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Home » Chipotle Vinaigrette Dressing

Chipotle Vinaigrette Dressing

September 18, 2014 by Debi 40 Comments

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This Chipotle Vinaigrette Dressing packs a spicy kick for your yummy salad! It has a great Mexican flavor that you’ll love!

Chipotle Vinaigrette Dressing | Life Currents

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Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.

Spice level

If you’re worried about the heat level in this Mexican-style vinaigrette dressing, start with 1/2 teaspoon chipotle paste and work your way up to 2 teaspoons. You can always add in heat, but you can never take it out!

Homemade Dressing

I’m happy to say that we don’t rely on bottled salad dressings anymore in our house. We pretty much only eat homemade dressings. My husband would say that his favorite, and the one he always asks for is my Sweet and Soy Dressing. But, recently I’ve been experimenting with some different flavored ones. Like this Chipotle Vinaigrette Dressing. Easy to make, and super flavorful!

I like that I know exactly what’s in my dressings (have you ever read the labels on some bottles of dressings!). I make a batch, and keep it in a little Mason jar in the fridge. That way, whenever I want a salad, I have a yummy homemade dressing at the ready. Oh, just be sure to write on the lid what’s inside the jar! Trust me on this one, you don’t want to mistake teriyaki sauce for Chipotle Vinaigrette Dressing!

Oaxacan Mole Sauce inspiration

I fashioned this Chipotle Vinaigrette Dressing after Oaxacan Mole Sauce. Oh, and since I live in Southern California, Mole Sauce is super common, but in case you aren’t familiar with it, Mole is a Mexican Sauce that combines chiles, cocoa, and nuts. It’s typically thick, red, and flavorful, but there are many variations. My vinaigrette takes the flavors of Mole and turns them into a lovely dressing.

Chipotle Paste

I love keeping this chipotle paste around. I always have some in my freezer so I can use it at a moment’s notice. Just defrost a little in the microwave, and I’m all set.

Kitchen Tip!

One other thing of note, and also a kitchen tip for you, is how I’ve written the recipe.

The dry ingredients are at the top of the recipe, with the liquid ingredients coming afterwards.

I like to measure the dry stuff first so I can use the same set of measuring spoons through the whole recipe. That way, you keep your spoons clean with the dry stuff, the paste comes next because it makes a mess of the spoon, but the liquid stuff is poured in, so no cross contamination of the ingredients in their jars. I try to do this with most recipes.

a jar of dressing with a spoon and some of the dressing is spooned out.

Want to use this dressing on a fun salad?

Try making my Spicy Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad.

salad with grapes on a plate.

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Chipotle Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe

Chipotle Vinaigrette Dressing

Debi
This Chipotle Vinaigrette packs a spicy kick for your yummy salad! It has a great Mexican flavor that you'll love!
4.75 from 4 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Salad, Sauce
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 6 servings
Calories 93 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons chipotle paste
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake to combine. Store any unused dressing in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 93kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 32mgPotassium: 19mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Keyword chipotle, salad dressing, vinaigrette
Tried this recipe?Mention @LifeCurrents or tag #LifeCurrents!
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Filed Under: Sauces, Condiments, & Preserves Tagged With: chipotle, cocoa powder, cumin, dressing, Food, gluten-free, healthy, maple syrup, Mexican, olive oil, recipe, red wine vinegar, salad, sauce, vegan, vegetarian, vinegar

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about debi

ABOUT DEBI

Hello! I’m Debi, the girl behind Life Currents where I write about mainly healthy vegetarian dishes. My husband eats meat, so occasionally I share some of his dishes as well. And, I’ll share tasty treats and projects that we do. Read more...

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patty Haxton Anderson

    September 18, 2014 at 10:18 am

    This is cool because it is reminiscent of a Mexican mole with the addition of cocoa! Brilliant.

  2. Masshole Mommy

    September 18, 2014 at 10:24 am

    That sounds ridiculously delicious. I would love to drown my salad in some of that.

  3. KC Kahn the Kitchen Chopper

    September 18, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    I love the “mexican chocolate” thing going on in your chipotle dressing. Pinning and stumbling and probably other sharing as well! 😉 this. You know how I love “stepping away from the bottle”!

  4. Michelle F.

    September 18, 2014 at 3:07 pm

    That looks really good. I just discovered that I love chipotle.

  5. gussiedupcf

    September 18, 2014 at 11:32 pm

    Wow!! That looks so delicious!! I think I will need to try it!!

  6. Stephen S.

    September 19, 2014 at 1:14 am

    Great post. Looks cool and delicious since this is homemade dressing. Can’t wait to create one.

  7. Liz Mays

    September 19, 2014 at 4:20 am

    Now that is a super tasty creation. What a nice change of pace from the regular!

  8. Choclette

    September 19, 2014 at 6:53 am

    A dressing with cocoa, that’s got to be one for me. it sounds delicious. I don’t think it’s ever occurred to me to buy a salad dressing.

  9. Kristin

    September 19, 2014 at 8:38 am

    You had me at Chipotle! I’m always looking for new salad dressing ideas!

  10. Crystal @ Simply Playful Fare

    September 19, 2014 at 10:30 am

    What a great idea! This looks delicious! I LOVE Mole!

  11. Travel Blogger

    September 19, 2014 at 3:12 pm

    Oh this looks good! I’ve never tried to make my own salad dressing before.

  12. Debi Gerhart

    September 19, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    I never thought to make a chipotle vinaigrette before. I have never tried one with chipotle before

  13. katrinagehman

    September 19, 2014 at 4:54 pm

    looks like a great dressing. i will have to try it.

  14. Debra

    September 19, 2014 at 5:08 pm

    I love chipotle! I will have try this!

  15. Alyssa C

    September 19, 2014 at 5:13 pm

    That looks like a delicious dressing! I must try this

  16. wstreetstory

    September 22, 2014 at 1:07 pm

    I need to try this! And I would have never guessed cocoa to be the first ingredient…..but anything with cocoa is fine by me!

  17. Katie

    September 22, 2014 at 1:09 pm

    Yum! Sweet and savory. I wouldn’t have guessed one of the ingredients was cocoa!

  18. sdaigneault2

    September 22, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    I have been looking for a new dressing, thanks for sharing, Sounds good.

  19. lovenerdmaggie

    September 22, 2014 at 3:57 pm

    I wonder if I could get my husband to eat salads if I offered him this! Sounds delicious!

  20. Jodie@Jodies Kitchen

    September 22, 2014 at 5:01 pm

    This sounds fantastic. I like the tip you gave about using the measuring spoons. I also do that.

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Hello! I’m Debi, the girl behind Life Currents where I write about mainly healthy vegetarian dishes. My husband eats meat, so occasionally I share some of his dishes as well. And, I’ll share tasty treats and projects that we do. Read More >>>

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