Loaded Cocktails (boozy drinks garnished with towers of happy hour snacks) are all the rage lately. I'm just fine with that because, ya know, Booze AND Food, how can you beat that?
I like the whole concept and have even done one or two myself, though I haven't attempted one quite as loaded as some....until now.
Ladies & Gentlemen, inspired by an upcoming @FoodieChats topic and a slider contest over at @Tavernita and fueled by some lovely gifts of Cactus Pears from my favorite produce peeps, Frieda's, may I present to you the
LOADED CACTUS SLIDERITAS
It's all of happy hour piled into and onto one glass!
THE CACTUS MARGARITA RECIPE:
Ingredients:
2 Oz. Blanco Tequila (I used Casamigos)
2 Oz. Fresh Cactus Pear Puree
1/2 Oz. Cointreau
1/2 Oz. Lime Juice
2 Fresh Basil Leaves
1 - 2 Tbs. Agave Syrup
3 Drops Chipotle Hot Sauce
1/2 Tsp. Salt
Stalk of Fresh Basil
Slice of Lime
Directions:
Chill your glass in the freezer. Puree the cactus pear fruit and strain to remove pulp and seeds. (About 2 large pears will give you the 2 ounces of juice.)
Muddle the basil, agave syrup and lime juice in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and add the tequila, Cointreau, cactus pear puree, salt and hot sauce, then shake until well chilled. Pour into a tall glass filled with ice cubes, toss in the slice of lime and garnish with the stalk of basil and your Loaded Mexi Slider cocktail stick.
MEXI SLIDERS
Ingredients:
2 Small, Grilled Medium, Chili Sirloin Burgers*
Basil, Cumin & Celery Leaf Salsa Sauce**
2 Circles of Jack Cheese
2 Slices of Grilled Hatch Chile
2 Mini Hamburger Buns, Buttered & Toasted
Optional stack accessories:
Mini Heirloom Tomatoes, Waffle Fries, Tater Tots, Onion Rings, Jalapeno Poppers - the only limit is your imagination and stuff that will fit on a stick!
Directions:
Grill your Chili Sirloin burgers and the hatch chilies, top with a slice of grilled hatch chile and top with jack cheese, allow cheese to get melted.
Build your sliders! Spoon the Salsa Sauce onto the bottom of the bun, slide on your chile and cheese topped slider, add bun top.
Carefully poke them onto a sturdy bamboo barbecue skewer, slide on your accessories and slide into your Cactus Margarita!
(It's a balancing act, do this BEFORE you drink any margaritas!)
*CHILI SIRLOIN BURGERS
Ingredients:
1 Lb. Ground Sirloin
1 Tsp. Salish Smoked Alder Salt
2 Tsp. Ground Chili Powder
1 Tsp. Cumin
1 Tsp. Garlic Powder
1 Tsp. Onion Powder
1/2 Tsp. Dried Oregano
1/2 Tsp. Smoked Paprika
1/2 Tsp. Ground Black Pepper
Directions:
Combine the spices with the ground sirloin and form into slider patties. Grill to Medium-Well on a well oiled, cast iron grill pan or outdoor grill.
**SALSA SAUCE
Ingredients:
1 Beefsteak Tomato, Diced Small
1/2 Small Onion, Diced Very Small
1/8 Cup Chopped Celery Leaves
8 Basil Leaves, Chopped Fine
Sea Salt to Taste
1/2 Cup Best Foods Mayonnaise
Directions:
Combine all ingredients, chill until needed.
P.S. Before you start calling ME crazy, check out this loaded Bloody!
Photo Credit: Huffington Post
Buen Apetito, Mis Amigos!
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