Spicy Watermelon Margarita

It you are looking for the perfect cocktail to accompany your fresh guacamole, you need look no further.  It’s summer, and what better time to punch up the old standby margarita cocktail than with the deliciously sweet juice of fresh watermelon.

This clever recipe from The Sweet Life blog combines hot with cool, by adding a Serrano pepper to the mix.  I substituted Triple Sec for the Cointeau used in the original recipe, and used Key Lime juice for extra flavor.  Ahhhh, refreshing!

Spicy Watermelon Margarita

2 cups watermelon juice*

1 Serrano pepper sliced in half, seeds removed

1 tsp. salt

1-2 cups sugar

Salt

Lime wedges

1 cup tequila

1/3 cup freshly squeezed Key lime juice

1/2 cup Triple Sec

Ice cubes

In a medium saucepan place watermelon juice, Serrano pepper, salt, and 1 cup of the sugar.  Simmer over low heat until sugar dissolves. Taste and add more sugar, if desired.  Cool.

When mixture has sufficiently cooled, pour into a serving pitcher and place in the fridge for thorough chilling.

 When ready to serve, moisten the rim of 6 6-ounce glasses with the wedges of lime, and dip them into margarita salt that has been spread out on a saucer.   Place glasses into the freezer to chill.

While the glasses are chilling, add the tequila, lime juice, and Triple Sec to the watermelon juice mixture. Remove glasses from freezer and serve margarita mixture over ice. Garnish with lime slices.

*To make watermelon juice, simply cut a watermelon into large chunks, remove the seeds, and whir it in a food processor until liquid.  Pour mixture through a strainer to remove pulp, and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

This post is linked to:

Seasonal Sundays

Foodie Friday