Pickled watermelon rind margarita cocktail with chili-lime-cinnamon salt is a beautifully balanced sweet-sour pickled cocktail featuring spiced watermelon rind quick pickle and brine combined with Mexican paleta style watermelon ice blocks and a chili-lime-cinnamon salt. The pickle brine and pickle garnish enhance the sweet-sour edge of the cocktail.
The flavour pairing of watermelon with chili, lime, salt and cinnamon is inspired by Mexican paletas or ice blocks made from seasonal fruits and dipped in chili-lime or chili-lemon salt before eating to create a sweet-sour sensation. Rather than using ice the cocktail is concentrated in flavours and strength by directly muddling a watermelon paleta ice block as the base for the cocktail.
This cocktail is delicious and sustainable using watermelon rind quick pickle made from upcycling the outside layer of the watermelon that is usually overlooked and thrown away and is in addition a great way to use up leftover pickle brine.
Pickled watermelon rind margarita cocktail with chili-lime-cinnamon salt
Print RecipeIngredients
- Margarita cocktail: 1 shot tequila
- 1 watermelon paleta
- 2 dessert spoons watermelon rind quick pickle brine
- 1 teaspoon agave syrup
- Watermelon quick pickle to garnish
- Chili-lime-cinnamon salt for crust: 2 teaspoons Ancho chili, ground
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
- 1 teaspoon dehydrated lime zest, ground
- 3 teaspoons salt flakes
Instructions
To make the chili-lime-cinnamon salt: Place lime zest on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake in a 140 C oven for 10-15 minutes until completely dry
Grind in a mortar and pestle
Add cinnamon, ground dehydrated lime zest, ground Ancho chili and salt flakes to form the chili-lime-cinnamon salt
To make the margarita cocktail: Paint the rim of the glass with a basting brush dipped in pickle brine and apply the chili-lime-cinnamon salt to the rim, save the leftover salt in a glass jar to use for another cocktail
Place the watermelon paleta in a cocktail shaker and muddle until crushed
Add watermelon rind quick pickle brine, tequila, agave and shake vigorously until cold and well combined
Pour the drink into the prepared glass
Garnish with 3 pieces of watermelon rind quick pickle on a reusable cocktail pick
Notes
I used reusable Uber bar tools Cocktail picks
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