Ina Garten Jalapeño Margaritas

Ina Garten Jalapeño Margaritas are a make ahead cocktail she discovered at New York’s John Dory Oyster Bar with her friend Pam Krauss. She infuses silver tequila with a pierced jalapeño overnight, which gives this simple dinner party drink a slow, steady heat.

Leave the pierced jalapeño in the tequila for exactly 24 hours because any less gives barely a kick and any longer makes it too spicy. Straining through a sieve catches every seed, so the heat stays even across all six glasses.

Source: Make It Ahead (2014)

Ina Garten Jalapeño Margaritas

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Course: BeverageCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking timeminutes

Calories

215

kcal

A citrus-forward cocktail with a warming jalapeño kick, built by infusing silver tequila overnight and mixing it with fresh lime, lemon, Triple Sec, and honey.

Ingredients

• 1 small jalapeño pepper (or half a large jalapeño)
  

• 1 1/2 cups silver tequila, such as Avión
  

• 1 cup Triple Sec
  

• 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (8 limes)
  

• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
  

• 2 tablespoons honey
  

• Pinch of kosher salt
  

• Ice

Directions

• Infuse the tequila: Pierce the jalapeño pepper in 8 to 10 places with the tip of a sharp paring knife and cut it in half lengthwise, leaving the seeds and the ribs. Place the pepper in a 4-cup liquid measuring cup, pour in the tequila, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to sit at room temperature for 24 hours.
• Strain and mix: Discard the jalapeño and pour the tequila into a pitcher through a sieve to remove the seeds. Add the Triple Sec, lime juice, lemon juice, honey, and salt and stir. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 6 hours.
• Serve: When ready to serve, fill 6 margarita glasses with ice and pour over the margarita mixture; or fill a cocktail shaker with ice and some of the mixture, shake vigorously for 30 seconds, and pour into glasses. Serve ice cold.

Tools for this recipe

• Zulay metal lemon squeezer, Bormioli Rocco glass pitcher with lid, OXO Steel cocktail shaker, Diamond Crystal kosher salt, 3 lb. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of tequila?

Silver tequila works best because its clean flavor lets the jalapeño come through. Reposado would add barrel notes that compete with the pepper heat. Stick with a good quality silver like Avión or any smooth brand you enjoy on its own.

How long can I store the margarita mixture?

Once you strain the infused tequila and mix it with the citrus, honey, and salt, refrigerate for up to 6 hours. After that the fresh lime and lemon juices lose their brightness. Make the full mixture the same day you plan to serve.

Can I adjust the heat level?

For milder margaritas, use just half a small jalapeño and remove the seeds before infusing. For more heat, use a full large jalapeño with seeds and ribs intact. Keep the 24-hour infusion time the same either way because going longer makes any amount of pepper overwhelming.

Do I need a cocktail shaker?

No. You can pour the mixture straight over ice in margarita glasses and it tastes great. A shaker chills it faster and adds a slight dilution that mellows the heat, so try both ways and see which you prefer.

Can I make these jalapeño margaritas ahead of time?

Start infusing the tequila 24 hours before your party. Once you mix everything together, the full cocktail mixture holds in the fridge for up to 6 hours. Just pour over ice or shake with ice right before serving.