Lola's Spicy Paloma Cocktail
Last summer we had a fun pop up idea for a fresh Mexican food concept from Baja California called Lola's Baja Cuisine, just amazing food from our home state, we served fresh ceviches, aguachiles, tostadas, baja fish tacos and even Puerto Nuevo style lobster! Recipes for all that coming soon! but one of the standouts was definitely the Spicy Paloma that kept our friends coming back for more!
What is a Paloma? Paloma means dove in Spanish, and it is the most loved cocktail in Mexico after the Margarita. The classic Paloma drink has a clean, crisp flavor of grapefruit that is balanced out by the sugar in the grapefruit soda. Squirt Grapefruit soda is the most commonly used soda because it is so refreshing!
If you are not into sugary sodas or if you are trying to keep your drinking calories low, use fresh grapefruit juice, sparkling water and your sweetener of choice. If you’re using this option you can steep the habaneros in your sweetener until it becomes aromatic and flavored by the habanero, this should be done the night before.
Serving: 1
Hot level: Low
Ingredients for Habanero simple syrup:
3 dried Casa México Habanero chiles or fresh habaneros
1 cup of water 2 cups of sugar
Ingredients for the Paloma:
25 ml of lime juice 2 oz Tequila (blanco) or Mezcal Amáras
4 oz Squirt or grapefruit sparkling water mix
For rim:
Lime or Grapefruit wedge (optional)
Fresh habanero (optional)
Preparation: 1. Habanero Simple Syrup: Start by adding the water and sugar in a pot and mixing until the sugar dissolves into the water over medium heat. Add the habaneros whole into the pot and bring to a boil, keep stirring until you can smell the habaneros dissolving into the syrup about 10-15 minutes on LOW heat. If you want a more intense flavor chop the habaneros as they will release more spiciness into the syrup. Let it cool before handling, store in a glass container.
2. Rim the glass with Tajin chili powder
3. Place a couple of ice cubes inside the glass 4. Add the tequila, lime juice and add the spicy syrup 5. Pour in the Squirt 6. Stir to combine 7. Garnish with lime wedges or fresh habaneros!
Enjoy!
