Spicy Mandarin Margarita
Preparation time: 10 minutes | Serves: 2 people
It was the summer of 2024 when I transformed from a ‘I will never touch tequila’ to a ‘ooh spicy margs!’ kind of girl and it’s safe to say, I’ve never looked back.
There’s just something about the combination of a the salt, lime and chilli feels so refreshing and as someone who can’t resist a bit of spice - you know this cocktail is for me.
It wasn’t until quite recently I started making margaritas at home. I came across a recipe for a spicy watermelon margarita and and counted down the days until watermelons were in season so I could recreate it.
This spicy margarita recipe follows a similar vein but I’ve chosen to use in season mandarins instead - they add sweetness, zest and make up the base flavour, but the recipe is so simple you won’t even need a shaker for it.
How to make my easy spicy margarita -
For this recipe, all you do is blend tequila, sugar, a whole mandarin, lime juice, and a jalapeño together, then strain and shake it with a handful of ice and voilà, your drink is ready.
You'll notice the traditional orange liqueur element is missing in this recipe, with the mandarin subbing in instead, so it's not as boozy, but feel free to add an additional splash of tequila if desired.
The finishing touches for this homemade margarita are the tajin rim, which adds a salty, mouth-puckering tang to every sip, and a drizzle of Soka Pantry chilli oil on top, which is so visually pleasing and adds a fiery kick. This makes it almost savoury, creating the perfect balance of sweet, salty, spicy, and sour–the perfect summer cocktail.
Find some tips and swaps in the recipe notes below.
Ingredients
60 mls reposado tequila
30 mls fresh lime juice
1 seedless mandarin (peel and scrape off the pith)
1/2 or 1 jalapeño (according to spice level)
1 tbsp. sugar
Large handful ice
For the rim
Lime wedge
1 tbsp. of tajin/ crushed chilli flakes mixed with salt
4-5 drops of chilli oil (I use Soka Pantry’s Chilli Oil), to garnish
Method
Rim a glass with lime wedge and coat with the tajin/chilli salt mixture.
Blend the mandarin, tequila, lime juice, jalapeño, and sugar together.
Strain into a shaker filled with ice.
Shake for 30-40 seconds and pour into the prepared glass.
Gently drip 4-5 drops of chilli oil on the surface.
Serve immediately.
Swaps, Serves & Storage
What fruit can I use instead of mandarin?
Try oranges, blood oranges or grapefruit instead of mandarin in this recipe.What can I use instead of a jalapeño?
Use a milder green chilli like poblano or red chilli flakes will work too - adjust spice level according to taste.Do I have to use the chilli oil?
The chilli oil is a fun addition and adds a bit of kick with each sip, however if you’re not fan, feel free to skip this step.What do I do if I don’t have a cocktail shaker?
If you don’t have a shaker, strain the margarita mix into a jug, then pour back into the blender with the ice cubes and shake for 30-40 seconds.Can I make this a frozen marg?
Absolutely! Simply blend the ice with the tequila and other ingredients instead of shaking.
*This recipe is a paid collaboration with Soka Pantry.
Check out my other fruit recipes -
