SOMA Living August 2021

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

MARGARITA WATERMELON BITES Prep Time: 30 min • Marinating time: 6 hours • Servings: 12 When summer heats up, so begins my obsession with tequila and watermelon, perfectly combined in these watermelon margarita bites. They are basically deconstructed watermelon margaritas with a savory spin. They are perfect for Summer barbecues or lazy days grabbed out of the cooler at the beach. Summer in a bite!

INSTRUCTIONS

RECIPE NOTES

Special Equipment: 1 1/2 round cookie cutter

CANDIED JALAPENOS In a small saucepan combine the sugar, water, and jalapeño slices and set over medium heat. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for about 10 minutes and remove from the heat. Place jalapeños and the cooking syrup into an airtight container and chill. LIME SIMPLE SYRUP Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved and then remove from the heat. Chill. Margarita Marinade In a medium bowl whisk together the lime simple syrup, tequila, and orange liquor. MAKE THE BITES • Cut the watermelon into one inch thick slices. Using a 1 1/2 inch cookie cutter, cut out rounds from each slice and place into a large, flat container and set aside. • Pour the margarita marinade over the watermelon rounds. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours. • To serve: Remove watermelon from margarita marinade and place in a single layer on a platter. Scatter cojita cheese over the watermelon. Place one candied jalapeño slice on top of each watermelon round and skewer with a bamboo skewered cocktail fork. Garnish with lime zest and serve.

• I recommend 1 inch thickness and 1 1/2 inch rounds as the optimal serving size. • If you don’t have a round cookie cutter, slice the bites into even 1 1/2 inch squares. • BONUS! Save the watermelon scraps to mix up with the leftover marinade for frozen watermelon margaritas. • Cojita cheese is my go-to for topping, but feta or ricotta salata can be substituted. • The leftover jalapeño syrup can be stored in the refrigerator and used to flavor cocktails. • A sprinkle to salt to finish makes this flatbread sing.

INGREDIENTS

Margarita Marinade 2 cups tequila 3/4 cup orange flavored liquor, such as triple sec or Cointreau lime simple syrup Make the Bites 4 lb seedless watermelon 8 oz cojita cheese, crumbled (feta or ricotta salata can be substituted) lime zest, for garnish

Candied Jalapenos 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 3 jalapeños, thinly sliced into rounds

Lime Simple Syrup 2 cups sugar 2 cups water 2 tbsp lime zest 1/2 cup lime juice

www.WHATSHOULDIMAKEFOR.com

Cathy Roma’s food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. She’s worked in restaurants, owned an online bakery, has a bordering-on-problematic cookbook obsession and is the writer, photographer and recipe developer for the blog whatshouldimakefor.com. She lives in South Orange with her well-fed family, overstocked pantry and mildly excessive collection of cookie cutters.

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