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Addictively delicious, this Spicy Cilantro Honey-Lime Dressing will rock your little salad-loving world!
Every now and then a salad dressing comes along that rocks my world. This Spicy Cilantro Honey-Lime Dressing is a perfect example!
Well, at least my culinary world. This Spicy Cilantro Honey-Lime Dressing is one of my world-rockers, and I'm thrilled to be able to share it with you, as I have a feeling it will rock your little culinary world too!
I've been working on this one for a couple of weeks now, tweaking it, testing it and refining it here and there. It's perfect now, and, with the parade of wonderful seasonal produce that's about to emerge on the scene, I think you're going to want to keep a jar of this dressing on hand all spring and summer. I know I will!
I got the inspiration for this recipe while scrolling through Allrecipes a while back. I noticed a TGIF copycat Cilantro-Lime Salad Dressing that had 331 5-star reviews. It sounded wonderful, so I gave it a try. It was delicious right out of the gate, but I had a few ideas to make it even better. I changed a few proportions and ingredients and if you look at the picture of the original dressing, you'll see that mine looks very different but the Allrecipe recipe was definitely my inspiration. I was thinking that perhaps I should call it a "kind of copycat of a copycat", but that probably wouldn't work real well with the search engines!
The dressing is loaded with fabulous flavor and works well on simple green salads as well as on salads with a variety of ingredients. It's also wonderful on grilled chicken, shrimp, steak, pork, etc and makes a healthy, delicious dip for chips or crudités. (I wouldn't mention this to anyone except you, but sometimes I'm tempted to drink the stuff - it's that good!)
One of the things that intrigued me about the original recipe was that, although it's a Mexican-inspired dressing, one of the ingredients is fresh ginger which is generally thought of as an Asian ingredient. Please, don't skip the ginger! It adds a very fresh, intriguing flavor to the dressing and blends deliciously with the other ingredients. If you're not a ginger fan, don't worry, you won't know it's in there - but you'll wonder what in the world makes this dressing so good. Well, I guess you won't really wonder, because I just spilled the beans. But do trust me!
I'm going to wrap it up here. I'm spending a few days in Nashville with a small group of bloggers and a delightful team from KitchenAid. We're going to get to sneak preview of some of their latest products and actually do some cooking in their amazing test kitchen here in Music City.
I'm honestly not very musically inclined, but cooking with KitchenAid makes my little heart sing! I'll be sharing more about my experience in an upcoming post, but right now, I'm going to jump in the shower and get ready to make culinary music!
In the meantime, whip up a batch of this dressing and try it on EVERYTHING! It will take you all of five minutes since all the ingredients are simply thrown together in the blender. Push the button and the magic will happen right before your eyes. You won't believe the gorgeous green color, and when you take the first little taste? Well, let's just say your world will be rocked too! Amen.
- 1 medium jalapeno pepper seeded and coarsely chopped*
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt add more to taste
- 1 cup packed cilantro leaves
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
-
Add all ingredients to a blender container. Cover and blend on high speed for about 2 minutes or until dressing is smooth and bright green in color. Store in refrigerator. Will keep for 4-5 days. Shake well before using.
* If you like things spicy, add the seeds along with the pepper.
Cindy J Fitz says
This is absolutely delicious. The flavors are so fresh! I've made it 4 weeks in a row and I eat the whole jar myself on chicken and hamburgers. I'm sure it would be tasty on tacos and burritos too. I love it, thank you so much! I also made your Sweet and Spicy Mango salad dressing, wonderful!
Thank you for the heavenly recipes Chris!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much Cindy for taking the time to leave a comment. We love that dressing too! In fact, you've reminded me to make a jar of it! Sometimes I forget about recipes as I'm always onto something new 🙂 Speaking of that, there's a new one coming out soon I think you'll love - Basil Buttermilk Salad Dressing.
Cindy J Fitz says
I've started growing cilantro so I can keep making this wonderful dressing. I'll keep my eye out for the Basil Buttermilk dressing, thank you Chris! I try to eat healthy so I love home-made from scratch recipes. You have many other recipes that I'll be trying in the future! Thank you for your web site! The photos are lovely!
Leslie Nicole says
This is close to one I adapted from the "What's Cokking Mexican" Book. In mine, I use cumin instead of jalepeno, I don't always use garlic and I've been known to substitute raspberry vinegar for white rice vinegar. My favorite dressing! This is also fantastic on Cole slaw!
Chris Scheuer says
So glad you liked it Leslie! Welcome to The Café!
Sandra says
I am ready for my world to be rocked!
Joe says
Looks great. Can you tell us where you got your cruet?
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Joe, I got the cruet in a flea market in Paris. Wish I had a better answer so you could find the same thing 🙁
Sara says
I eat a salad for lunch almost every day and I'm always looking for new ways to switch it up, I'm going to try this next week!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says
You're making Spring sit up and take notice, Chris! This dressing is the pure essence of the season and I'm loving it. I crave ginger and lime in the warmer months so I'll be making this on a regular basis. Looks like you're having so much fun in Nashville. Happy Birthday!!
Liz says
You make the most enticing salad dressings! I always seem to go to my tried and true balsamic vinaigrette, but your vibrant, flavorful cilantro dressing would work with SO many salads!
Susan says
I love that beautiful, green color and the taste must be fantastic! Another great dressing, Chris, and I really like youradaptation. Have a great time in Nash Vegas 🙂 That's why a very good friend's son calls it. He's lived there for three years since a job opportunity (not music) took him there.
Marie says
I just made this dressing, exactly as the recipe, and it is fantastic. I scraped the last of it right out of the blender with a spatula directly into my mouth. I found some fresh spinach at the market so a nice spring salad for supper with grilled chicken on top and this dressing. It was wonderful. Thanks Chris!
Chris Scheuer says
You're so welcome Marie! It is hard to resist, isn't it?
cheri says
Hi Chris, you always make the best dressings, I can see why this could be drinkable. Love the deep green color.
Anne@ASaladForAllSeasons says
This looks wonderful, Chris! I've been searching for a dressing that will pair well with a salad with shrimp in it. I think this one will be perfect! LOVE the color! Looking forward to your kitchen aid post! : )
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Anne! it is a little "Swiss Army Knife" of a salad dressing! Very versatile!
Judi says
WINNER!!!
I just made this and we had it with lunch - used on two totally different salads and both were amazing. The combination of the sweet/spicy and freshness of the lime and cilantro is just too wonderful. I can't wait until next winter in Mexico where the limes, cilantro and jalapenos are abundant. It will become a staple in our house. I hardly want to share the recipe so I can keep it to myself. THANKS SO MUCH.
Chris Scheuer says
You're so welcome Judi! I think if I spent part of the year in Mexico, I'd go nuts, with all the fruits, spices, and peppers!
John/Kitchen Riffs says
Great dressing. The recipe looks wonderful -- music to my eyes. 🙂 Have a great time in Nashville!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks John! I can't believe I fly back tomorrow! It was a whirlwind of fun!
Adina says
That looks like spring in a jug, I can't wait to try it!
Chris Scheuer says
I couldn't agree with you more Adina!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
Great salad dressing, Chris! It will indeed be very handy with the great fresh vegetable season ahead 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
Absolutely Jennifer, thanks!
Laura | Tutti Dolci says
I want to drizzle this dressing on everything! So perfect and pretty for spring salads!
Chris Scheuer says
I've yet to find something that it doesn't taste great on Laura!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
o my...that green...so vibrant, bright and sexy!!! I need to get some cilantro!!
Chris Scheuer says
Ha ha! You crack me up Angie!
Abbe @ This is How I Cook says
I will be very happy to have this rock my world! Ready for something besides balsamic! Have fun with Kitchen Aid!
Chris Scheuer says
I can't wait to tell you all about it, Abbe - it was so fun and so interesting!
debra cantales says
Perfect timing! I have a bunch of cilantro just waiting to be made into something beautiful. Have lots of fun at KitchenAid.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much Debra! Enjoy!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Oh the ginger and jalapeño - lime juice and rice vinegar - all my favorites! The color is gorgeous 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Tricia! Yes, I love the combination of flavors too!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Love the bright green color and I'm sure it tastes as good as it looks. Make friends and have lots of fun at KitchenAid.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Karen! They really support bloggers and have a wonderful test facility in Nashville!
Brenda says
I make the original minus the ginger A LOT. This is a great combination of flavors! Everyone I serve it to loves it. I will have to try your "tweaked" version.
Chris Scheuer says
I think you'll enjoy it Brenda. It's amazingly versatile!
Ava says
Your basil dressing is the best ever. I'm not a fan of cilantro but do you think parsley would work?
Chris Scheuer says
I'm not sure Ava, if you try it, let us know.
Vicki Bensinger says
What a lovely color for salad dressing Chris. The ingredients sound wonderful and not too many. I will look forward to trying this. Have fun with KitchenAid.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Vicki! It's been a whirlwind, but so fun meeting the nicest group of bloggers and the KitchenAid folks are so helpful too!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
This is the prettiest shade of green--- and I think the fresh ginger is an inspired choice, what flavor this must have!
Chris Scheuer says
It really glows "spring green" doesn't it, Sue?