I love that my work takes me to different cities throughout the United States. And I love having a chance to meet people I’ve connected with, whether through social media or email. Sometimes they will tell me they tried some of my recipes…
The last time I went to Los Angeles, one of our producers reached out to Liz and Ramon, who have watched my show for a long time, talk me regularly on Facebook, and even made the trip all the way from Los Angeles to San Diego to come to one of my live events. They were asked if they’d like to make some of my recipes on camera, but weren’t told that I was going to be there.
So it was a great surprise when I walked in. And it was so exciting for me to see how they have made my recipes their own and are now part of their weekly meals. They had invited their family and friends and were making my Cali-Baja Fish Tacos and my Queso Fundido with homemade chorizo from Ramon’s brother. I cannot even begin to tell you how delicious that chorizo was!
In return for them welcoming us into their home and feeding me and my team, well, drinks were on me! I decided come up with a new drink to share with them, a Melon Basil Margarita. It has the fresh taste of the basil, the sweet from the honeydew melon, and the tangy lime juice you crave in a margarita.
When I took out the bottle of Gran Centenario Añejo Tequila, Ramon told me it was the drink his father-in-law offered the first time he was invited into his home. Of course, I now had to know the story of how him and Liz met… Turns out, Ramon was planning to become a priest when he saw Liz for the first time in church and fell for her. Eight months later they were engaged and gone where Ramon’s plans to be a priest.
He wasn’t invited over to his father-in-law’s for that drink, until after he took Liz to church and married her. But it just goes to show how not only dishes, but ingredients, in this case the Gran Centenario Añejo Tequila, really tie families and friends together.
You can watch all that happened in the video below…
I loved that Melon Basil Margarita so much, I’m sharing it with all of you right here. I hope you’ll grab some tequila and give it a try.
Melon Basil Margarita
Recipe Yield
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Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1 cup Gran Centenario® Añejo Tequila
- 1 cup orange liquor
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 3 cups diced fresh honeydew melon
- 8 to 10 fresh basil leaves
- 1 to 2 jalapeños coarsely chopped, seeds on (you can add jalapeño
to taste) - 1 cup ice cubes
- Lime quarters and coarse salt to rim glasses
To Prepare
- Rim glasses with lime and salt.
- In the jar of a blender, pour the lime juice, tequila, orange liquor, and maple syrup. Incorporate the honeydew, basil, jalapeño and a cup of ice. Puree until completely smooth.
- Pour into prepared glasses.
Comments
27comments inMelon Basil Margarita
Darrell
May 26
What brand Blender and model is Patti using?
Pati Jinich
Jun 10
Hey Darrell, my blender is the basic model of a Vitamix; I love it!
Geneva
Feb 06
I’ve been looking for a fresh new drink.. this looks and sounds soo delicious! Gonna make for Superbowl ❤️ Thanks Pati
Pati Jinich
Feb 10
I hope you liked it Geneva 😉
Virginia King
May 25
This looks like a refreshing summer’s day drink, I will give it a try.
Pati Jinich
May 28
Great Virginia! Let me know how you like it 😉
Roberto
Apr 04
Thank you for this recipe, I am a big fan and a Gringo that worked in Baja for many years as well as living two years in Honduras (Mexican food with a Caribbean twist). Retired now, I watch your show as often as I can, and have learned so much from you. I was the youngest and only boy growing up, but my Mom insisted that all of us kids learn to cook. This is why I enjoy watching you involve your boys when you cook.
I do enjoy Tequila, and this recipe has now become a goto anytime we have get togethers involving Mexican Cuisine. It has never failed to impress anyone who’s tried it. I look forward to more of your wonderful cooking tips, thank you so very much…
Pati Jinich
Apr 07
Thanks Roberto for your message and for tuning in! So glad to know you enjoyed this Margarita 😉
Carlos
Jan 14
Margarita is the one thing that I love to have every noon. Tamarindo Margarita is my favorite one! But after reading this recipe I have to say Melon Basil Margarita seems another fascinating drink to me. I’ll surely have it this weekend. Thanks for this recipe! I also some great Margaritas suggestions for you. Check it out at playamesa.com. You’ll definitely love it!
Pati Jinich
Jan 15
Enjoy it this weekend, Carlos!
Carlos
Jan 18
I will Pati!
Penelope Pane
Sep 28
Looks like a fun day and the drink and food delicious!
Pati Jinich
Sep 29
I had such a great time!
Leirad Carrasco
Sep 14
Hi Pati, I’m a huge fan. I have tried some of your recipes. In fact, as I type this message, your arroz con leche is simmering on my stove. A few years ago, my sister had the fortune to meet you at an event in DC and she said you were a sweet heart. Can’t wait for the next season of your tv show!
Pati Jinich
Sep 24
Oh say hi to your sister for me, Leirad! I hope to meet you too one day.
Demetria pompei
Jul 28
Hi Patty,
I always watch your show even if I don’t eT spicy food. There is authenticity,you base your cooking on your culture which make it very special and get to learn Mexican culture from many many years ago. Seeing your kids eating makes me feel that it must be really yummy. Your 3 sons are very good, polite and seems to be really close to you. The youngest son is very adorable, he makes your show in they way he handles his part of the show, so with your oldest son. The 2nd one seems to be more quite but very polite and adorable in taking his part of the show. Your youngest looks like a carbon copy of your husband. He looks very close to your husband. Love to see your family. You are surrounded by 4 wonderful
Caring , loving family members.
Wish you more success in your profession. You are a great mother, chief and a compassionate person. Good luck!!!!
Pati Jinich
Aug 07
Thank you so much for all of your kind words, Demetria!
B Apodaca
Jul 26
You’re the best ! Would love to meet you when you come to Albuquerque NM for a tour hopefully you will soon one day. Have a great and safe summer.
Pati Jinich
Jul 27
I hope to come to NM soon too. Have a wonderful summer, B.!
Ramona Fernandez
Jul 26
I love everything you make you make me want to go to Mexico and see some of the sites that you go and see and eat the food that you eat I write everything down and I try it and I make it at least once and I find that it is delicious this is something that I will keep doing for my family I’m Latina but I’m but I’m not Mexican but I love it anyway. I live in the south and all they have down he has basically seafood restaurants so it’s nice to keep up with a little bit of farm Latin flavor
Pati Jinich
Aug 01
I hope you get to go to Mexico soon, Ramona…and keep having lots of fun in the kitchen.
Jeannie aka Juanita
Jul 25
You are the best! I know that you will follow your son to California to live or better yet America’s Finest City, San Diego! If you ever need the best tour guide, I am available. My family has lived in San Diego for more than one hundred years!!
Pati Jinich
Jul 25
What a kind offer, thank you so much Jeannie!
Mimi Flores
Jul 24
Aye, trabajando y que vio esta receta. Nohombre, quero una maragarita. Aye Pati, ya me dio ganas de irme a mi casa y hacerme una margarita. Bueno gracias, por todo tu amor and por ensenar nuetra cultura. Gracias.
Pati Jinich
Jul 25
Mil gracias, Mimi!
Demetria Pompei
Jul 24
I am a fan of you. I always look forward to watch your show, the authenticity of your cooking you always go to the real
Hi Patti,
It is of great pleasure to watch your show specially with your 3 sons helping you in the kitchen.
The show – Mexican food, showing the culture, it is very original representing the culture of Mexico. I also like watching when your 3 boys are with you involve in the kitchen. They are very adorable and very polite Just shows the closeness with your 3 boys and the respect and admiration they have with lovely mother. Your youngest Juo Juo is so cute, he really is good in the kitchen and when he eats it makes you feel just how yummy is the food you are looking. Same with your oldest.
He is very gentlemen and the second one who is a little bet reserve but a wonderful boy. You are very lucky to have such wonderful young kids likewise they are very very lucky to have a very beautiful loving mother whom They connect so much through food. The melting place of love The Kitchen. I really enjoyed watching when they are around with you in the kitchen.
Thank you for sharing your cooking show – it shows food – culture -family love, friendship authenticity, just love it all.
Demetria
metvolleyball@ gmail.com
( play recreational volleyball for fun and be active, i am now 73 years old enjoying the game with friends.)
Pati Jinich
Jul 25
Thank you so much for the kind words, Demetria! I hope you are enjoying lots of volleyball this summer.