Superb Jalapeño Salad Dressing
This Jalapeño Salad Dressing recipe is simply superb. It packs a punch thanks to the pickled Jalapeños. Not for the faint of heart!
I originally made this Superb Jalapeño Salad Dressing for my Mexican Chopped Salad with Jalapeño Dressing but wanted to use the same dressing for my crispy chicken salad I was making for dinner one night.
I usually use ranch dressing or sweet Vidalia onion dressing but really wanted something different and I remembered how much we loved this spicy salad dressing.
Recipe Tip
If you are not familiar with Mexican Crema, it looks very much like Sour Cream but not sour. If you can’t find Mexican Crema at your local grocery store, you can either use my Super Easy Garlic Lime Crema recipe or make your own by combining 1 Cup of Heavy Cream, 2 tablespoons Buttermilk, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice and a pinch of salt.
This salad dressing recipe is pretty hot as written. Especially after you let the salad dressing sit in the refrigerator for a bit giving the jalapeños a chance to do their thing. I love spicy so no big deal for me but if you are concerned about the heat use fewer jalapeños.
How Hot Are the Peppers
The Scoville Scale is the measurement that tells you the spiciness of a given type of pepper.
| Pepper Type | Scoville Rating (Heat) |
|---|---|
| Bell Pepper | 0-0 |
| Banana Pepper | 0-500 |
| Poblano Pepper | 1000-1500 |
| Jalapeño Pepper | 2500-8000 |
| Serrano Peppers | 10,000-25,000 |
| Manzano Pepper | 12,000-30,000 |
| Tabasco & Cayenne | 30,000-50,000 |
| Habanero Pepper | 100,000-300,000 |
| Ghost Pepper | 855,000-1,000,000 |
| Carolina Reaper | 1,500,000-2,300,000 |
I have a lime tree so always use juice from fresh limes but in a pinch, you can use the bottled stuff. Just try to use a high-quality lime juice to guarantee the best flavor possible.
The milk is an optional ingredient that will help thin out the dressing if needed. You may not need any at all or less than what I list on the recipe card. I suggest slowly adding the milk to the mixture until you reach your desired consistency.
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Superb Jalapeño Salad Dressing recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Pickled Jalapeños, Mayonnaise, Mexican Crema, Fresh Cilantro, Fresh Lime Juice, Paprika and Milk.
How to Make Jalapeño Salad Dressing
- In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk until well combined.
- Optionally add the milk for your desired consistency.
- Cover and let the dressing sit for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. This will allow all the flavors to meld. You can use it immediately, but the longer you let it sit in the refrigerator, the more flavorful it will be.
Superb Jalapeño Salad Dressing
Equipment
- Bowl for Mixing
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Pickled Jalapeños, finely chopped
- ½ Cup Mayonnaise
- ½ Cup Mexican Crema
- ¼ Cup Fresh Cilantro, chopped
- 2 Tbsp Fresh Lime Juice
- 1 Tsp Paprika
- 2 Tbsp Milk, optional
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk until well combined.
- Optionally add the milk for your desired consistency.
- Cover and let the dressing sit for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. This will allow all the flavors to meld. You can use it immediately, but the longer you let it sit in the refrigerator, the more flavorful it will be.
Nutrition
Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.
This jalapeños salad dressing is great. Very spicy and very tasty. Great on salads.