This honeydew spicy margarita recipe is made with fresh basil and lime. A little bit sweet and a little bit spicy, this margarita on the rocks is a must make for cinco de mayo and summertime!
This post was originally published in April 2021 and has been updated for content.
This honeydew spicy margarita recipe was developed a few years back when I had a super ripe honeydew melon sitting on my counter that was about to go to waste. I blended it up, added some lime juice and tequila, and then decided to add in a little bit of fresh basil and cayenne. It has now become one of our favorite summer drinks!
Serve this honeydew spica margarita recipe along with slow cooker barbacoa beef tacos, shredded chicken nachos or sour cream chicken enchiladas.
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🌶 Ingredient notes
- Honeydew - A super-ripe honeydew will make blending easier and make a sweeter taste to your spicy margarita. A ripe honeydew will have more of a yellow rind that is smooth and slightly soft when pressed.
- Lime juice - Fresh lime juice really adds a nice bright flavor to this honeydew spicy margarita recipe. You will need about 4 limes for 4 ounces of juice, but remember to grab a couple extra for garnish. If needed, bottled lime juice can be used instead.
- Tajin Classico - Tajin Classico is a chili lime seasoning that goes really well with fruit and is perfect to rim the glasses of these spicy margaritas. Salt can also be used to rim the glasses if desired.
- Basil - The fresh basil leaves in this recipe add a subtle freshness to the honeydew puree that also helps to balance out the cayenne pepper. They also make a beautiful garnish to the drink! If needed, they can be omitted.
- Cayenne pepper - This is what makes this margarita spicy and can be adjusted or omitted, as desired.
📋 Substitutions and variations
- Not spicy - Omit the cayenne pepper and Tajin rim for a less spicy version of this cocktail.
- Non-alcoholic - Omit the tequila and after blending all of the ingredients stir in 2 cups of club soda or lemon lime soda before serving.
🍹 Step by step instructions
First, peel and chop the honeydew and puree it in a blender until liquified. You should have about 2 cups of honeydew puree.
Add lime juice, tequila, basil leaves and cayenne pepper and blend until everything is pureed together. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings if you like. Rub a lime wedge around the outside of each glass to wet the rim of the glass.
Dip the wet edge of the glass into the Tajin and fill each glass with ice. Pour the honeydew spicy margarita mixture over ice and garnish with a lime wheel and fresh basil leave, if desired.
If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that I mention, be sure to look it up in the Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.
⭐ Expert tips
- Depending on your blender and the ripeness of the honeydew, the mixture may need to be strained of the larger pieces of honeydew. For extra sweetness, you can add a bit of agave syrup to the honeydew puree.
💭 Frequently asked questions
Tequila blanco or silver tequila is best for margaritas. It's only aged up to 60 days so the flavor is more pure and mixes well into margaritas.
⏲️ Make ahead and storage instructions
This honeydew spicy margarita recipe can be made up to 12 hours ahead of time and stored in airtight container in the refrigerator. At serving time, prepare the tajin rim on the glasses, fill with ice and pour the mix over the top.
🍹 More cocktail recipes
If you loved this honeydew spicy margarita recipe, check out these other fun cocktail recipes that I know you will love too!
- Cranberry Moscow Mule
- Whiskey Blood Orange Cocktail
- Spicy Bloody Mary with Bacon
- Grapefruit Elderflower Cocktail
📖 Recipe
Honeydew Spicy Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ medium honeydew melon approximately 4 cups chopped
- 4 ounces fresh lime juice approximately 4 limes
- 4 ½ ounces tequila
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 8 large fresh basil leaves plus extra for garnish
- lime wedges and wheels for garnish optional
- Tajin Classico for garnish optional
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Remove seeds and peel and cut honeydew into one inch cubes. It should be approximately 4 cups of honeydew pieces.
- Blend honeydew pieces in a blender on high until liquefied. Depending on the type of blender and ripeness of the honeydew, the mixture may need to be strained to remove larger chunks. You should have approximately 2 cups of honeydew puree.
- Add tequila, lime juice, basil leaves, and cayenne to the blender and blend until basil leaves are pureed and everything is well combined. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning as desired.
- Run a lime wedge around the edge of each glass to wet it and then dip all the edges of the glass in Tajin Classico seasoning to coat the rim.
- Fill prepared glasses with ice and pour margarita mixture over the ice. Garnish with a fresh lime wheel and fresh basil leaf.
Notes
- A super-ripe honeydew will make blending easier and make a sweeter taste to your margarita. A ripe honeydew will have more of a yellow rind that is smooth and slightly soft when pressed.
Substitutions and Variations
- Lime juice - Fresh of bottled lime juice can be used for this drink.
- Tajin Classico - Tajin Classico is a chili lime seasoning that goes really well with fruit and is perfect to rim the glasses of these spicy margaritas. Salt can also be used to rim the glasses if desired.
- Basil - The fresh basil leaves in this recipe add a subtle freshness to the honeydew puree that also helps to balance out the cayenne pepper. They also make a beautiful garnish to the drink! If needed, they can be omitted.
- Cayenne pepper - This is what makes this margarita spicy and can be adjusted or omitted, as desired.
- Tequila - Blanco or silver tequila is best for margaritas. It's only aged up to 60 days so the flavor is more pure and mixes well into margaritas.
- Not spicy - Omit the cayenne pepper and Tajin rim for a less spicy version of this cocktail.
- Non-alcoholic - Omit the tequila and after blending all of the ingredients stir in 2 cups of club soda or lemon lime soda before serving.
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