Watermelon Jalapeño Mojito

Hi, Everyone! My name is Sues and I blog over at We are not Martha, another Boston-area food blog. I’ve been reading Michelle’s blog for I honestly can’t even remember how long… But it’s definitely been many, many years! She’s always been very high up on my favorites list for lots of reasons, but for a couple very specific ones: a) She whips up so many awesome cocktails and b) She loves adding spice to dishes and especially to her cocktails. Basically, we have lots in common.

So, when Michelle asked me to guest post on Economical Eater while she’s on a glorious vacation in Iceland, I didn’t have to think twice to know that I’d say yes and to know precisely what I’d be posting about: a cocktail with a kick.

On my blog, I generally give step-by-step photos of my recipes so that you can easily follow along (unless I’m feeling super lazy or the light in my kitchen just isn’t working out!), so I figured I’d do the same here. This is a pretty simple recipe, but it packs a glorious summer punch.

Watermelon Jalapeño Mojito (makes 2 drinks):
-3 oz. jalapeno simple syrup (see recipe below)
-About 30 mint leaves
-2 T lime juice
-1 C watermelon puree
-3 oz. light rum
-Soda water

Jalapeno Simple Syrup:
-1/2 C sugar
-3/4 C water
-1 jalapeño, sliced

Start by making the simple syrup. In a medium size saucepan, bring water, sugar, and sliced jalapeños to a boil. Then, lower heat and let mixture simmer for about 5 minutes, until sugar is dissolved and mixture has thickened a bit.

Remove from heat and strain the mixture into a heat-proof bowl or glass.

Put in the fridge until syrup is completely cooled.

You can make the simple syrup well in advance if you want; just keep it in the fridge! I always have at least a couple different flavors of simple syrup in my fridge. It’s kind of an addiction.

Once cooled, you can build your cocktail. Divide the mint leaves and lime juice into two glasses and muddle together.

To make your watermelon purée, simply put your watermelon in a blender and blend until smooth.

Put ice in the glasses and then pour 1/2 cup watermelon puree into each glass, along with the simple syrup and rum. Top off with soda water.

I highly recommend garnishing your glasses with watermelon, lime, and some more mint.

When I said this was a cocktail with a kick I was absolutely not kidding. That jalapeño syrup is serious stuff and I guess I should recommend removing the seeds from the jalapeño slices you use in the syrup if you’re not totally into that sort of thing.

But, I hope if you’re reading Michelle’s blog, that that means you are. At least a little bit.

Mojitos are pretty much everywhere these days, but you don’t see too many takes on them. I guess that’s because they’re pretty awesome as is. But why wouldn’t you want to add watermelon and jalapeño to a mojito? You do; trust me, you do.

This is one of my new favorites for summer because it’s perfectly refreshing and super smooth, but with one big kick.

My recipe only makes two cocktails, but I think you’d be smart to triple or quadruple the recipe and make a whole big pitcher. You could even make a pitcher and then prepare the mint in glasses separately for maximum freshness.

Pool party, anyone? I mean, even if it’s summer storming outside, I’m perfectly OK sipping on this inside on the couch.

Happy summer, everyone! Thank you SO much to Michelle for letting me guest post here on The Economical Eater. I hope she’s having an absolute blast on vacation and I can’t wait to see what she sipped on in Iceland when she comes home!

Do you like a little bit of spice in your summer cocktails?

[Sues of We are not Martha]

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