20
Jun

Watermelon Margarita (Paleo & Refined Sugar-Free)

Watermelon Margaritas (Paleo & Refined Sugar-Free) served in glass tumblers full of ice and garnished with a lime next pieces of fresh watermelon

You know I love a good tequila-based cocktail. Margaritas in any form will always be my drink of choice, and this Watermelon Margarita has quickly become a weekend favorite for Ryan and me.

Tequila is a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant, so it is naturally grain and gluten-free. I stay away from any alcohol that is made with wheat or grains – most beer, whiskey, Scotch, and gin. I also don't eat corn or white potatoes, so that means most vodka is out too. My body responds best to tequila and wine, so I stick to those two.

Watermelon Margaritas (Paleo & Refined Sugar-Free) served in glass tumblers full of ice and garnished with a lime next pieces of fresh watermelon and slices of lime Watermelon Margaritas (Paleo & Refined Sugar-Free) served in glass tumblers full of ice and garnished with a lime next pieces of fresh watermelon and slices of lime

Summer in a glass

My kids have been inhaling watermelon lately, and I was reminded of an old Watermelon Lemonade I published here on the blog back in 2012. I juiced watermelon and cucumber and mixed it with homemade honey-sweetened lemonade. My garden was booming back then, so I grabbed a handful of fresh mint from the bush and mixed it in to elevate the flavors.

I took a cue from that lemonade for this margarita. I pureed the watermelon and made some fresh juice, and added a little lime instead of lemon. With a few ounces of reposado tequila and a little dash of maple syrup, it made the perfect refreshing drink for a hot Saturday.

I first made these over Memorial Day weekend, with the temperatures bordering 100 degrees. We enjoyed them in the backyard while the kids played in the water, and a summer-time music playlist filled the air.

Watermelon Margaritas (Paleo & Refined Sugar-Free) served in glass tumblers full of ice and garnished with a lime next pieces of fresh watermelon and slices of lime

Making Watermelon Juice

Making watermelon juice is not as complicated as it sounds! No juicer is required. I'm somewhat anti-juicers. Mainly because they make such a mess and are a pain to clean. Plus I love the fiber and nutrients that are taken out of the equation when juiced.

Juicing a watermelon just takes a blender. Cut the rind off and cut the watermelon into big chunks. Remove any visible seeds. Blend the watermelon in a high-speed blender until it has fully liquified.

That's it! I like to keep all of the pulp in the juice because it gives it a much deeper watermelon flavor and a lot more sweetness, but you can strain it first too if your watermelon was overly seedy or you simply want a thinner juice.

blender full of watermelon chunks blender with pureed watermelons frothy watermelon juice shown in blender

Salt or No Salt? Basil or Mint?

I'm a fan of a salted rim. If you are too – take a little lime wedge and dampen the edge of your glass. Dip it in some kosher salt, then fill the glass with ice and top it with your delicious margarita!

I kept this one simple, but the addition of muddled basil or mint would taste amazing. I also think a little jalapeño would elevate this watermelon margarita if you like a little smokiness. We haven't tried any of these yet, but if I do, I'll come back and give an update!

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Watermelon Margarita (Paleo & Refined Sugar-Free)



AUTHOR:

SERVES: 2

Cuisine: Mexican

Category: Beverage

PREP TIME: 5 mins

TOTAL TIME: 5 mins

Ingredients:

  • 4 ounces watermelon juice
  • 4 1/2 ounces 100% Agave Anejo tequila
  • 1 ounce fresh lime juice
  • 1 ounce pure maple syrup*

*maple syrup is optional. I like a slightly sweet cocktail, but Ryan enjoys the natural sweetness of the watermelon juice.

Instructions:

  1. To make the watermelon juice, in a blender, puree 2 cups fresh watermelon cubes on high for 1 minute.
  2. If desired, wet the rims of 2 glasses with lime juice and dip in coarse salt. Fill the cups to the top with ice.
  3. Add the watermelon juice, tequila, lime juice, and maple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add 3 ice cubes and secure the lid or top cup. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds, until chilled.
  4. Strain the cocktail into the prepared glasses and garnish with a slice of lime.

Tidbits : Muddled basil or mint would be really refreshing in this drink! You could also muddle a bit of jalapeno for a spicy version.



Keywords: summer, fourth of july, independence day, celebrations, margarita, against all grain, danielle walker, refined sugar free, refreshing, alcohol, watermelon, gluten free, paleo diet