This Chipotle Vinaigrette Dressing packs a spicy kick for your yummy salad! It has a great Mexican flavor that you’ll love!
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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.
Want to use this dressing on a fun salad?
Try making my Spicy Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad.
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Chipotle Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe
Chipotle Vinaigrette Dressing
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
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.
This is cool because it is reminiscent of a Mexican mole with the addition of cocoa! Brilliant.
That sounds ridiculously delicious. I would love to drown my salad in some of that.
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”!
That looks really good. I just discovered that I love chipotle.
Wow!! That looks so delicious!! I think I will need to try it!!
Great post. Looks cool and delicious since this is homemade dressing. Can’t wait to create one.
Now that is a super tasty creation. What a nice change of pace from the regular!
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.
You had me at Chipotle! I’m always looking for new salad dressing ideas!
What a great idea! This looks delicious! I LOVE Mole!
Oh this looks good! I’ve never tried to make my own salad dressing before.
I never thought to make a chipotle vinaigrette before. I have never tried one with chipotle before
looks like a great dressing. i will have to try it.
I love chipotle! I will have try this!
That looks like a delicious dressing! I must try this
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!
Yum! Sweet and savory. I wouldn’t have guessed one of the ingredients was cocoa!
I have been looking for a new dressing, thanks for sharing, Sounds good.
I wonder if I could get my husband to eat salads if I offered him this! Sounds delicious!
This sounds fantastic. I like the tip you gave about using the measuring spoons. I also do that.