Jalapeño Margarita

This Jalapeño Margarita is everyone’s favorite summer cocktail with a spicy kick! Naturally sweetened, this fresh juice margarita will be your summertime staple!

recipe originally published February 4, 2011

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS - Jump to any section:

1. 1. Fresh Juice Margaritas
   2. Jalapeño margarita ingredients
   3. How to make a jalapeño margarita
   4. Tips for making the best margarita
   5. What is a skinny margarita?
   6. What can I do with leftover orange juice?
   7. What foods go well with margaritas?
   8. More vegan cocktail recipes
   9. Jalapeño Margarita Recipe

Fresh jalapeño margaritas

If you're ready for the weekend, it's time to break out the jalapeño margarita recipe.

If margaritas are one of your favorite happy hour cocktails, you can quickly and easily make one at home. This recipe uses fresh fruit in place of a mixer, and it couldn't be easier to make.

Ingredients for a jalapeño margarita

No mixers here - this is the short list of fresh ingredients you need to make your own jalapeño margarita.

• tequila (reposado is my go to here)
• orange liqueur
• fresh limes
• fresh oranges
• jalapeño peppers
• club soda
• ice cubes

 

 

How do you make a jalapeño margarita?

This margarita recipe only takes a few minutes to put together.

You simply juice your oranges, muddle the jalapeño and lime. Combine the juice with the tequila, orange liqueur, and club soda. Pour the whole thing over ice cubes and garnish with extra jalapeños and a lime slice.

So refreshing!

Tips for making the best margarita

If you're not used to making cocktails at home, I'll share a few tips for success.

• Taste test! Always taste your jalapeño margarita while you're making it. It's important that you find the best combination for your drink. Everyone has their own preferences so you may want to add a bit more jalapeño or a bit of sweetener while you make it. If you want it a little bit more tart, you can add more lime. And, if you want it a little bit sweeter, add more orange juice. Or agave, or simple syrup.
• Like a salted rim? Just rub the rim of your empty glass with a lime wedge. Dip the edge of the glass in coarse sea salt. If you don't have sea salt, you can use kosher salt. Fill your glass with your margarita and enjoy it.
• Muddlin' Muddled fresh jalapeños work best here, in my humble opinion. If you don't have fresh jalapeño, you can use the juice from a jar of sliced jalapeños instead. You can start with one tablespoon of juice. Adjust the amount of juice based on how spicy you want it to be.
• Shakin' you absolutely do not need a cocktail shaker for this recipe! instead, simply juice everything into a glass measuring bowl or similar - preferably with a pourable spout. Muddle the jalapeño in this container also, or separately in each glass.
• Spicy ...or not? If this is too spicy for you, you can remove the seeds from the jalapeño. If you love spicy food, you can leave then in. The more jalapeños you add to your drink, the spicier it will be. Try it first and then add more if you need to. You can always add more, you generally cannot recover from a too spicy cocktail. 

 

What is a skinny margarita?

A skinny margarita simply refers to a margarita that does not have added sugar. You are in luck. This cocktail recipe is low in sugar content, using the sweetness from fresh oranges. 

To lighten the calories in this drink even more, simply fill your glass with less of the freshly squeezed juice and add more of the club soda. There are no calories or sugar in traditional club soda. So, using more club soda is an easy way to cut calories.

What do I do with leftover orange juice?

If you have leftover fresh squeezed juice, you can easily freeze it until you want to use it for another margarita, or add to your breakfast smoothie. Just pour it into ice cube trays. Then defrost just what you need. Keep it in the refrigerator and use it within three to five days.

 

What should I serve with margaritas?

One of the best things to serve with this jalapeño margarita is a mountain of crispy tortilla chips and a bowl of guacamole. You can also add in pico de gallo or your favorite type of salsa. Pineapple salsa makes a wonderful side to this cocktail recipe.

Here are a few more vegan Mexican recipes that you will want to try:

• Bean and Cauliflower Rice Enchiladas
• Spicy Guacamole
• Vegan Spanish Rice
• Chipotle Lime Burritos

More vegan cocktail recipes

If you loved this jalapeño margarita, you are going to love these other vegan cocktail recipes.

• Kina Royale Cocktail
• Spicy Caprese Cocktail

Did you make this margarita? 

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Yield: 2 servings

Jalapeño Margarita

Print

everyone’s favorite summer cocktail with a spicy kick! this naturally sweetened, fresh juice margarita will be your summertime staple!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 jalapeño peppers
• 2 limes
• 2 oranges
• 4 ounces tequila
• 2 ounces orange liqueur
• ½ cup club soda
• coarse salt
• ice cubes

Instructions

1. Slice jalapeño into thin coins. Reserving several coins for garnish (2-3 per glass), add most of the jalapeño to a large cocktail shaker jar.
2. Slice limes into rounds. Reserving one slice for each glass and one end piece to wet the glass rim, add most of the limes to the shaker.
3. Using a muddler, crush the jalapeño and lime to release their flavors.
4. Into a small bowl (a glass measuring cup works well as it has the pour spout) juice the oranges. Add the fresh squeezed orange juice to the cocktail shaker.
5. Measure the tequila and orange liqueur* into the cocktail shaker. (*Grand Marnier is what we use most often, although lately we are using an apricot liqueur which tastes great as well.) Set aside.
6. Add the coarse salt to a small rimmed dish. We often add a spice mix to the salt - smoked paprika, chili powder, or a blend.
7. Run a lime along the rim of each glass. Dip the rim of each glass into the salt, coating the entire rim.
8. Add several ice cubes to each glass.
9. Add the top portion of the cocktail shaker to the shaker jar (the main piece that goes on top of the jar, and the smaller top to that piece).
10. Carefully shake the margarita. Remove just the small lid of the shaker and strain the margarita into each glass. Top each glass with a small amount of club soda.
11. Garnish with lime round / wedge and fresh jalapeño coins. Enjoy!

Notes

Tips for making the best margarita

If you're not used to making cocktails at home, I'll share a few tips for success.

• Taste test! Always taste your Jalapeño Margarita while you're making it. It's important that you find the best combination for your drink. Everyone has their own preferences so you may want to add a bit more jalapeño or a bit of sweetener while you make it. If you want it a little bit more tart, you can add more lime. And, if you want it a little bit sweeter, add more orange juice. Or agave, or simple syrup.
• Like a salted rim? Just rub the rim of your empty glass with a lime wedge. Then, dip the edge of the glass in coarse sea salt. If you don't have sea salt, you can use kosher salt. Then, fill your glass with your margarita and enjoy it.

• Muddlin' Muddled fresh jalapeños work best here, in my humble opinion. If you don't have fresh jalapeño, you can use the juice from a jar of sliced jalapeños instead. You can start with one tablespoon of juice. Then, adjust the amount of juice based on how spicy you want it to be.

• Shakin' you absolutely do not need a cocktail shaker for this recipe! instead, simply juice everything into a glass measuring bowl or similar - preferably with a pourable spout. Muddle the jalapeño in this container also, or separately in each glass.

• Spicy ...or not? If this is too spicy for you, you can remove the seeds from the jalapeño. If you love spicy food, you can leave then in. The more jalapeños you add to your drink, the spicier it will be. Try it first and then add more if you need to. You can always add more, you generally cannot recover from a too spicy cocktail. You give it to your husband and make another! 

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Rocks Glass
• 
  Cocktail Shaker
• 
  Cutting Board
• 
  Chef Knife
• 
  Jalapeno Corer

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 308Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 205mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 5gSugar: 14gProtein: 2g

nutrition calculations results vary by calculator, are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.

about Kristina:

Kristina is spabettie! She found cooking at an early age, and created spabettie in 2010 to share vegan recipes. Kristina turned her culinary training into sharing vibrant vegan food!  Read more...

 

 

 

 

 

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