Watermelon Margarita Recipe

This was DELICIOUS!!!  This is my perfect summer drink :)  The fresh watermelon juice is KEY!!

Ingredients

Watermelon Juice

• ▢1 small seedless watermelon - or half of a large watermelon

Chili Salt Rim (optional)

• ▢1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
• ▢1 tablespoon kosher salt
• ▢1 tablespoon granulated sugar or brown sugar

For One Margarita

• ▢2 fluid ounces fresh watermelon juice
• ▢1 fluid ounce fresh lime juice
• ▢1.5 fluid ounces tequila
• ▢Lime - cut into wedges
• ▢Sliced watermelon - to garnish

Instructions

• Prepare the watermelon juice - Fill a large blender with ripe, cubed watermelon and blend until juiced. At this point, you may wish to strain your blended watermelon through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any solids or leftover seeds (this step is completely optional and may depend on the efficiency of your blender). Note - the total amount of juice produced will far exceed that needed to make 1 margarita. Transfer leftovers to a mason jar and keep them stored in the refrigerator for a light and refreshing drink or margaritas later in the week.
• Mix the chili salt - Add the chili powder, salt, and sugar to a shallow plate and mix together to combine.
• Prepare your glass - Using your favorite cocktail glass (I used rocks glasses) run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass. Invert your glass and dip the top into the chili salt mixture, tilting the glass slightly to completely coat the surface. Fill each glass with ice and set them aside.
• Make your margarita - To make your margarita, add 2 ounces of watermelon juice, 1-ounce lime juice, 1.5 ounces of tequila, and a scoop of ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously to combine and chill. Taste and adjust - does it need more watermelon juice? Lime juice? Sweetness? (see notes)
• Serve - Strain your margarita into your prepared glass and garnish with a fresh lime wedge or chopped watermelon, if desired.

Notes

Should you use bottled lime juice? Bottled lime juice will work in a pinch, but the juice from fresh limes is always best (key limes are even better).

Save time: If you plan on making a big batch of margaritas, I highly recommend using a citrus juicer as they will really extract all the juice from all those tasty limes.

What tequila is best? There are two main categories of tequila sold - mixtos and 100% agave. When shopping for tequila, you always want to buy 100% Blue Agave Tequila. For this particular recipe, I used silver tequila, also known as Blanco tequila, but feel free to use your favorite.

Make a sweeter margarita: Add a teaspoon or two of your favorite sweetener (agave, honey, simple syrup). You can also add 1/2-1-ounce of triple sec or Cointreau, an orange-flavored liqueur.

• 1 ounce = 2 tbsp

How to Pick a Good Watermelon?

• Pick one that feels heavy for its size.
• Look for the yellow spot where the watermelon was resting on the ground. It should be a creamy, yellowish color and found on only one side of the watermelon.
• Look for sugar spots and pollination points. Sugar spots are areas on a watermelon where sugar has seeped through. Pollination points are usually found in the same area as sugar spots. They're brownish rough patches with dark brownish/black dots in rows. These ugly-looking patches on watermelon are actually good things!
• Tap your watermelon. Does it sound hollow? Good.