This is not a cocktail per se but instead it is fresh watermelon slices that are steeped in a mixture of ingredients normally used to make a margarita. You’ll want to lick the glass clean!
Something old is new again! Yes, I’m re-posting a dish that I first shared many years ago! The photos were awful and this is so wonderful; it was simply time. No confusion either, this is Margarita Watermelon Slices…not a Watermelon Margarita (although I’ve made that too!).
I HAD to share this again after having it the other night when I reminded myself of how much I love preparing watermelon like this. If you’re a new reader or if you’re not and either forgot it or never saw it I have to tell you, this Margarita Watermelon is SO good. Sort of a reverse cocktail.
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
The fruit is not pulverized and combined with other cocktail ingredients, no…it’s left whole and infused with them.
Almost to a person when I mention Margarita Watermelon I hear, ‘You mean a watermelon margarita?’ I love those too but this is something more unique and so special. I like to serve it as a dessert for a summer barbecue. It’s light and refreshing but definitely has a bit of a kick. Just watch the kids; they need their own separate melon!
Yes, you’re seeing that right…and made for a much more difficult shoot. Several of them were tempted by this treat; my left hand was waving the air over the watermelon while my right was pressing the camera button. I tired to card them but they were quick little devils! The photo is not my best but at least I got him in focus! I was not destined to be a bee wrangler. 🙂
Margarita Watermelon Slices are such a light and lovely summer dessert but definitely with a kick. The one thing I made a point of modifying this time around? I served them on a plate last time…and friends gave me a look that said it all; wondering how to handle all of that luscious juice that was leftover.
Why yes, we all did sip that magical leftover elixir from the plate. So I made it easier and served the slices in a glass this time around!
Super easy to make; it’s simply a combination of tequila, orange liqueur and simple syrup that the watermelon soaks in for a couple of hours in the fridge. Served with a slice of lime to squeeze over the slices and a dose of Maldon salt, they might be too easy to eat. When served in a glass, that leftover liquid is like gold at the end of the rainbow; it’s amazing!
When I first posted this it was in conjunction with a series that I was doing with a The Food Network weekly event. When the week was watermelon and I had an adorable little, sweet, baby watermelon on the counter that I had just picked up at a Farmer’s Market, how could I not make it the star?
It helped that this was simply the best watermelon I’ve had in a long time. I usually save my watermelon moments for the end of July through the end of the season in September, I like ripe, red, juicy watermelons and in Colorado we have to be a bit patient; they come on later at our high altitude.
I love Margarita Watermelon Slices; a nice grown-up version of a favorite summer fruit with margarita fixings; though my mantra remains the same – use the same quality ingredients that are in all of the margaritas I love.
As always, I used Reposado Tequila and real Orange Liqueur to infuse the watermelon slices. Equally if not even more important as good booze? Get a great watermelon. They should be coming into markets now and have a rich, red fruit and be so sweet. I’m repeating myself this week…but these facts are good to know.
How to determine if you’ve found a good watermelon? These are some good indicators:
Find the field spot, it should be a yellowish creamy color on the outside where the watermelon was resting on the ground.
Pick a dull looking watermelon; shiny melons are not yet ripe.
Knock on it with your knuckles; the surface should be hard/firm. A dull thud indicates the flesh inside is getting soft…put that one back!
Get the heaviest one for its size; water is heavy and a lot of water in a watermelon is a good indicator!
Check for uniform shape – round or oval is fine…but irregular edges might indicate an inconsistent water source
The longer the watermelon soaks, the more flavorful it becomes. Serve Margarita Watermelon Slices in a glass like mine or a bowl with a spoon, anything to not waste that liquid…it gets poured over the slices in the glass or the bowl before they are finished with lime juice and salt. Be sure there are napkins or bibs available.
I love using watermelon in cocktails and I’ve included a couple of others you might enjoy. Both the Watermelon Martini and the Watermelon Margarita are wonderful additions to your cocktail lineup. I say ‘try them all!’
PIN IT! ‘Margarita Watermelon Slices’
Margarita Watermelon Slices
A fun alternative to an actual cocktail; watermelon slices are steeped in a mixture of tequila, sugar and orange liqueur and served in a margarita glass.
Bring sugar and water just to a boil and cook just until sugar is dissolved; about 1 minute. Remove from heat and pour sugar syrup into a glass container.
Add the tequila and orange liqueur and let cool slightly.
Arrange the watermelon slices in a single layer in two large baking dishes.
Pour the simple syrup over the watermelon slices and refrigerate until cold; at least 1 hour.
Flip the watermelon over every 30 minutes.
Remove the watermelon from the syrup, and either arrange for serving from a platter or on single serving plates. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the melon and lightly sprinkle with the salt..
Nutrition Facts
Margarita Watermelon Slices
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
