Taste the best of sweet and heat in this Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita—a singular version of the Mexican favorite that blends pineapple and jalapeno (obviously) with the lime, triple sec, and tequila of the traditional cocktail.
One of the many things I love about the margarita is that it is open to change (which is more than I can say for many adults I know). Sure, Carlos “Danny” Herrera or Margarita Sames (depending on who you ask) may have intended their new concoction to be a humble mix of tequila, lime, and orange, but you can’t keep a good cocktail down. Its fame opened it up to so many interpretations and variations that you can have a different margarita every day of the month and have no two taste the same.
Today’s version includes two favorites I usually reserve for my pizzas but until recently, didn’t think could feature in my margaritas. Boy, was I wrong. To the margarita’s natural saltiness come the jalapenos’ heat and the pineapple’s sweet, making for a complex taste where every sip brings a new sensation.
Thanks to the pineapple, this cocktail fuses the Mexican cocktail with tropical flair, while the jalapeno ensures the sun isn’t the only thing bringing the heat.
How Do I Increase the Heat?
There are a number of ways you can make this cocktail even spicier. First, the rim. Add red pepper flakes or Tajin seasoning to the salt. Next, leave the seeds of the jalapeno intact; that’s where the heat comes from. You can also spend a bit more time muddling them to release their essence (not to mention, heat). Last, if you’re feeling crafty and have the benefit of forethought, slice a jalapeno and let it sit in a bottle of tequila, anywhere between a couple of hours to overnight. Remove the jalapeno (you can use a strainer) before using the tequila in the margarita.
What is the Best Alcohol to Use to Make a Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita?
I usually recommend a silver/blanco tequila when making margaritas. It is young, and while you may not have the patience to deal with today’s youth, in this context it is a good thing. It means its flavor won’t overpower the triple sec and lime. A reposado or anejo, meanwhile, has spent some time in oak barrels, which gives it its dark color and a more detectable trace of agave in its flavor profile.
As for the orange liqueur, margaritas usually use a triple sec, but you do have options if that’s a bit too basic for you. Look to a premium liqueur like Cointreau, or Grand Marnier, which mixes orange with Cognac. Even amid all the flavors in the Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita, you will pick up on the subtleties of these higher-quality ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz. tequila blanco
- 1 oz. triple sec or any orange liqueur
- 1 oz. lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1/2 oz. pineapple juice
- small pineapple chunks
- 1 jalapeño sliced
- ice cubes
- 1 pineapple wedge and jalapeno slices (optional garnishes)
Instructions
- Rub the rim of a margarita glass with a lime slice, and dip the rim in salt (optional).
- Muddle the pineapple chunk and the jalapeno slice in the bottom of a shaker.
- Add ice cubes, tequila, triple sec, lime juice and pineapple juice. Shake well.
- Add ice to the prepared glass and double strain the margarita mixture. Optional garnish a pineapple wedge and an extra slice of jalapeño.
Nutrition
FAQs & Tips
Use a margarita glass or, barring that any cocktail glass with a wide rim (a rocks glass will suffice). The advantage is that it gives you maximum rim length for you to coat. Speaking of which, a traditional margarita uses salt but you can mix it up if you like. For more spice, mix the salt with chili pepper flakes or Tajin seasoning. If you want to keep the pineapple company with more sweetness, add sugar to the rim.
Pour the leftover mix into a mason jar and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Before drinking again, give it a good stir. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge when you plan on having some more.
There are only 92 calories in this cocktail despite the amount of ingredients. Tequila is low in sugar, which makes a difference. While the pineapple juice contains a lot of sugar, the small amount we use is negligible.
For the sake of convenience, you can; however, the thing to watch for is the presence of ingredients aside from the pure fruit juice. Sugars and preservatives can sometimes be added. For me, these compromise the taste, so use store-bought juices at your peril.
I recommend double straining whenever you’re dealing with fruit chunks and blended ice. The first strain should remove any ice shards while the finer strain should catch any pulp from the muddled fruit.
With peppers, the seeds and membrane bring the heat, so it really depends on how hot and spicy you want your margarita. If you want a milder version, remove the seeds and the white bit inside. If you welcome the spice, leave them in.
Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita Variations
There are several ways you can change up this cocktail, itself a variation on the margarita. First, a virgin version requires you to remove the tequila and triple sec and use instead orange juice. You can also just increase the amount of lime and pineapple juices. If you fancy a sweeter drink, add more fruit juices to the mix. Mango, strawberry, and orange would work nicely. If you have the time and means, you should try grilling your jalapeno and pineapple for a smoky taste. Speaking of which, replace the tequila with its cousin, the mezcal, for an even smokier flavor. Last, muddle cilantro along with the pineapple and jalapeno for an aromatic, herbal finish.
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