Jalapeño Watermelon Margarita
Last week I was asked to describe my perfect summer meal. Of course I had to include a cocktail.
It’s natural for us to make margaritas in the summer, so when Greg and I started putting dinner together (which was pretty much the same menu I listed on Friday: fish tacos, pineapple salsa and tortillas with roasted corn & jalapeño salsa) I kept thinking I wanted to try something a little different from the standard margarita.
Using a little creativity and ingredients on hand…the Jalapeño Watermelon Margarita was born.
- 1/2 of an 8″ seedless watermelon, remove flesh and save in a bowl
- 2 lemons juiced
- 2 limes juiced
- 1 container of your favorite lemonade or limeade (like Newman’s Own)
- 1 bottle of jalapeño infused tequila (Tanteo was delicious)
- For the watermelon juice: put watermelon in a food processor and puree until no chunks remain
- pour through a sieve into a pitcher, discard pulp remaining in sieve
- add lemon and lime juice, stir well
- For the margarita: rim the glass with salt (optional)
- fill glass with ice
- add 1 shot of tequila
- add 1 shot of watermelon juice
- fill with lemonade
- mix well
- garnish with lime and/or watermelon slice
This drink is light, fresh and fairly spicy. The watermelon and the lemonade are the only sweeteners and can both be adjusted to taste.
If you are thinking, “that’s a lot of work,” take heart – you are just making the watermelon small enough to fit the processor and it filters through the sieve quickly, it took me about 10 minutes or less to make the juice.
If you are like me and always making modifications, consider the following:
- you could use your favorite tequila in place of the Tanteo
- you could add a 1/2 shot of orange liqueur to make the drink a little sweeter (Cointreau, Three O’s or triple sec)
- you could use jalapeño infused vodka in place of the tequila
- you could make this without alcohol all together, mixing the lemonade and watermelon in a pitcher and adding slices of lemon and chunks of watermelon
Do you think you’ll try it? Let me know if you do. With the holiday weekend coming up you might want to serve at your next get-together.
That sounds A-MAZING. I’ll be giving it a go. I’ll report back with results.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
This could not be better timing for me! We have “Mexican Night” at our pool club tonight and now I know what the most popular drink there is going to be!! I didn’t even know they made jalapeño tequila!? Thank you 🙂
Let me know how it turns out Allie!
Definitely sounds like a winner to me and will say as I told you last week, we love our Mexican dinner nights, so pinned to hopefully get to try very soon!! 🙂
This is perfect for your Mexican dinner nights, and the non-alcohol watermelon lemonade is great for the kids.
I think I would definitely add the triple sec to it!! I’m a sweet girl! BUT- if I just use a less spicy tequila, that may be better. YUM!
Definitely add the triple sec and you don’t have to have any spice – it’s very adaptable.
DID YOU JUST READ MY MIND???? I was just telling my husband that I wanted to get some margarita stuff tonight….this is PERFECT! Oh, I love it when a plan comes together! –Lisa
Yum.
I love a spicy kick, so I imagine I’d enjoy this.
Yum – I’m so happy you shared the recipe – can’t wait to try it!!!
Can’t wait to try this! I wish I’d seen this before I created my drink collection for the other day, but rest assured it is being pinned right now! When did you say you were coming over?!
So so so yummy! Pinned to my food board. I want one. I wish I could have one with you!