Most watermelon cocktails add too much sugar to something that is already sweet. This margarita does not. One cup of chopped watermelon mashed with an optional pinch of sugar, strained through a fine-mesh sieve into a glass, then topped with tequila and Cointreau. Three ingredients. No blender needed. One of our favorite summer drinks, full stop.
The sieve is important. Watermelon fibre makes a gritty cocktail. Mash, strain, and what pours through is a clear, pink juice that tastes cleaner and more concentrated than blended watermelon.
Tips for Making Watermelon Margaritas
Strain the watermelon juice
Mash the watermelon in a bowl, then pour through a fine-mesh sieve. Press the pulp with a spoon to get all the juice out.
Discard the pulp. The strained juice is what makes this a cocktail and not a slushie.
Use good tequila
One and a half ounces of tequila per drink. Blanco or reposado. The watermelon flavour is delicate and cheap tequila overwhelms it.
Cointreau or triple sec for the citrus liqueur. One ounce. It rounds out the sweetness without adding orange flavour that competes with the melon.
Watermelon Margaritas
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Serves 1
Description
A refreshing margarita made with fresh watermelon, tequila, and a hint of citrus, perfect for summer sipping.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped watermelon
- Pinch of sugar (optional)
- 1.5 ounces Tequila
- 1 ounce Cointreau, Triple Sec, or other citrus-flavored liquor
Instructions
- Mash up the watermelon with a pinch of sugar.
- Pour it through a fine-mesh sieve and into your serving glass.
- Add the tequila and citrus-flavored liquor.
- Garnish with salt and a wedge of lime if desired.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I salt the rim?
Optional. If you like a salted rim, run a lime wedge around the edge and dip in coarse salt. The salt contrasts the sweet watermelon.
Can I make a pitcher?
Yes. Scale up proportionally: four cups watermelon, six ounces tequila, four ounces Cointreau. Strain all the watermelon juice first, then mix with the spirits. Serve over ice.
Can I make this without alcohol?
Yes. Strain the watermelon juice, add a squeeze of lime and a tablespoon of simple syrup. Pour over ice. It is a refreshing non-alcoholic drink on its own.
No blender and no sugar bomb, just clean watermelon and tequila. Made a round for the porch this weekend and they went down too easy!
Watermelon and tequila. Cheers to that!