Chili & Lime. Two ingredients well loved in our kitchen.
While I associate the duo with Southeast Asian cuisine, Mark is always reminded of Mexican dishes. That’s happened a few times, and made me realize that even though the two places are on opposite sides of the world, they share many similarities in taste. From our addiction to spicy chili to our fondness for sweet corn ice cream.
Whether served on a Southeast Asian dish or a Mexican one, when chili & lime are teamed up, the effect is always a zesty, refreshing, low fat, versatile dressing that complements any dish. I often drizzle the dressing over roasted potatoes, chickpeas, cucumber salad, corn & bean salad, or even on tropical fruits to perk up the flavor.
This time around I used the chili lime dressing on shrimp. When large shrimp are as fresh and succulent, it’s hard to resist not buying them for a weekend gathering.
I removed the seeds from the chilies, so the spiciness was relatively mild, allowing a good flavor balance between the freshness of the chili and lime. Then marinated the shrimp with half of the dressing, and saved the other half as a dipping sauce. A few minutes of broiling (or grilling), and as simple as that, a platter of sublime seafood to be enjoyed by Southeast Asians and Mexicans alike.
Chili Lime Dressing recipe
Ingredients
- 10-12 large shrimp – deveined with shell-on
- 1/4 tsp Sriracha-Lime Sea Salt
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves chopped
For the chili-lime dressing:
- 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 – 3 fresh red chilies or jalapeño chili – seeded and minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp raw sugar
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Mix lime juice, chilies, garlic and sugar in bowl. Gradually add in olive oil, and mix well.
- Use half of the dressing to coat the shrimp in a large bowl. Broil or grill the shrimp on each side for about 2 minutes or until they are cooked.
- Add the chopped cilantro to the other half of the Chili Lime Dressing, and use as a dipping sauce for the cooked shrimp. Lightly sprinkle with our Sriracha-Lime Sea Salt and enjoy!!
Variations for Chili-Lime Dressing:
- For an Asian-style salad dressing, you can add a splash of the nutty, aromatic sesame oil to the chili-lime mixture, along with a spoonful of toasted sesame seeds.
- Have some fresh ginger on hand? Grate a teaspoon of ginger to mix with the dressing.
- Prefer a sweeter flavor? Cut down on the lime juice and drizzle in some honey.