Beverages/ Sangrita (traditional chaser for tequila)

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  • 4

Ingredients

  • 2 medium cucumbers, each about 1 1/2" in diameter
  • 1/2 dried ancho chile, stemmed and seeded
  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 cup tomato juice
  • 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1 tbsp minced onion
  • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preparation

Step 1

Cut two 3 1/2" lengths from each cucumber to use as cups. Peel the pieces, leaving a 1 1/2" band of peel at one end of each. Using a melon baller, scoop out the seeds, stopping just before reaching the bottom. refrigerate the cups for at least 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small skillet, toast the ancho chile over moderate heat until it begins to blister, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer the ancho to a work surface to cool.

In a blender, combine the orange, tomato and lime juices with the onion and Worcestershire sauce; crumble in the toasted ancho and puree. Strain through a coarse sieve. Season the Sangrita with salt and pepper and chill for 20 minutes.

Pour the Sangrita into the cucumber cups and serve.
It can be refrigerated overnight.