A Sloppy Rita with Butter-Griddled Pineapple

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25 minutes
1 cocktail

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Do you get the feeling I am pushing the quarantine cocktails? You would be correct!

I didn’t bother pouring this version of a Margarita into anything more than a 20 ounce plastic cup. Oh, don’t get me wrong, it’s worthy of a cocktail glass, but my family and I are still porch-partying at home. That means casual, easy, and TASTY 🙂

A Margarita

Link to some of my other cocktail recipes, including

my most popular cocktail post for PIRATES PUNCH!

THE SPICED BLOOD ORANGE SOUR

THE SOUL TRAIN

A POLYNESIAN SNOW ANGEL

THE MANHATTAN COCKTAIL

A PERFECT MARGARITA COCKTAIL

A SUMMERTIME SHERRY COLADA

AN ICED APRICOT BOURBON FIZZ

A BLACKBERRY-ROSEMARY VODKA & SODA

A Sloppy Rita is kind of the cheaters version of a traditional old-school Margarita. It ticks all of the cocktail boxes – cold, full of good Tequila, a messy rim – just no juicing required! Add a brown sugar butter-griddled pineapple slice – NO WORDS!

I was not going to post this. I really wasn’t. It’s cheap, it’s not fancy looking, and it’s kind of messy due to the rimmed glass…okay, plastic cup. This is my drink, the one I’ve been hooked on for about two months now. A Sloppy Rita. The idea for the butter-griddled pineapple was my idea. I remembered having had something similar but it was a caramelized banana I think, back in college (yes, Dad, this is ultimately what you paid for…). I remember loving it. Given so many NEA readers are struggling with the ability to actually get their hands on fresh ingredients in certain parts of our country, particularly fresh produce in the south and southwest, I am skipping the fresh limes, bananas, and wedges of papaya. If you want an ‘abbreviated sloppy,’ read on for a Sloppy Rita with Butter-Griddled Pineapple…

A margarita with Pineapple
This recipe is for my cousin Sandy. Happy cocktailing, Sister.

No juicing required! I have it on good authority that juicing a whole lot of limes for one single cocktail is a downer. Okay, okay. I heard you. I also know many of you who tried my recipe for A Perfect Margarita Cocktail were blown away at how little it actually takes to get a great mixed cocktail going in the shaker. Yet, it is a drag when you consider all of those limes that need to be juiced for the cause. Now I am not abandoning my old-school Margarita. No way. Not happening. I am however, willing to share this recipe for all of you non-juicer types out there. So see? I heard you…

So, Tequila isn’t necessarily all the same. For aficionados, the most important identifier on the label of a tequila bottle is “100% agave” or “100% agave azul” – cien por ciento de agave azul. This means it is made only from the blue agave plant, with only agave sugars used for fermentation. Smooth, mildly sweet.

A Pineapple and Margarita

Because we are skipping on the fresh limes, a really good sour mix that begins with juice rather than sugar is essential. I recommend either Stirrings or Royal Rose. Both are fantastically flavorful mixers, the Royal Rose slightly more viscous.

Rather than a whole fresh pineapple, my local grocer had a nicely trimmed, cored fresh pineapple prepared in their cold case. If you cannot find fresh currently offered at your grocer, canned will absolutely work.

A Sloppy Rita with Butter-Griddled Pineapple is that at home, porch party, poolside extravagance, but in a plastic cup. No limes needed. I use sour mix, a good sour mix, 100% agave Tequila, orange liquor, and a splash of orange juice. That’s it. Shake it up and rim your vessel. You can serve iced or naked, your choice. I go iced because it is 100+ degrees in Charleston at the moment. The big dividend with this concoction is the butter-griddled pineapple. Ho ho ho! Yes, it’s fifteen extra minutes of fussing in the kitchen, but hey so many of us are still quarantining. You may griddle round slices or long spears. You’ll be happy to have taken the step, promise.

A Pineapple and Margarita

All images and text ©Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average, LLC

A margarita with Pineapple

A Sloppy Rita with Butter-Griddled Pineapple

Jenny DeRemer
A Sloppy Rita is kind of the cheaters version of a traditional old-school Margarita. Add a brown sugar butter-griddled pineapple slice – NO WORDS!
5 from 1 vote
Servings: 1 cocktail
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cocktail
Calories 452 kcal

Equipment

  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Non-Stick Griddle or Non-Stick Skillet

Ingredients
 

Ingredients for Butter-Griddled Pineapple

  • 1 fresh slice or long spear of pineapple, preferably 1/2" thick or more, trimmed and cored
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter
  • 1 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Ingredients for A Sloppy Rita

  • 2 ounces signature tequila, preferably 100% blue agave I am using Prospero
  • 1 ounce orange liquor such as Grand Mariner or Cointreau I am using Cointreau
  • 5 ounces quality sour mix I am using Stirrings
  • 1 ounce orange juice, with or without pulp
  • citrus sugar or Margarita salt for rimming I am using Rokz Citrus Sugar

Instructions
 

Prepare the Butter-Griddled Pineapple

  • Prepare a cooling rack overtop a baking sheet lined with parchment. Set aside.
  • Over medium heat, melt the butter in a non-stick griddle. Allow the butter to foam, then brown slightly. Be careful not to allow it to burn.
  • Add the pineapple slice or spear and brown slightly on each side, about 5 to 8 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with the cinnamon and follow with the brown sugar.
  • Continuously baste the pineapple with the butter mix by tilting the griddle and spooning the liquid until the pineapple is cooked through and a nice golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Transfer the pineapple carefully to the cooling rack. Allow to cool for 10 minutes (or longer), brushing the remaining butter mix on all sides. As the pineapple and the butter mix cool, the syrup will become more viscous and cling to the pineapple almost like candy.

Prepare the Sloppy Rita Cocktail

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingsCalories: 452kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 1gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 119mgPotassium: 127mgFiber: 2gSugar: 37gVitamin A: 407IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 20mg
Keyword margarita recipe, pineapple margarita
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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