El Diablo Cocktail Recipe: 5 Dishes to Pair With the El Diablo

The El Diablo is a tequila cocktail featuring equal parts crème de cassis—a rich, blackcurrant liqueur—and lime juice, topped with a spicy float of ginger beer. The kick of lime and spicy ginger notes offset the liqueur’s sweetness to create a perfectly balanced cocktail.

The El Diablo made its first appearance as the “Mexican El Diablo” in Trader Vic’s Book of Food and Drink, a 1946 volume primarily devoted to Polynesian-inspired drinks and dishes. In this original iteration, the drink is built in a Highball glass, rather than shaken and strained over ice like in modern versions.

The sweetness and acidity from El Diablo’s cassis and lime combo make the perfect complement to the chile-infused heat of many Mexican dishes.

1. 1. Aguachile: Aguachile is a Mexican variation of ceviche that originated in Sinaloa, Mexico. Aguachile most often features shrimp, lime juice, and chiles blended with water (hence its name) and served with thinly sliced cucumber and red onion.
2. 2. Assorted antojitos: In Mexico, the vast family of foods known as antojitos (“little cravings”) refers to street snacks or appetizers. They’re usually small, savory bites—like empanadas or quesadillas—intended as precursors to the main event or late-night bite after a few El Diablos.
3. 3. Camarones a la Diabla: Also known as diablo shrimp or Mexican deviled shrimp, camarones a la diabla is a classic among Mexican recipes, featuring perfectly juicy, large shrimp coated in a fiery red tomato and chile sauce that pair well with the boozy drink.
4. 4. Carne asada tacos: Carne asada tacos may be the simplest way to let perfectly grilled meat shine, and it's the perfect dish for a tequila-forward cocktail like El Diablo. Wrap the thin slices of carne asada in flour or corn tortillas, and serve with anything from salsa verde, pico de gallo, a dollop of sour cream or crema, guacamole, fresh lime wedges, or chopped onions and fresh cilantro with sliced radishes on the side.
5. 5. Chips and salsa: Tequila, salty tortilla chips, and fresh salsa, like pico de gallo, are an ideal trio. Adding a little guacamole into the mix turns the trio into an unstoppable quartet.