Zest up your salads with this vibrant and flavorful lime French dressing! Learn easy methods to make this versatile dressing from scratch in minutes, utilizing easy components you might have already got in your kitchen.
Every dwelling prepare dinner ought to have a go-to lime French dressing. Why? This zingy dressing is extremely versatile — vibrant and tangy, and made with components you would possibly have already got.
This dressing is a pared-back model of my favourite cilantro lime French dressing, highlighting this contemporary herb’s chunk. But usually I don’t have cilantro available (or am cooking for a cilantro hater!). So this lime French dressing is the place it’s at, and you can also make it in simply 5 minutes with 5 components.
Ingredients you’ll want
The methodology for this lime French dressing is much like my simple lemon French dressing, impressed by a long-time dwelling cooking inspiration — Julia Child. Julia’s dressing known as for mashing lemon zest in a mortar and pestle to get a tangy taste all through. I’ve simplified the method even additional and tailored it to make use of lime. Here’s what you’ll want for this lime French dressing:
- 1 lime (each zest and juice)
- Dijon mustard
- Olive oil
- Maple syrup
- Kosher salt
How to make lime French dressing
This lime French dressing is fast and straightforward: simply 5 minutes to whisk it up! When I don’t have a lot time or components, this lime or lemon French dressing is the place I flip. Here are the principle steps for this dressing:
Want a couple of variations? Try my cilantro lime dressing or creamy cilantro dressing as an alternative!
Tips for the right emulsion
An emulsion is when olive oil and an acid (vinegar or citrus juice) mix into one thickened liquid, as an alternative of separating. Here’s easy methods to get an ideal emulsion while you’re whisking:
- Tip 1: Use a medium-sized bowl. Using a really small bowl doesn’t present sufficient house to your whisk to maneuver backwards and forwards, which makes it laborious to get the liquids to mix. Using a medium-sized bowl, you’ve extra room to whisk, and it’s simpler to whip them collectively.
- Tip 2: Whisk in little bits of oil at a time till mixed. Make positive every little bit is absolutely mixed earlier than including extra.
Use an excellent citrus juicer and zester
I take advantage of citrus on a regular basis in my recipes! Here’s what I’ve discovered are the most effective instruments for working with citrus:
- Use a juicer. I take advantage of a juicer to shortly juice citrus and preserve the seeds out. Here’s the juicer I take advantage of: it really works nice!
- For zesting: a microplane or grater. I take advantage of a microplane to make fast work of zesting. If you don’t have one, use a grater. Smaller zesters which might be extra like bar instruments don’t work as effectively right here.
Want extra lime recipes? Try these 15 zingy lime recipes.
Ways to serve this lime French dressing
I developed this lime French dressing as the best dressing choice for my newest Mexican facet salad. But there are many methods to make use of it! Here are my favorites:
Storing leftovers
This lime French dressing recipe lasts as much as 2 weeks refrigerated. Make positive to convey to room temperature earlier than serving, since olive oil-based dressings solidify when chilly.
Dietary notes
This lime French dressing recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Frequently requested questions
Stored in an hermetic container within the fridge, lime French dressing can final for as much as two weeks. Shake effectively earlier than utilizing, because the components could separate.
Freshly squeezed lime juice is at all times advisable for the most effective taste and aroma.
Lime French dressing is extremely versatile! It’s scrumptious on salads, grilled greens, fish, hen, and even as a marinade for tofu.
If your French dressing is just too acidic, add a pinch of sugar or a slight drizzle of honey to stability the flavors.
Yes! Vinaigrettes naturally separate when left to take a seat. Simply shake or whisk the combination vigorously earlier than recombining the components.
Easy Lime Vinaigrette
This lime French dressing is very easy to place collectively: it takes simply 5 components and 5 minutes! Its zingy taste is ideal for salads of any type.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: About ½ cup 1x
- Category: Dressing
- Method: Whisked
- Cuisine: American
- 1 lime: 1 tablespoon lime zest and 2 tablespoons lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra if wanted
- ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon maple syrup
- ½ cup olive oil
- Zest the lime. Sprinkle it with the kosher salt, then mince it as superb as doable. Holding the blunt fringe of the knife, scrape the sharp fringe of the blade over the minced lime zest, holding the knife at an angle and mashing the zest right into a paste. This ought to solely take a minute or so: don’t spend too lengthy on it!
- Place the zest in a medium bowl and it whisk along with the Dijon mustard, lime juice, and maple syrup. Gradually whisk within the olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time (8 tablespoons whole), till creamy and emulsified.
- Taste and if desired, season with further salt (if the dressing tastes too tart, add a pinch of sugar or a little bit of honey). Store refrigerated for as much as 2 weeks; convey to room temperature earlier than serving.