After a bad harvest season in Mexico, there seems to be a critical lime shortage in the US, driving prices to truffle and foie gras levels. While you may think that’ll just affect spring breakers looking to “lick it-slam it-suck it,” it’s starting to cut into our adult beverage enjoyment. And that’s just unacceptable.
So with the pending Cinco de Mayo holiday close at hand, and summer cocktails on the horizon, here are 5 survival tips (and a great tequila lime shrimp recipe) from Hornitos Lime Shot to get you through this difficult time, and show you it’s possible to live without the lime.
1. Switch up the garnish: We are at Lime Defcon 2, people. Now is not the time to be frivolously decorating your water or soft drinks with lime wheels. You might as well be making Bald Eagle soup. If you really need the citrus in your drink, get creative and squeeze an orange into your soft drinks. Or, better yet, go savory and drop in some pickled jalapeños.
2. Add a dash of Lime Shot to your cerveza: Replace the lime you usually squeeze into your favorite Mexican beer with a Hornitos Lime Shot. You’ll get the citrus goodness, plus an extra kick.
3. Get creative with your cooking: Recipe calling for lime, and the supermarket is out? Substitute Hornitos Lime Shot for all the lime flavor you could ask for. Don’t believe us? Give this recipe a try and consider yourself a convert.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. large shrimp in shell (21 to 25 per pound), peeled and deveined
- ¼ cup Hornitos Lime Shot
- 2 tbsp. butter
- ¼ cup green onions
- ¾ cup sour cream
Directions: In a mixing bowl, toss shrimp with green onions and ¾ teaspoon coarsely ground pepper. Heat butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until foam subsides, then sauté shrimp, turning often, until pink and just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes.
Reduce heat and add Hornitos Lime Shot, and increase heat to medium high. Tilt skillet over gas burner to ignite Tequila. Cook, shaking skillet gently once or twice, until flames subside.
Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Serve sprinkled with chili powder.
4. Cue the Cucumber: Still not all that fond of plain old water? Need something more refreshing for the summer? Soak cucumbers in ice water overnight. In the morning, you’ll have a lightly flavored beverage that’s an excellent alternative to water and lime.
5. Mix Up a Lime-less Margarita: This is where the lime shortage really hits home. What’s a margarita without fresh squeezed lime? Until the crop returns to “bumper” status, use Hornitos Lime Shot in your margarita instead. It’s already got the lime mixed in, so no need to go searching, Mad Max style, for limes.
With a little planning and sacrifice, we can all get through this long national nightmare together.
PHOTO: Alexander Normand via Flikr (Creative Commons)
