ice thins it out and the juice goes dull within an hour. Mix only what you plan to pour.

Can I get these ready before guests arrive?

Yes, and that is the easiest way to serve a crowd. Stir the juice, tequila, lime and syrup together in the pitcher and chill it, then shake each round with ice right before pouring. Rim the glasses early too, since they need time to dry.

Do I need a cocktail shaker?

A shaker gives the best result, since 30 seconds of shaking chills and dilutes at the same time. A large jar with a tight lid does the same job if you do not own one. Stirring alone leaves the drink warmer and sharper than it should be.

What goes wrong most often with palomas?

Rimming the glass with salt alone, which makes every sip taste harsh. The salt and sugar mix solves it. The other common error is a rushed shake, because the drink needs real dilution and real cold to taste right.