Jalapeño Margarita
Today is the official debut of Mr E’s Cocktail Corner, a new series on Nutrition Nuptials written by none other than Mr E himself! All photography is proudly his own. As a dietitian, I believe all foods can fit into a health lifestyle. And yes, that includes cocktails. Without further ado, I present to you Mr E!
Meet Mr E!
For those of you who have been reading Mandy’s blog for a while, you may know me as Mr. E. You may even remember me from such hilarious blog posts as The Mashed Cauliflower Incident, my dislike of Old El Paso products, or one of the Date Night-inspired versions. Aside from being our protagonist’s adventurous partner in crime, I’m a corporate athlete with a passion for delicious food, sunsets, great live music, sunrises, fun friends, fitness, tasty drinks, and taking pictures of all the aforementioned! I have been known to combine any and all of those things. Sometimes that means experimenting making cocktails with a twist and posting pictures to Instagram.
And so, one of my hobbies evolves.
Think of my section as a palate cleanser, like a well-balanced cocktail that is equal parts entertaining, humorous, and insightful into our relationship and the adventures of… Mandy and Mr. E.
At the very least, I will introduce you to some interesting cocktails that are familiar, but far from ordinary. My goal is to inspire you to experiment with your partner, and for once, I’m not just talking about in the bedroom. Play with flavors. Combine ingredients that you like. Have fun exploring together. Talk about what you like or don’t like. Push the boundaries of what you think is safe or reasonable. Get your head out of the gutter, perv! I’m talking about cocktails. Or am I??
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to the Jalapeño Margarita. The story of this cocktail begins on our favorite Jersey Shore beach. You know how it goes: it’s a hot August day, and after several hours in the sun, nothing can quite quench your thirst like a cold, tangy, slightly sweet margarita. The first iteration was more of a classic recipe without the jalapeño flavor, and it tasted great, but it wasn’t my own.
One of our favorite restaurants in that same Jersey Shore beach town makes a spicier version which also tastes great, but can be harsh on the stomach after more than one (despite warnings about the spiciness, some patrons order the spicy margarita and send it back after one sip).
Inspiration!
I was ready to start infusing my first tequila after only a few minutes of research. Mandy and I took a short bike ride to our favorite local farm market for some jalapeños and limes, and the infusion began.
Making these margaritas is a labor of love. It takes time to infuse the tequila. It takes time to squeeze enough juice from the limes to make a few margaritas for great friends, or for more than one round with your loved one. One of our best friends called this the best margarita she ever had.
Make these for your significant other. Tweak the recipe to suit your tastes. Get freaky with it. Have fun and enjoy!
Recommendation: citrus press, mason jars, cocktail shaker set, and margarita glasses
Ingredients
- 12 oz 100% pure agave tequila
- 1 jalapeño
- 8 oz freshly squeezed lime juice about 4-6 limes depending on how fresh, plump, and juicy they are
- 4 oz simple syrup recipe below
- 1 teaspoon orange liqueur
- ½ tablespoon lime-sugar-salt recipe below
Simple Syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup sugar
Lime-sugar-salt
- Zest of one lime
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
Instructions
Tequila Infusion
- Thinly slice the jalapeño, keeping the seeds, and place in a mason jar or other container that can be closed tight. You can use more than one jalapeño if you really want to get spicy!
- Pour tequila over the sliced jalapeños
- Screw on lid and shake well to introduce the jalapeños and tequila together
- Let them get to know each other in a room-temperature dark place, like your kitchen cabinet, for at least 24 hours. I have let them hang out for up to 5 days for some really spicy margaritas! Taste test to determine if it has enough flavor for you, and don’t be alarmed if your tequila begins to take on a greenish hue. It’s just the natural color from the jalapeños.
- When it’s ready, pour tequila through a mesh strainer to remove jalapeños and seeds, but DON’T GET RID OF THE JALAPEÑOS!!! They will make a great garnish later. Set them aside.
- Pour back into jar or other container that easily closes and pours. Sometimes I pour it back in the empty tequila bottle, and make sure that I label it.
Simple Syrup
- Pour sugar and water into a small sauce pan
- Cook over low heat and stir until sugar is dissolved
- Remove from heat and allow to cool
- Store in a container in the refrigerator
Lime-sugar-salt
- Combine lime zest, sugar, and salt
Margarita
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, 3oz jalapeño infused tequila, 2oz lime juice, 1oz simple syrup (tip: just remember 3-2-1 for the proportions and you’ll be fine), and a splash of orange liqueur.
- Cover and shake until well chilled
- Place lime-sugar-salt on a plate and rub a lime wheel around the rim of a margarita glass
- Gently press the glass to the plate until the rim is well covered in lime-sugar-salt
- Fill the glass with fresh ice and strain margarita into the glass
- Garnish with a lime wheel and a few slices of jalapeño
Notes
Realistically you can only make two margaritas at once in a cocktail shaker. Take that into consideration if you are making all four at once. Tip: Chill your margarita glasses in the freezer for a few minutes before applying the lime-sugar-salt
GIVE THIS JALAPEÑO MARGARITA RECIPE A SHOT AND TELL MR E WHAT YOU THINK.
WHAT THEME COCKTAIL DO YOU WANT TO SEE NEXT FROM MR E?
GIVE MR E SOME COMMENT LOVE BELOW!
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