Say hello to summer in a glass: Watermelon Jalapeño Margaritas.
Every summer, I live for fresh watermelon. I love it all forms but I really love to blend and puree it. (Kat tip: blend watermelon chunks and freeze the juice in an ice cube tray. Treat yourself to a lighter dessert by enjoying watermelon cubes after dinner. You’re welcome.)
Margaritas Can Be a Personal Choice
Mr. CK and I make margaritas often. We have a ‘house’ recipe that’s our go-to, and over time, I’ve learned margaritas are a very personal choice. Everyone has a particular recipe they prefer because there can be a lot of variation from recipe to recipe.
I happen to love spicy margaritas. There’s something about the combination of tangy lime, smooth tequila, salt, and spice that I crave. And I wanted to find a way to combine several of my favorite things at home this summer.
A lot of recipes call for agave syrup and I didn’t want to add any additional sweetener to my margarita. The watermelon juice brings the right amount of sweetness on its own.
Watermelon Jalapeño Margaritas
I knew I wanted the watermelon juice to be the star of the show here, so you’ll see the ratios in this recipe calls for a touch more watermelon juice than the other ingredients. The lime juice gives it just the zip it needs and the jalapeño adds a kick at the end.
When I was testing this recipe, I used both mezcal and tequila and I prefer the tequila. But, if you like more of a smoky taste, perhaps you’d like the mezcal instead. Try both and see what you like!
As I said, margaritas can be very personal. So experiment with the ratios and see what you prefer. You can’t go wrong with these margaritas.
Salt Rim
A quick note about the salt rim. I wanted to use the Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Seasoning on the rim but I found it wasn’t salty enough for my taste so I combined it with Pink Himalayan Sea Salt. I did a 50/50 split and it was perfect.
Now let’s get to the recipe!
Recipe
- 3 ounces fresh watermelon juice
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice, plus a slice for garnish
- 2 ounces tequila (use mezcal if you prefer a smokier taste)
- 4 slices of jalapeño pepper, plus a slice for garnish
- Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Seasoning
- Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
- Ice
Yields 1 Watermelon Jalapenño Margarita. Double it for two!
Directions
- Cut watermelon and blend in blender until smooth. Set aside.
- Juice lime and set aside.
- Pour equal parts Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Seasoning and Pink Himalayan Sea Salt onto a plate. Use part of a lime to juice the rim and dip into seasoning mixture to coat.
- Add watermelon juice, lime juice, tequila, and jalapeño slices to a shaker and shake to mix.
- Add ice to your glass and pour drink contents over ice. Don’t strain it, you want those jalapeño slices to end up in your drink.
- Add garnish and enjoy!
Let me know if you make this and what you think! XO.
