How to Make a Spicy Watermelon Margarita

Californians tend to enjoy a little spice in their lives—literally and figuratively—so this week we picked up some fresh watermelon, limes, and jalapeños from the local farmers market to serve up a Spicy Watermelon Margarita at our next function.

Make sure to devein your pepper and remove the seeds so you don’t send your tastebuds into orbit, and remember it’s always easier to add more spice if needed than to undo an overload of jalapeños. Be gentle! If you don’t like silver, feel free to substitute a reposado or an añejo for your tequila. You really can’t go wrong.

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Spicy Watermelon Margarita

• 2-4 chunks of watermelon
• 1 jalapeño (deveined with the seeds removed)
• ½ oz. agave syrup
• ½ oz. apéritif (Aperol or Campari)
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 1½ oz. blanco tequila
• Salt flakes

If you’ve got a whole, fresh watermelon, start by slicing it up into equal-sized chunks. Next, cut up and devein your jalapeño into small pieces, making sure to remove all seeds. In a cocktail shaker, muddle your agave syrup, 2-4 watermelon chunks and 1 piece of jalapeño. Next, add your aperitif, lime juice, tequila, and a pinch of salt flakes. Shake with rhythm while listening to Harry Styles. Rim a glass with salt flakes, add ice, pour in your cocktail and garnish with a slice of watermelon.