Creamy and tangy with just the perfect hint of spice, this jalapeño vinaigrette will become your next favorite summer salad dressing.
It is gluten-free, dairy-free and incredibly easy to make too. It literally takes some kitchen staples and 5 minutes of kitchen time to put this bright and delicious salad dressing that you can drizzle over your roasted vegetables, salad bowls or grain bowls.
If you haven’t guessed that already, jalapeños are my absolute favorite! I like to stock up when I’m out on a grocery run, and use them to make everything from spice rubs to sauces.
Quite recently, I tried my hands at some fermented jalapeno hot sauce, included jalapenos in my Mexican pickled veggies and even made a nice spicy pineapple salsa with them.
And while they all turned out amazing, I really wanted to use some of those beautiful jalapeño peppers to make something different, something that I could use more sparingly.
Jump to:
- What's So Great About the Recipe?
- Ingredients For the Jalapeño Vinaigrette Recipe
- How to Make Jalapeño Vinaigrette
- Substitutions & Variations
- 💭Top Tip
- Equipment
- How to Store the Leftover Jalapeño Lime Vinaigrette
- Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- How to Use the Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette
- FAQs
- Related Recipes
- Jalapeño Vinaigrette
What's So Great About the Recipe?
My favorite part about this recipe is the fact that it takes just a few minutes to make- great when you’re in a time crunch but really want to jazz up your favorite salad.
Another win, in my books, is the fact that it also doubles up as a great marinade for your meats and veggies, perfect if you enjoy summer grills and BBQs.
It has to be one of my favorite condiments of all time- right alongside my avocado lime crema.
Ingredients For the Jalapeño Vinaigrette Recipe
Ready to make this spicy jalapeno lime vinaigrette? Here’s what you’ll need.
Jalapeños: Start off with some fresh jalapeños. Choose ones that are ripe, firm and bright in color.
Lime juice: Lime juice (or lemon juice) brings some beautiful bright and citrusy flavors to the vinaigrette.
Olive oil: I love using extra virgin olive oil for my salad dressings, simply because of the many benefits it packs in. For some extra lemony flavor, you can also add some lemon infused olive oil.
Honey: Honey tones down the heat from the peppers, and adds a delicate sweetness to the dressing.
Apple cider vinegar: I also like to add a dash of apple cider vinegar to really balance everything out.
Cilantro: Fresh cilantro is another must, and lends the dressing that beautiful bright green color.
Garlic: Fresh garlic lends a beautiful savory flavor to the cilantro lime salad dressing. Just a couple of cloves should be enough.
Seasonings: To season, I just used a bit of salt and pepper.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Jalapeño Vinaigrette
Got everything ready? Here’s what you’ll need to do to make the spicy jalapeño lime vinaigrette.
Step 1: Add all the ingredients to a blender jar or a food processor.
Step 2: Blend on high speed for 20-30 seconds.
Step 3: Taste and adjust consistency.
Step 4: Serve and enjoy!
Substitutions & Variations
- You can adjust the amount of honey and jalapenos you’re adding into the mix based on your taste preferences.
- To make this dressing vegan, swap the honey with some agave or any other sweetener of your choice.
- Don’t have apple cider vinegar? Use white wine vinegar or some more of the zesty lime juice for that tanginess.
💭Top Tip
Need to bulk up the vinaigrette? Add some Greek yogurt, sour cream or tahini and give it a quick blitz in the food processor.
Equipment
How to Store the Leftover Jalapeño Lime Vinaigrette
If you have any leftovers vinaigrette, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and it should stay fresh for 2-3 days, if not longer.
I like to make a double batch for myself, transfer it into a mason jar and refrigerate it. If stored properly, it can last for a week too.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- Worried about the dressing being too spicy? Remove the seeds and the white portion on the inside of the jalapenos before you add them into the mix.
- Start with a little amount each of honey and apple cider vinegar, blend, taste and adjust. The idea is to have the perfect balance of spicy, sweet and tangy flavor.
- Fresh avocado can also be a great addition to this honey lime jalapeño vinaigrette, and can lend it some beautiful creaminess.
- Make sure you wear gloves while slicing and handling the jalapeños.
How to Use the Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette
This flavor-packed jalapeño lime dressing tastes great on salads, no doubt, but it is also a wonderful teammate to your roasted veggies and burrito bowls.
I personally love pairing it up with grilled meats like my chicken malai tikka and Sumac chicken- it adds such a beautiful freshness to them, with so little effort.
The vinaigrette also tastes fantastic drizzled on grilled chicken or fish.
You can also pair it with some of your favorite Tex-Mex foods like tacos, enchiladas and even use it as a dip to go with your nachos.
FAQs
I wouldn’t recommend using balsamic vinegar for this recipe. It tends to have a deep, dark color which can make your vinaigrette look unappetizing. Use some more lime juice instead.
Cilantro lends a beautiful freshness and that pop of green color to the dressing. Feel free to swap it with some parsley or mint leaves or a combination or two or more herbs of your choice.
If you’re sensitive to spice or simply want to cut down the heat from the jalapeños, you can add some more honey and olive oil and give it a quick blitz.
Another great idea is to add a spoonful of yogurt into the mix.
While extra virgin olive oil is the best choice for this recipe, you can also make do with some grapeseed oil or avocado oil.
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Jalapeño Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 3-4 jalapeños
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoon cilantro
- 1 lime juiced
- 2-3 garlic
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a blender jar or a food processor.
- Blend on high speed for 20-30 seconds.
- Taste and adjust consistency.
- Serve and enjoy!