I’m excited to partner again with Princess Cruises to share this refreshing Watermelon Margarita, known aboard the Caribbean Princess as Sandia En Fuego. This subtly spicy watermelon cocktail is perfect for hot days. Princess Cruises provided the Caribbean cruise, and as always all photos and opinions are my own.
In late March my girlfriends and I flew from different parts of the country and met in Ft. Lauderdale for a girls’ week aboard the Caribbean Princess. We were beyond excited.
Back home it was cold and snowy; our husbands stayed behind to manage the house while we set off for a memorable trip. Onboard we made memories that will last a lifetime.
Christi and I shared a stateroom while Mary and her sister Jenny shared another. A few days into our cruise we found the Good Spirits Bar on the Plaza Deck (Deck 5) where a talented bartender introduced us to a bright pink Watermelon Margarita called Sandia En Fuego — Watermelon On Fire.
After several visits the bartender knew our order before we spoke and kindly shared the recipe so we could recreate the drink at home and remember our fantastic trip.
Before I share the recipe, a quick note about shipboard internet. Six days before sailing my eldest son, who lives in Germany, needed emergency surgery for abscessed tonsils. I nearly canceled the trip. The cruise line assured me the ship’s internet would be reliable and fast, which made it possible for me to stay connected and support him through the ordeal.
Cruise Ship Internet
In past cruises I experienced slow, metered connections, but on this sailing the internet was unlimited, fast, and reasonably priced. For $139 I got unlimited access for four devices for the entire trip, which let me keep in touch with my son and relax once I knew he was okay.
The connection was strong enough to stream shows in the evenings; my friends and I streamed two full seasons of our favorite series while enjoying pizza, pudding, spa treatments, and — of course — Watermelon Margaritas. We used wearable Ocean Medallions to pay for drinks and snacks, which made everything convenient and seamless.
Watermelon Margarita Recipe
This Watermelon Margarita is simple and uses fresh, everyday ingredients: watermelon, reposado tequila, fresh lime juice, a hot pepper, and coarse salt for the rim. For an authentic touch you can use black lava salt to rim the glass, though coarse sea salt or kosher salt works well at home. Avoid iodized table salt, which tastes harsh.
The bartender’s recipe calls for light agave syrup, which I prefer. If you don’t have agave, simple syrup or a mild honey can be substituted, though the flavor will be slightly different. The original uses serrano peppers; if those aren’t available, fresh jalapeños are a good substitute. If you prefer a milder cocktail, omit the pepper entirely.
I like seeded watermelon for its sweetness and juice, but seedless watermelon makes a perfectly good margarita when seeded varieties aren’t in season. One ingredient you shouldn’t skip is fresh lime juice — bottled lime juice won’t deliver the same bright, fresh flavor.
How to Make a Margarita?
Basic tools: a muddler and a cocktail shaker. If you don’t have a shaker, a quart mason jar with a tight lid works in a pinch. If your shaker lacks a built-in strainer, use a small hand strainer. I prefer serving these in a rocks glass rather than a classic margarita glass for stability.
What to Serve with your Watermelon Margaritas
Ropa Vieja
Cilantro Lime Rice
Tequila Lime Pork Tenderloin
Below is the bartender’s Watermelon Margarita as we enjoyed it on the ship.
Watermelon Margarita
– Muddle together 1 1/2 cups watermelon cubes and thin slices of 1 jalapeño in a cocktail shaker for about 1 minute, until the watermelon is crushed and releases juice.
– Add 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) reposado tequila, 1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) fresh lime juice, and 1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) light agave syrup plus a handful of ice to the shaker.
– Firmly close the shaker and shake vigorously until the outside is cold, about 1 minute.
– Dip the rims of two rocks glasses in fresh lime juice, then into volcanic black salt or kosher salt.
– Fill the glasses with ice and strain the cocktail into them.
– Garnish each glass with a skewer holding a cube of watermelon and a slice of jalapeño.
Watermelon Margarita
Rebecca Lindamood
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups watermelon cubes (plus 2 cubes for garnish)
- 1 jalapeño pepper, stem removed, thinly sliced
- 3 ounces reposado tequila (6 tablespoons)
- 1 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice (3 tablespoons)
- 1 1/2 ounces light agave syrup (3 tablespoons)
Instructions
- Muddle the watermelon cubes and jalapeño slices in a cocktail shaker for about 1 minute, until the watermelon is pulpy and juicy.
- Add the tequila, agave syrup, lime juice, and a handful of ice to the shaker.
- Close the shaker and shake vigorously until cold, about 1 minute.
- Dip the rims of two rocks glasses in fresh lime juice, then in volcanic black salt or kosher salt.
- Fill the glasses with ice and strain the cocktail into them.
- Garnish each glass with a skewer holding a watermelon cube and a jalapeño slice.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 27 g
Sodium: 3 mg
Potassium: 152 mg
Sugar: 22 g
Vitamin A: 725 IU
Vitamin C: 23.9 mg
Calcium: 8 mg
Iron: 0.3 mg
Nutrition information is an estimate. Calculate values based on the exact ingredients you use.
