Avocado Lime Dressing

This bright and tangy avocado-lime dressing is the perfect way to zest up your summer salads, grilled vegetables, and more. It takes under 5 minutes to make and is a great way to boost the flavor and nutrition of anything you drizzle it on. 

A Vibrant Tangy Dressing

Filled with all the flavors of summer, avocado lime dressing is a vibrant and tangy
addition to your homemade salad dressing collection. It's created with just a
handful of ingredients including buttery avocado, zesty limes, and fresh
cilantro, which blend perfectly together to make a bright and balanced velvety,
herby, citrusy concoction. 

 This oil-based dressing is vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and light enough to
drizzle over your favorite leafy greens, but also robust enough to use as a
marinade for veggies or proteins, and versatile enough to turn into a sauce for
other recipes.

How to Choose a Ripe Avocado

Avocados are one of the most popular, nutrient-dense, and versatile superfood fruits. However, when it comes to choosing an avocado there's a short timeline between rock-hard, perfectly ripe, and completely rotten. Luckily, this dressing is a great way to use a ripe avocado or one that's closer to opposite the end of the spectrum (getting a little too mushy and brown). 

To make sure you always get the best avocado in the bunch, here are a few tips for your next shopping trip.

• The most common avocado you'll find in your market is Hass avocados. When ripe, these avocados will have a dark green, bumpy skin with no bruises or breaks and should feel soft—but not mushy—when gently squeezed.   
• Another way to determine the ripeness of an avocado is by checking the small brown stem at the bottom. On a ripe avocado, the stem will be fall off easily and reveal a bright green flesh underneath. However, if the stem is hard to remove the avocado is unripe and if the flesh is brown, it's overripe. 
• If you find yourself in a pinch with an unripe avocado there are a few ways to help speed up the ripening process. Try placing the avocado in a brown paper bag along with a banana. The paper bag will trap the ethylene gas produced by the banana and speed up the ripening process.
  

Tips for Achieving the Smoothest Dressing 

Although this dressing is super simple, there are a few tips that will make keep it making this recipe effortless and efficient.

• While it's possible to make this dressing by hand, using a blender or food processor will handle the entire process for you. Just toss in all the ingredients and blend at low speed for a perfectly smooth, emulsified dressing.
• Make sure you get the most liquid from your limes by choosing ones that feel soft to the touch and have a thin, less firm rind. These will have more juice and be easier to zest. 

Easy Adjustments and Adaptations

Just like its ingredients, this avocado lime dressing is extremely versatile and can be adapted to fit any taste or recipe. It also makes a great base for other citrusy dressings, sauces, and marinades. 

• This recipe uses avocado oil to maximize the full avocado flavor, however, swapping it for any high-quality, unflavored olive oil or neutral oil such as grapeseed will result in a delicious dressing. 
• To create a creamier version, add in some Greek yogurt, sour cream, or an extra avocado before you blend. 
• Switch up your citrus and try using a combination of lemons and limes or adding in a bit of orange or grapefruit juice to the mix.
• Using different fresh or dried herbs such as dill, tarragon or Thai basil can give this dressing a new flavor profile, making it work for a variety of different recipes.
• For a bit of heat, add a dash of spices like chipotle and cayenne, or toss in a jalapeno pepper or two.
  

Ways to Use Avocado Lime Dressing 

While this avocado lime dressing is stellar on salads, the rich, tangy flavor lends itself to a variety of different recipes. Here are some delicious ideas to use this dressing:

• Toss your veggies in a bit of this mix to add some flavor before they're grilled, roasted, or steamed.
• Elevate your weekday lunch by adding a drizzle to sandwiches, burgers, wraps, or grain bowls.
• Make a lighter pasta salad or coleslaw by swapping out the mayo for the creamy version of this dressing.
• Use it as a marinade to give a fresh twist to seafood, chicken, steak, or tofu.
  

Storage Instructions

This dressing can be served immediately or created ahead of time, transferred to a tightly sealed container, and refrigerated for up to 3 days. If the mix separates, simply shake or stir to re-incorporate. 

If made without the additional cream, this dressing can be frozen in an airtight container, Ziploc bag, or ice cubes tray and will keep for about two months.

More Dressing Recipes to Whip Up

• Charred Citrus Dressing
• Anchovy-Mustard Vinaigrette
• Honey Mustard Dressing
• Basil Vinaigrette 
• Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing