Spicy Cucumber Kiwi Jalapeno Margarita

cucumber margarita in a glass with garnish.

If you love a good spicy margarita recipe, keep this one handy. This Spicy Cucumber Kiwi Jalapeno Margarita is light and refreshing with a kick of heat that’ll wake up your tastebuds. The heat comes from jalapeño infused tequila and it punches up the flavor in the kiwi cucumber margaritas.   Be sure to try the hand blended margarita salt with this kiwi cocktail.

This post has been updated for content since it’s original publication in 2016.

Summertime Requires A Spicy Margarita Recipe

It’s summertime and that means margaritas… or is that just me? We’ve all had those cloying, fake-tasting margarita mixes from the liquor store…  and we’ve all been disappointed, right? Thing is, to make a fresh, light and flavorful beverage, you need to start with real ingredients. Not corn-syrupped chemistry concoctions.  Therefore, for these kiwi cucumber margaritas, we’re pulverizing fresh cucumber and kiwi for a quenching kiwi cocktail. It’s the only way to get that bright, authentic vibe. To bring the heat, we’ll make a jalepeno infused tequila. It takes some planning but it’s easy and worth it.

making jalapeno infused tequila for spicy margarita recipe

Jalapeno Margarita: The Secret Ingredient

I love this jalapeno infused tequila. It’s definitely got some heat, but it’s not quite as forward as muddling the jalapeno in your drink. The only caveat is that it does need to steep for a few hours before using it … to meld the tingly spiced pepper with the alcohol.

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Making Jalapeno Infused Tequila

  • Slice a jalapeno pepper into quarters and add them to the tequila. 
  • Refrigerate 2-4 hours.

This does two things:

  1. Infuses the tequila with spicy jalapeno.
  2. Chills the liquor in advance for your drink.
prepping the cucumber and kiwi for the kiwi cocktail.

While the jalapeno tequila blend is chilling, make the juice for the spicy margarita recipe.

Ingredients For Kiwi Cucumber Juice

  • Kiwi
  • Cucumber
  • Agave
  • Lime Juice
blending and straining the kiwi cucumber juice for margaritas.

Making Juice for Cucumber Margaritas

  1. Add cucumber, kiwi, agave and lime juice to a blender.
  2. Blend until all of the ingredients have been liquified.
  3. Place a fine mesh strainer over a glass measuring cup or bowl and pour the kiwi mixture into it. (Depending on the size of your strainer, you may have to do this a few times).
  4. Let the kiwi cucumber juice strain into the cup and stir the solids with a spoon to help every last drop of juice come through.
  5. Discard the solids. 
  6. Refrigerate the juice.
kiwi cucumber juice for spicy margarita recipe

Look at the bright green hue of the kiwi cucumber juice! You just know it’s going to make all the difference in tempering the flame of this spicy jalapeno margarita recipe. It’s the epitome of refreshment.  Not cloying and syrupy, but light and refreshing.  

Chili Lime Margarita Salt for the Kiwi Cocktail

After the tequila is steeped (and chilled),  it’s time to build the ‘ritas!   You can use margarita salt for the rim if you like, but I like mixing my own blends.  This one uses Tajin, a chili-lime seasoning powder,  along with some coarse salt and sugar. 

How To Make Chili Lime Margarita Salt

  • Tajin 
  • Kosher Salt
  • Sugar
  • Lime wedge
  1. Blend the ingredients in a bowl and then spread the mixture onto a small plate. 
  2. Run the wedge of lime around the rims of the glasses.
  3. Turn the glasses upside down and dip the rims into the margarita salt blend until it sticks to the glass.
Mixing spicy margarita recipe in a boston shaker and pouring the fresh cocktail into a glass with margarita salt on the rim.

I like a Boston shaker or traditional cocktail shaker to mix these drinks. It gives it a bit of froth and ensures a REALLY ICY kiwi cocktail, which is what you want in a summer libation.

Blending The Cucumber Kiwi Cocktail

  1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the ice, jalapeno infused tequila and the kiwi cucumber juice in a cocktail shaker and vigorously shake the kiwi cucumber margaritas until the outside of the glass is icy cold, about 20-30 seconds. 
  2. Pour into the prepared glasses and garnish with sliced cucumbers, limes or a wedge of kiwi.  
  3. Spread your towel on a lawn chair, douse yourself in suntan lotion, recline and sip.
Spicy Margarita Recipe in a glass with lime and jalapeno slices.

More Margarita Flavors:

Other Summer Cocktails To Enjoy:

Margarita by the pool.

 


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Cucumber Kiwi Cocktail with garnishes.
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5 from 2 votes

Spicy Cucumber Kiwi Jalapeno Margarita

Here’s a refreshing summer sipper, you’re gonna love – with a chile spiked kick!
Author: Lisa Lotts
Course Drinks
Cuisine American, Mexican
Keyword cocktail, cucumber, kiwi
Dietary Restrictions Dairy-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6

INGREDIENTS:

For The Juice

  • 2 cucumbers peeled and seeded
  • 2 kiwi peeled
  • ¼ cup agave syrup
  • ½ cup lime juice fresh squeezed

For The Infused Tequila

  • 1 ½ cups reposada tequila
  • 1 jalapeno quartered

For The Rim

  • 1 tablespoon tajin
  • ½ tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • lime wedges

Optional garnish

  • Slice of lime optional
  • Slice of cucumber optional
  • Slice of kiwi optional

DIRECTIONS:

  • In a blender, combine the cucumber, kiwi, agave and lime juice. Blend on high until mixture is completely smooth. Place a fine mesh sieve over a glass measuring cup or bowl and pour the cucumber mixture through the sieve. Use a spoon to mash down on the solids to extract every bit of juice from the pulp. You should have about 2 cups of juice. Cover and chill.
  • In a glass jar add the jalapeño and cover with reposado tequila. Cover and refrigerate until chilled 2-4 hours, the longer it steeps the spicier it gets.

For each margarita

  • Combine the tajin, salt and sugar in a shallow bowl. Run the wedge of lime around the rim of the glasses. Dip the rims into the tajin mixture until it clings to the glass.
  • To a cocktail shaker, add ice, 3 ounces of tequila and 2 ounces of juice. Shake well and pour into glasses with a little ice. Garnish.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 585mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 40.1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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35 Comments

  1. So perfect for summers with the cucumber and kiwi and of course tequila!

  2. so awesome and refreshing!! love cucumber and kiwi so i know this will be a favorite with me!

  3. These look delicious and I love the sweet and cool pairing of cucumber and kiwi. Though, I’m pretty sure Cinco de Mayo is on a Friday this year! And good thing too, it means we can all have an extra margarita without the worry of working the next morning!

  4. This looks so refreshing and perfect for a party! I’ll definitely try it for my birthday next month 🙂

  5. This looks Delish! I’m going to make a triple batch for my husbands birthday party Friday. Do you think I could make the tequila kiwi part the day before?

    1. Yes, that shouldn’t be a problem! Hope your husband has a great birthday!

  6. 5 stars
    Bedst margaritas I’ve had in a long time.

  7. Natalia Lilly says:

    Wow! who doesn’t love a good Margarita!?!?! I definitely will trying this as i celebrate cinco de mayo! Thank you for sharing this!

  8. this looks so delicious and refreshing!!

  9. immaculatebites says:

    Oh My Gaud! This Margarita sounds incredible; cucumber , mint , Jalape?os.. Hello Fiesta! Perfect for this Weekend. Happy Cinco de Mayo

    1. So glad you like it! I know how I’m celebrating Mother’s Day!

  10. Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily says:

    I’m not even joking, THIS looks & sounds absolutely WONDERFUL!!!! Saving & sharing!!

  11. This sounds fantastic. Perfect for Cinco de Mayo, Taco Tuesday… or anytime really! I love margaritas!!

  12. Everyday Sarah Jane says:

    I love margaritas…especially spicy ones…especially ones made with agave…what an awesome recipe! I can’t wait to try this!! Cheers! XO

  13. Rebecca Hubbell says:

    I would have never thought to make a kiwi margarita, but what a fun way to tone down the heat!

    1. Thanks, Rebecca. I’m really enjoying this one!

  14. THANK YOU for a margarita that’s not cloyingly sweet! Refreshing- that’s what they’re supposed to be! And I LOVE the addition of the kiwi, I’ve never had that in a marg – perfect for Cinco De Mayo and all summer 🙂

    1. Thanks, Tracy! I don’t like overly sweet drinks – and this one hits the spot

    2. I don’t like overly sweet drinks and this one hits the spot!

  15. Oh. My. Goodness. This sounds and looks incredible! I love a good margarita!!

  16. You’ve been known to change my taste bud’s mind on more than one occasion. I’d try it with the jalapenos. 😉

      1. Mother’s Day???? Or do you want to come over on Thursday?