Recipe: Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita

(See Recipe Below)

I outgrew sweet drinks a long time ago.  While I do enjoy margaritas and not just on Cinco De Mayo, my flavor of choice is watermelon jalapeño.  There’s something incredibly thirst quenching about the tart, slightly sweet and spicy combo that makes me wild.  A few years ago, in Cancun I tried one for the first time and was introduced to the Mexican Seasoning salt Tajin. I needed to bring some home with me, as a one of my Global Goodies.  

I was hooked. The deep red crystals along the rim was smoky. The taste followed the bite of the jalapeño and the sweet tartness of the watermelon-lime and Agave combo. The Tajin left a spicy pepper finish.  Plenty of my friends are hot sauce addicts. I had to share the spice with as many as I could.

The next time I drove past an OXO (the Mexican equivalent to a 711) I asked the cab driver to make a pit stop. Searching the aisles, I found what I was looking for and it was both inexpensive and super light weight.  Grabbed a couple of bottles before I said, “Adios.”

Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita

3 oz Agave Tequila

2 oz Triple sec

1 Jalapeño pepper

1 cup Watermelon cubed

2-3 Limes to yield 4 Tablespoons of Fresh Juice

Mexican Seasoning Salt

Simple syrup (optional)

Ice

Chill glass and salt the rim with Mexican Seasoning like Tajin, set aside. Cut and remove seeds from the jalapeño pepper, slicing it into slivers. In a drink shaker, mull the jalapeño and watermelon cubes.  Fill the shaker with ice, add tequila, triple sec, lime juice.  If you like a sweeter drink, add some simple syrup. Shake vigorously.  Strain and serve in the salted rim glass.  Garnish with fresh limes.

Makes 2 Servings