Spicy Strawberry Mango Margarita Recipe

Make the syrup

In a small saucepan combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and bring to a gentle simmer.

Add the chopped 1/2 cup ripe mango and 2 hulled strawberries to the simmering syrup. Simmer for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fruit softens and releases color and flavor.

Remove from heat and mash the fruit into the syrup with a fork or small whisk to extract more flavor. Stir in 1 teaspoon lime zest. Let cool to room temperature.

Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a jar, pressing on solids to extract liquid. Discard solids. Refrigerate syrup. Total yield ~1 cup; measure out 1.5 oz per cocktail when assembling.

Prepare glass: Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks or coupe glass and dip into coarse salt or Tajín to coat the rim. Fill glass with fresh ice if serving on the rocks, or set aside chilled if serving up.

Muddle jalapeño

Slice the fresh jalapeño in half lengthwise and remove seeds to reduce heat if desired. In a cocktail shaker, add the jalapeño (about 1/2 jalapeño) and gently muddle 3–4 times — enough to release oils and a touch of heat but not pulverize into bits.

Add to the shaker: 2 oz Dulce Vida Jalapeño Pineapple Tequila, 1 oz Cointreau, 1 oz fresh lime juice, and 1.5 oz strawberry & mango syrup. Add a generous scoop of ice (about 1 cup).

Shake: Secure the shaker and shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until well-chilled (exterior of shaker becomes cold and slightly frosty).

Double-strain the cocktail into the prepared glass: use a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer to catch jalapeño seeds/pulp for a clean drink. If serving over ice, pour over fresh ice in the glass.

Garnish: Thread a strawberry slice and a small lime wheel (or a thin jalapeño slice if you want visible heat) on a pick or float them on the drink. Optionally add a light sprinkle of Tajín on top.

Taste and adjust: If the drink is too sweet, add a splash (1/4 oz) more lime juice. If it needs more heat, briefly muddle an additional 1–2 jalapeño slices and add a few drops into the shaker next time.