Make your meal unforgettable with this easy Chili Lime Vinaigrette, loaded with bright flavors of cilantro, lime, olive oil, honey, and with the heat from the chili powder! It's versatile—great as salad dressing, marinade, or dip.
A vinaigrette can make or break a dish, so always rely on a trusted source for a good recipe. Trust me, this fail-proof blend might just become your favorite forever.
Plus, it's made with simple ingredients you may already have in the kitchen(have you tried this jalapeno vinaigrette, too?).
This dressing recipe is bliss when you run out of time to make dinner. Just keep a bowl and a whisk ready; the rest will fall into place automatically. This chili lime vinaigrette is dairy-free, nut-free, and soy-free.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
⭐️Fresh, bright flavored.
⭐️Quick and easy to make.
⭐️Great for meal prepping with a customizable heat level.
Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil: This ingredient is inseparable from the lime vinaigrette recipe. Choose a good-quality olive oil for best results.
- Lime: It brightens up the flavors and gives a delightful acidic taste. I have used freshly squeezed lime juice, but you may also use store-bought, ready-made ones.
- Honey provides mild sweetness. I kept it low so that lime's taste would be dominant. Feel free to adjust the amount according to your preference.
- Garlic: Fresh ones are the ultimate choice forever. Mince as finely as possible to make the delicious vinaigrette burst with flavors.
- Serrano pepper: De-seed for gentle heat.
- Chili powder: Adjust the quantity to suit your personal heat tolerance.
- Crushed red pepper: Optional. Adjust to your preference.
- Cilantro provides a rich herbal aroma and beautiful color that works well in this recipe. However, you can substitute with parsley or chives.
How To Make Chili Lime Vinaigrette
- In a mixing bowl, combine extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, honey, garlic, minced serrano pepper, chili powder, chopped cilantro, and salt.
- Whisk until the olive oil blends with all the ingredients, drizzle over the salad and enjoy!
♨️How To Adjust The Heat Level
This vinaigrette naturally has a moderate heat level, but you can easily customize it to be milder or spicier.
The peppers, chili powder, and crushed red pepper contribute to the heat in this recipe, but each ingredient also brings its unique flavor.
Adjust the amount of serrano peppers, chili powder, and crushed red pepper to reduce the spiciness. Keep in mind that garlic also adds warmth to the overall flavor.
To intensify the heat, increase the quantity of the above ingredients. To create a fiery kick, add chili peppers with their seeds and incorporate a spice rub.
How To Use
- Think of chicken, salmon, or shrimp; this lime chili vinaigrette nicely enhances their taste. Marinate the meat, chicken, seafood, or nuts(try these chili lime almonds) for at least 30 minutes for the best results.
- This vinaigrette can also turn into a sauce. Drizzle it over your salad, and feel the difference.
The Leftovers
- You can store the leftovers in the refrigerator for about one week or in the freezer for up to five months.
- If frozen, place them in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. If needed urgently, you can reheat it briefly in the microwave.
- Once thawed, give it a good whisk or shake before serving to bring all the ingredients back together. This helps re-emulsify the dressing, making it thick and creamy and perfect for drizzling over salads, veggies, or even crudo fish.
FAQ
Absolutely! You can prepare it at least 3 to 4 days ahead. Before serving, give it a good shake or whisk to re-emulsify, as the olive oil may separate from the other ingredients. This helps bring back its creamy consistency.
Lime zest enhances flavor; use ½ tsp. Increase chili powder for extra spice. Adjust honey for sweetness. Swap cilantro with mint for a refreshing twist. Customize to suit your taste!
Yes, you can, but fresh cilantro provides a more robust and vibrant flavor.
More Recipes To Try
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Chili Lime Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 serrano pepper deseeded and minced
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, honey, garlic, minced serrano pepper, chili powder, chopped cilantro, crushed red pepper, and salt.
- And whisk until olive oil blends with all the ingredients.
- And enjoy by drizzling over the salad.
Notes
- Adjust the heat level by adding serrano peppers, chili powder, and crushed red pepper. For extra spice, add seeds or a spice rub.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for up to five months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.
- Before serving, whisk or shake well to re-emulsify the ingredients, especially if stored, for a smooth and flavorful consistency.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
Makes a refreshing change to use lime instead of lemon and my family will love the chilli twist.
pepperbowl says
Great to hear! Thank you Amanda Wren-Grimwood!
Cara says
So delicious and easy! I served this with grilled chicken and it was a huge hit. Definitely will be making again!
pepperbowl says
Hi Cara! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Beth says
Yes! I can't wait to make this! I've been using vinaigrettes on my salad for years to cut down on calories, but they've gotten so boring. This is anything but that.
pepperbowl says
So happy to hear it, thanks Beth!
Tayler says
This is my absolute favorite homemade dressing recipe! We make it all the time and love it!
pepperbowl says
Tayler, I’m so excited to hear it!