Watermelon Margaritas

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I fell in love with this watermelon margarita, a gorgeous summer cocktail last July when I saw it in Cooking Light’s July issue. Somehow, though, it sifted to the bottom of my try-this-recipe file and it was October and chilly before I thought to make a batch. I tried it out and wasn’t quite happy, so I experimented with my version of Ina Garten’s recipe for a pineapple margarita. This seemed to work and we enjoyed them July 4.

You can play with your ingredients by increasing or decreasing the amount of tequila, substituting Meyer lemons for limes, or using only Cointreau instead of a blend with Triple Sec. This is a very flexible libation. I suppose you could even rim the glasses with salt instead of sugar, but we watch our sodium pretty carefully.

The chilled cocktail versus adding chopped ice makes a more potent drink. They slid down very easily as we toasted the red, white and blue.

Yields 8 cocktails

  • 1 tablespoon white  sugar
  • 1/2 lime
  • 6 cups cubed seedless watermelon
  • 2 cups white tequila
  • 2 cups fresh lime juice
  • 1 cup Triple Sec
  • 1 cup Cointreau
  • small lime wedges and watermelon balls (optional)

1. Place 2 teaspoons sugar in a saucer. Rub the rims of 4 martini glasses with a lime half. Spin the rim of each glass in the sugar to coat. Store glasses in fridge while you assemble the drinks.

2. Using a food processor, puree the watermelon.

3. Sieve the watermelon puree and set aise. You should have about 2 cups of strained puree.

4. In a large pitcher, combine the tequila, lime juice, Triple Sec and Cointreau. Add the watermelon puree.

5. Stir and chill several hours. Shake in cocktail shaker with ice.

6. Pour into chilled glasses. Add a toothpick garnished with small lime wedges and watermelon balls. Serve at once.

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17 Responses to Watermelon Margaritas

  1. sodium girl July 5, 2011 at 3:57 pm #

    LOVE THIS!!!!! Can’t wait to try it. How can I say no to a sugar rimmed glass of yum?

    • lizthechef July 5, 2011 at 4:27 pm #

      I think these are definitely your style!

  2. TasteFood July 5, 2011 at 4:08 pm #

    This sounds wonderful! What a nice variation of a margarita. I just might make one later today.

    • lizthechef July 5, 2011 at 4:28 pm #

      Next time I might up the amount of watermelon. Hope you try them…

  3. current vintage July 5, 2011 at 4:41 pm #

    Beautiful ! and it sounds so refreshing. I wonder what it would taste like if I used bottled lime juice? (I am lazy and limes are expensive and my tree is depleted)

    • lizthechef July 5, 2011 at 4:48 pm #

      I bought a cheap bag of limes at Trader Joe’s – I’d try it with lemons before using the bottled lime juice – just an idea…

  4. jaynerly July 5, 2011 at 8:17 pm #

    I LOVE the sound of these!! I’m fairly new to Margaritas so have yet to experiment. I think that is now set to change!

  5. elizabethschuler July 5, 2011 at 4:11 pm #

    I’ll be over for a little libation tonight. It should help the healing…sounds fabulous BTW

    • lizthechef July 5, 2011 at 4:27 pm #

      Beware – they are slightly lethal…Hence my cut finger 😉

  6. Dominique July 7, 2011 at 6:34 pm #

    These sound fantastic and refreshing!

    • lizthechef July 7, 2011 at 7:14 pm #

      Thanks, Dom, maybe I’ll make some when you guys are here for supper…

  7. Kelly Peacock Wright July 8, 2011 at 12:44 am #

    We don’t have Margarita’s often — unless we’re out for Mexican food — but these sound so refreshing. It definitely was hot here today, but thank goodness there was a breeze!

  8. Laurie July 21, 2011 at 7:16 pm #

    Sounds great, Liz the Chef – where’s mine?

  9. Averie @ Averie Cooks April 17, 2012 at 5:16 pm #

    I’m coming over…NOW!!!

    This looks SO GOOD! And it’s gorgeous out. Have one for me, okay!!

    • lizthechef April 17, 2012 at 5:17 pm #

      First summer day and I will invite you over for one – promise.

  10. Abby of Baby Birds Farm August 5, 2015 at 11:49 pm #

    Delicious. Pinning!

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