Description
A refreshing, non-alcoholic Spicy Peach Virgin Margarita with sweet peach puree and a zesty, slightly spicy margarita mix. Perfect for summer!
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 ripe peaches, pitted and roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon agave nectar (or honey, to taste)
- 6 cups water, divided
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced (remove seeds for less heat)
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)
- Ice cubes
- Lime wedges, for garnish
- Peach slices, for garnish
- Salt or sugar for rimming the glasses (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the Ingredients: In a blender or food processor, combine the chopped peaches, lime juice, and agave nectar (or honey).
- Blend Until Smooth: Blend the mixture until it is completely smooth. You may need to scrape down the sides of the blender a few times to ensure everything is fully incorporated.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the puree and adjust the sweetness or tartness as needed. Add more agave nectar if you prefer a sweeter puree, or more lime juice for a tarter flavor.
- Strain (Optional): If you prefer a smoother puree without any peach skin texture, you can strain it through a fine-mesh sieve. This step is optional, but it can improve the overall texture of your margarita.
- Refrigerate: Transfer the peach puree to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. This also helps to chill the puree, which is ideal for a refreshing margarita.
- Infuse the Water with Jalapeño: In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups of water and the sliced jalapeño pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
- Simmer and Steep: Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the jalapeño to infuse the water with its spicy flavor. The longer you simmer, the spicier the mix will be. Be careful not to over-simmer, as it can become too spicy.
- Remove from Heat and Cool: Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the jalapeño-infused water cool completely. This will allow the flavors to fully develop.
- Strain the Jalapeño: Once the water has cooled, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the jalapeño slices. Discard the jalapeño slices.
- Make Simple Syrup: In a separate saucepan, combine the remaining 4 cups of water and the granulated sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved. This creates a simple syrup.
- Combine All Ingredients: In a large pitcher, combine the jalapeño-infused water, the simple syrup, the lime juice, and the orange juice. Add the cayenne pepper (if using) and stir well to combine.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the margarita mix and adjust the sweetness, tartness, or spiciness as needed. Add more sugar for a sweeter mix, more lime juice for a tarter flavor, or more cayenne pepper for extra heat.
- Chill: Refrigerate the margarita mix for at least 1 hour, or preferably longer, to allow the flavors to meld and to chill the mix thoroughly.
- Prepare the Glasses (Optional): If desired, prepare the glasses by rimming them with salt or sugar. To do this, spread a thin layer of salt or sugar on a small plate. Moisten the rim of each glass with a lime wedge, then gently press the rim into the salt or sugar to coat it evenly.
- Fill the Glasses with Ice: Fill each glass with ice cubes.
- Combine Puree and Margarita Mix: In each glass, pour about 1/4 cup of the peach puree. Then, fill the rest of the glass with the spicy margarita mix. Adjust the amount of puree to your liking, depending on how peachy you want your margarita to be.
- Stir Gently: Gently stir the margarita to combine the peach puree and the margarita mix. Be careful not to over-stir, as this can dilute the flavors.
- Garnish: Garnish each margarita with a lime wedge and a peach slice. You can also add a sprig of mint for extra freshness.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the spicy peach virgin margaritas immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Use ripe, juicy peaches for the best flavor in the puree.
- Adjust the amount of jalapeño and cayenne pepper to control the spiciness. Remember that the spiciness will intensify as the jalapeño infuses the water.
- Freshly squeezed lime and orange juice will significantly enhance the flavor.
- Chill all ingredients thoroughly before assembling the margaritas.
- The peach puree and spicy margarita mix can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
- Experiment with other fruits, herbs, or sweeteners to customize the flavor.
- To make it a cocktail, add 1.5 ounces of tequila or mezcal per serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes