Watermelon Margarita

So apparently this is a cocktail blog now.

Isn’t that how it works? This is the third cocktail recipe I’ve shared in the past two months, so I guess… this is me now.

But really, you guys. We’ve consumed a borderline unacceptable amount of alcohol since this pandemic began. Anyone else in the same boat?

(HA that’s a trick question… I saw those lines at Total Wine back in March. We weren’t the only ones dropping hundreds on booze).

Peter’s plowed through roughly 47 bottles of mezcal, while I’ve chosen to take a more diversified approach.

I’ve worked my way through the change of seasons via wine — first red, then a brief stint with white and now #roséallday (!!). I’ve dabbled a bit in cider (and strongly urge you to check out Artifact Cider! they are local, and hands down my favorite). But most frequently, I’ve been experimenting with fun cocktails.

(as demonstrated by the recent addition of a strawberry lime margarita and Aperol spritz to the blog’s boozy repertoire)

Endless variations of margaritas, martinis, G&Ts and spritzes, along with some of the classics and a few random concoctions that I’ll likely never be able to replicate.

As the weather gets warmer, my taste buds start to shift. After the past week or two of this wonderfully warm SUMMER weather, I am craving all the fresh herbs, deliciously ripe fruits & veggies and cold, refreshing drinks.

And so, a few weeks back I was hit with this intense NEED for watermelon juice.

Kinda random, because I probably haven’t had fresh watermelon juice in like… three and a half years. When we traveled to Southeast Asia in 2016, breakfast was always accompanied by freshly squeezed juices. There were the ones you’d expect, like orange and apple juice. But we also got to enjoy others like pineapple, mango, carrot — and watermelon.

So on one of my recent bi-weekly trips to the grocery store, I made sure to stock up on watermelon. I got home, chopped it up and threw it in the blender.

O.M.G.

Who knew that fresh watermelon juice could smell so good?!

I’m sure this sounds psychotic, but don’t knock it until you try it, people!

So obviously the first thing I did with that juice was make a cocktail… and I’ve been enjoying this watermelon margarita ON REPEAT ever since. No joke. Fresh watermelon juice is currently a staple in my fridge, and you know what? I’m not mad about it.

Now just a note: even after 30 seconds in the blender, this watermelon juice still has some remnants of pulp and seeds. I personally prefer a little texture, but if you’d like, you can strain the juice before making your margarita. Also, I have two words for you: seedless watermelon. Seems obvious right? Well… sometimes things aren’t so clear, OK? Just make sure you purchase seedless.

And that’s it! This watermelon margarita literally could not be easier — or more delicious. Toss all your ingredients in a blender for a few seconds, and voila! You’ve got yourself a refreshing cocktail. Mark my words: this will be your go-to drink this summer!

Watermelon Margarita

 

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Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

5 mins

 

Author: Talia

Yield: 1 drink

Ingredients

• 2 ounces fresh watermelon juice (see Notes)
• 1 ounce fresh orange juice
• 1 ounce blanco tequila (I prefer Milagro Silver)
• juice from half a lime
• fresh mint or lime, orange or watermelon slices, to garnish

Instructions

1. Add watermelon, orange and lime juices to a blender along with the tequila, and pulse until smooth.
2. Let the mixture rest for a minute or two, until the foam has disappeared.
3. Pour into a glass filled with ice, and garnish with fresh mint or orange, lime and/or watermelon slices.

Notes / Variations

Make fresh watermelon juice by tossing cubed watermelon in a blender for 15-30 seconds. If you prefer, you can strain the watermelon juice to remove any stray seeds or pulp.

If you don't have an orange to juice, you can use OJ from a carton or substitute with orange liqueur instead.

If you prefer your cocktails boozier, add an extra ounce of tequila.

TO MAKE FROZEN: add 3 or 4 ice cubes to the blender with the remaining ingredients, and pulse until smooth. Pour into glass, and serve immediately.

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