5 Ingredients or Fewer

Watermelon Paloma

August 19, 2013
4.5
2 Ratings
Photo by James Ransom
  • Makes Makes one cocktail, with lots of extra watermelon juice
Author Notes

No, this isn't really a Paloma. It's missing the one key ingredient (grapefruit) that distinguishes a Paloma from most other tequila cocktails -- and instead calls on watermelon, that quintessential American summer treat, to do fruit duty. —Merrill Stubbs

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Ingredients
  • 1 small watermelon (about 5 pounds), cubed
  • 1 1/2 ounces tequila blanca
  • Juice of 1/2 a lime
  • Club soda to taste
Directions
  1. To make the watermelon juice, put half the watermelon cubes in a blender and blend until liquid. Set a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl and pour the watermelon juice into the strainer, gently stirring with a wooden spoon to coax the juice through the strainer.
  2. Discard any pulp in the strainer and then blend and strain the rest of the watermelon cubes. Cover and chill the juice until you're ready to use it.
  3. To make the drink, put 4 or 5 ice cubes in a tall glass. Add the tequila, 1/4 cup watermelon juice and lime juice and stir gently. Top with club soda and stir briefly. (Use these same proportions to whip up an entire pitcher of Palomas.)

See what other Food52ers are saying.

9 Reviews

Gotthescoop August 2, 2014
Delicious!
Gotthescoop August 2, 2014
Enjoying this right now! Very DELISIOUS!!! Thank you Merrill! Cheers!
MeMecooke July 25, 2014
Suzanne Kay..glass looks like CB2, Marta 18 oz.
butchie4ever July 3, 2014
If I wanted to make a this for a large group what are the preportions? Would I use the juice from one watermelon and a whole bottle of tecila and then top off with club soda? Also could I use ginger ale instead of club soda? I want to make for the 4th, but I have friends who are not club soda fans
Merrill S. July 3, 2014
Since all watermelons are different and will produce different amounts of liquid, I'd juice a whole watermelon and measure out the juice. Then add 6 ounces of tequila, the juice of 2 limes and about 6 ounces of club soda for every cup of juice. I would not recommend ginger ale -- the flavor will overpower the drink, and it will be way too sweet. The club soda (or sparkling water if you prefer that) is there to lighten up the drink and add carbonation.
Suzanne K. May 5, 2014
Love the glass used here! Where can I find it?
rob W. March 22, 2014
what's the function of the 1/4 cup watermelon juice and when is it utilized?
Merrill S. March 22, 2014
In the last step!
rob W. March 23, 2014
duh - Tx!