Southwest Salad Dressing
Posted: 01/09/25
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Smoky and tangy, with a hint of bright citrus flavor and the right amount of heat, this creamy Southwest dressing is the perfect touch for any salad or even a dipping sauce. Deliciously rich and beautifully seasoned, plus a super easy prep that takes less than 10 minutes.
What We Love About This Recipe
- Southwest salad dressing is one of my all-time favorites. Bold and creamy, with a smokiness and spiciness that adds SO MUCH flavor to an otherwise-basic-and-boring salad.
- This is a ridiculously simple recipe, with zero cooking involved. In fact, you don’t even have to chop anything if you’re using a blender! Just toss all the ingredients in and blend until smooth.
- If stored properly, Southwest salad dressing will keep for 7 days or so. Great if you’re someone who likes to get all their cooking and meal prep for the week out of the way on Sunday or Monday.
Chef’s Tips
- Worried about the heat? The cool, rich base of mayo and sour cream offsets any spiciness from the chipotle chili powder! Overall, this Southwest dressing is definitely more zesty and tangy than it is hot or spicy. Still, if you’re heat-averse, use ancho chili powder instead! It has a milder, sweeter flavor than the chipotle chili powder.
- If you’re blending your ingredients, don’t chop the cilantro leaves beforehand. They blend much better and much more easily if they start out whole. If you’re mixing by hand, though, chop them really well so they don’t stand out as much in the prepared dressing.
Other Tasty Condiments to Liven Up Your Food
- Homemade Buffalo Ranch Dressing
- Strawberry Vinaigrette
- Best Chimichurri Recipe Ever (from Texas de Brazil)
- Avocado Salad Dressing
- Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- Ginger Salad Dressing Recipe
- Pickled Red Cabbage
- Creamy Dill Sauce for Salmon
- Homemade Taco Sauce
- Best Ever Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Gluten Free Teriyaki Sauce
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Southwest Salad Dressing
Smoky, spicy, and a little citrusy, this tangy Southwest salad dressing is deliciously creamy and so easy to make.
servings
Ingredients
- ¾ cup full-fat sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup water
- 4 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder or 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic approximately 2 large cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt plus more to taste
- freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro, see Notes
Equipment
- Blender or medium bowl and whisk
- Silicone spatula optional
Instructions
- Add ¾ cup full-fat sour cream, ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup water, 4 teaspoons fresh lime juice, 2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon cumin, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves to blender.
- Blend ingredients until mixture is completely smooth. Pause blender and scrape down sides with silicone spatula as needed, then continue blending.
- Once smooth, transfer dressing to airtight container. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Cilantro: If you’re using a blender, don’t chop the cilantro leaves. If you’re mixing the dressing by hand, finely chop the cilantro before adding it to the bowl.
- Leftovers: Refrigerate dressing in an airtight container up to 1 week. Whisk to reincorporate ingredients if needed.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 127kcal | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Total Carbs: 3g | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Net Carbs: 2.6g | Vitamin C: 2mg | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 274mg | Potassium: 71mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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