Jalapeno-Cucumber Margaritas

in Beverages, Cinco de Mayo, Citrus, Cucumber, Lime, Margaritas, Mexican & TexMex

Jalapeno-Cucumber Margarita

It’s cool. It’s refreshing. It tastes like something you’d get at a spa on Cinco de Mayo. It tastes like the color light green.

When we were creating our menu for Chile Fest, there was no doubt what our signature cocktail would be: Jalapeno-Cucumber Margaritas.

Years ago, we watched one of the funniest 10 seconds in Iron Chef America history go down (and because it was years ago, the only evidence appears to be a poor-quality video-of-a-video). Morimoto pops a jalapeno in his mouth, takes a few bites, and then reaches for a fire extinguisher. I hate when that happens. And nearly every time we’re slicing peppers in the kitchen, someone reenacts the event. It’s funny. It’s juvenile. But so are we 🙂

That episode also spotlighted the cowboy-hat wearing, tequila-shooting Tim Love. The Texas chef served up a jalapeno margarita with one of his dishes that left a big impression on us. We love jalapenos. And we love margaritas. Putting them together is an experience. You take a sip, think, “Wow! This tastes just like jalapeno, cucumbers, and tequila!” After 1-2 more sips, most people are done. A little goes a long way here so serving it in tall, chilled shot glasses makes the most sense to us.

Jalapeno-Cucumber Margaritas

Jalapenos and cucumbers offer a unique, cool, and refreshing twist on the classic margarita.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup tequila
  • 1/4 cup orange liqueur
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup simple syrup (equal parts water and sugar)
  • 4 thin slices cucumber
  • 4 thin slices jalapeno
  • Salt for glass rims (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a pitcher.
  2. Chill for at least an hour (the longer the margarita sits, the more cucumber and jalapeno flavors infuse into the drink).
  3. Serve over ice in salt-rimmed glasses.

Notes

Yields: 2-3 drinks or 8 shooters

Inspired by Chef Tim Love

Estimated time: 1 hour 5 minutes

19 comments… add one
  • What a clever idea !! It looks fabulous in your photo.

  • Ha! “Tastes like light green!”

  • Haha, we’ve seen that Morimoto episode – one of our favorites! Neat idea for a cocktail – it’s gorgeous.

  • Heidi

    These sound amazing. I love combining sweet with heat and adding liquor!? It sounds heavenly and intense.

  • Yes, please!

  • Just made your original margaritas the other day, and they were so good! Now I’m definitely going to have to try these!

  • “It tastes like the color light green.”

    I like that description.

  • laura beth

    Love the jalapeno kick.. if only I could have the tequila!

  • This looks fantastic!!! Love love love jalapenos in just about everything, I’d imagine it’s balanced really well with the cucumber 🙂

  • Nothing like a little spicy cocktail to really get the party going! So long as there’s a fire extinguisher around…just in case. I love the sound of this!

  • Jorie

    Cosi (sandwich shop) has offered a habanero watermelon limeade (if I remember last summer correctly), which had a really unique pepper flavor. I remember thinking how good it would be with a shot of something, maybe rum. Can’t wait to try your cocktail. (and, adore the description “tastes like the color light green”!! Excellent!)

  • Tastes good. I was really impressed with the ingredients combination.

  • Oh this sounds wonderful. I’m a big fan of spice in my drinks.

  • Lizzie in LA

    A batch of this is resting comfortably in the fridge for later consumption. In the meantime, the recipe has been sent “from sea to shining sea” — WA, AZ, KY, TN, NC, TX, VT. Thanks!!

  • These are chilling as we speak, minus the jalapeno because I don’t have any on hand. Regardless, I think these will taste great and look forward to toasting Nat’l Margarita Day with my hubby tonight. Thanks, Shawnda – cheers!

  • Debra Kapellakis

    Margarita’s are my favorite alchoholic drink. I would never think of messing with my recipe until now. thank you

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