Spicy Pineapple Margarita Recipe

There are so many pineapple margarita recipes, but do you know what they’re missing? Fresh pineapple. Pineapple juice is what most pineapple cocktails use, and unless you juice a pineapple, you’re going to get a lot of added sugars and preservatives that you don’t need.

But can you actually have pineapple alcoholic drinks and health benefits, too? You sure can. Below I give you the rundown from recipe qualities to health benefits, some of which may surprise you!

Recipe Qualities

• Refreshing
• Smokey
• Spicy
• Delicious

Ingredients Used

• Pineapple
• Lime
• Jalapeño

 

3 Health Benefits of This Pineapple Margarita Recipe

1.  Helps fight allergies

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” is a great quote from Hippocrates and something I live by. I write these recipe articles to give you a breakdown of how the ingredients used within them will help you heal. After all, my mission is to redefine your health so that you can reinvent your future.

Let’s talk about why these ingredients are beneficial to your health!

For centuries, pineapples have been used as medicine. [1] They contain bromelain, which is a digestive enzyme that also happens to be an excellent seasonal allergy fighter! Studies have shown that bromelain helps reduce both swelling and mucus in the nasal passages and sinuses.  [2, 3]

Jalapeños and limes are also great for fighting seasonal allergies since they contain vitamin C, specific B vitamins,  and magnesium. 

2. Aids digestion

The digestive enzyme bromelain (mentioned above) is, well, great for digestion. It helps break down molecules into their building blocks, such as amino acids, by functioning as proteases. [4]

One study used two groups of people; one group took bromelain, and one group did not. Researchers found that those taking bromelain had better digestion, especially when it came down to breaking down proteins. [5]

Fun fact: Due to bromelain being a star in breaking down proteins, it’s widely used as a meat tenderizer. So, if you’re having trouble digesting meat proteins or other proteins in general, look into taking bromelain!

Jalapeños also contain a secret property that’s great for digestion: capsaicin. Capsaicin is getting a lot of buzz these days and will continue to be recognized for all its incredible benefits.

Studies have shown that consuming capsaicin aids in the growth of certain bacteria that is good for your gut. The bacteria, in particular, is known as Bacillus subtilis.

This antimicrobial bacteria is known for slowing the growth of E. coliand fighting against Streptococcus pyogenes.[6, 7]

3. Reduces inflammation

I talked a little bit in the allergy portion about how pineapple, specifically the bromelain in pineapple, reduces swelling in the nasal passageways, but it also lowers inflammation systemwide.

The capsaicin in jalapeños may aid in reducing the risk for developing stomach ulcers by reducing stomach inflammation and killing off diseases, such as H. pylori. [8, 9, 10]

Vitamin C is essential for fighting free radical damage, reducing inflammation,  boosting immunity, and stimulating collagen production. Pineapple, jalapeño, and lime all contain a dose of vitamin C. Win, win, and win. [11, 12, 13]

 

Pineapple Margarita Recipe

A pineapple margarita recipe that will benefit your health and taste delicious? If you would’ve asked me before medical school if I thought that was possible, I would’ve laughed at you. But with a few changes to traditional pineapple margaritas you can step up your health game with each sip.

These little pineapple cocktails are making their grand debut right in the thick of summer.

Whip up these smokey, refreshing, spicy, and delicious margaritas to go along with my famous taco recipe to get the full experience.

But don’t stop there. End your meal with a slice of my chocolate tart or just make the tart filling for a quick, grab-and-go dessert. It’s the perfect meal!

Not into alcohol? Not a problem! Leave it out and enjoy as a delicious mocktail. Remember, as delicious as these are, it’s important to drink responsibly!

Okay, okay. I’ll let you get to it!

 

Time: 5 minutes

Yields: 1 pitcher

Serving Size: 1 glass

Ingredients

• 4-5 cups of fresh chopped pineapple
• 1¼ cups tequila (or aged tequila)
• ¾ cup organic triple sec
• Juice of 1-2 limes
• 1 jalapeño, sliced (optional)
• A couple handfuls of ice
• Smoked paprika, to taste

 

Directions

1. In a high-speed blender, add all ingredients, except for the paprika.

2. Blend on high until well-combined, adding more ice as needed.

3. Pour into salt-rimmed glasses, top with the paprika, and garnish with a slice each of pineapple, lime, and jalapeño. Serve, sip, and drink responsibly!