Prickly Pear Cocktail

To make the prickly pear juice, gently push peeled prickly pears through a china cap (or large-holed strainer) or a vegetable juicer, if you have one, and catch the juice in a bowl. Pour the juice through a fine mesh strainer to ensure that it is free of any pulp or bits of skin. (You may skip this second straining if you used a vegetable juicer.) Refrigerate until ready to use.

To mix the cocktail, place all ingredients in a large mixing glass filled with ice. Shake until frothy and cold, then strain into a glass rimmed with salt. A slice of lime is an optional, and pretty, garnish. If you like your drinks a bit sweeter, you can rim the glass with a mixture of 1/2 cup superfine sugar and two tablespoons kosher salt, instead of plain salt. This recipe can be made in batches and served in pitchers for your next party by simply multiplying the ingredients by the number of people you want to serve.