Hope everyone had a good long weekend over Memorial Day. Schools are letting out, the pools are opening up, and summer is kicking into gear. It sure felt like summer here in Illinois where we had 100 degree days all weekend long.
As a kid, I remember what a cool, refreshing treat watermelon was on hot summer days. And as I have grown older, I have really enjoyed incorporating watermelon into salads, and since I am old enough, cocktails!
I started making these watermelon margaritas a few years ago. The great thing about my watermelon margarita is that the drink is sweetened by the fruit itself and has no added sugar in the actual beverage. Just the salt/sugar rim. If you wanted to, you could skip the sugar entirely and it could simply be a salted watermelon margarita.
I made the watermelon margaritas one summer night when our friends Mandy and Brandon were over for a visit while they were in town from Denver. They commented that the drink tasted like a watermelon Jolly Rancher, and that’s precisely right. No wonder I love these drinks – watermelon Jolly Ranchers were also a favorite of mine in childhood.
If you’re looking for a refreshing drink to sip poolside or at your next summer BBQ, give these Skinny Watermelon Margaritas a try!
It’s relatively simple to make. Combine tequila, lime juice, and watermelon in a blender or food processor. Blend for 15 seconds or until smooth.
Pour blended drink through a mesh strainer. This step isn’t mandatory but will remove some of the pulp-like material if desired. Use a spoon to press down and to squeeze out any remaining juice.
Place ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of sugar on a plate or bowl and mix together. Use a lime wedge to rim the outside of a cocktail glass. Then run the top of the glass through salt/sugar mixture until the rim is fully coated.
Fill glass with ice and pour margaritas over ice. Garnish with a lime wedge and a cube of watermelon. Salud!
Skinny Watermelon Margaritas
Prep Time: 10 minutes Yields: 4 servings
WW Totals: 6 Freestyle Points
Ingredients:
1 cup of tequila
1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 10 limes)
2 cups of fresh watermelon
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon sugar
garnish: watermelon cubes and lime wedges
Directions:
- Combine tequila, lime juice, and watermelon in a blender or food processor. Blend for 15 seconds or until smooth.
- Pour blended drink through a mesh strainer. (This step is optional but will remove some of the pulp-like material.) Use a spoon to press down and to squeeze out any remaining juice.
- Place ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of sugar on a plate or bowl and mix together. Use a lime wedge to rim the outside of a cocktail glass. Then run the top of the glass through salt/sugar mixture until the rim is fully coated.
- Fill glass with ice and pour margaritas over ice. Garnish with lime wedge and watermelon cube.
You have my attention. Any fruity margarita is my friend.