Maple Syrup Lime Dressing

Transform your salads with our recipe! Sweet maple syrup, tangy citrus, and honey combine for a refreshing, vibrant flavour. Perfect as a drizzle or marinade, this dressing is ready in minutes and packed with homemade goodness!

Why You’ll Love Maple Syrup Lime Dressing

This is such a simple, 5-minute, no fuss salad dressing recipe.

For those of you looking for a dressing that is not oil based, this maple syrup dressing is for you.

The blend of sweet maple syrup and honey with the tartness of lime and orange juice creates a delightful balance of sweet and tangy flavours. 

The fresh citrus juice adds a bright, zesty flavour that complements the sweetness, making it a versatile dressing for various dishes. It pairs wonderfully with green salads, fruit salads, and even grain salads, adding a burst of flavour without overpowering the other ingredients.

This maple syrup dressing can also double as a marinade for chicken, seafood, or tofu, or be a drizzle over roasted vegetables or grilled fruits, or even as a topping for desserts like yoghurt or pancakes.

Super quick to make and no cooking required! Who could ask for more?

What Compliments Maple Syrup?

Maple syrup is often associated with fall-type recipes, although it is certainly versatile all year round.

If you’re preparing a meal with any of these ingredients, this maple syrup dressing would certainly work well.

• Nuts such as pecans, walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts in baked goods or salads

• Cream, milk, yoghurt, and cheeses like goat cheese or ricotta

• Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves enhance the warm, rich flavour

• Proteins such as bacon such as our easy brussels sprouts with bacon recipe, ham, pork, and chicken benefit from the sweet and smoky flavour contrast of maple syrup.

• Vegetables including sweet potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, and squash pair well with maple syrup in roasted dishes, salads, and side dishes. Try our roasted maple carrots with stracciatella cheese or crispy kale salad with roasted sweet potato.

• Rosemary and thyme add an earthy contrast to the sweetness of maple syrup in savoury dishes and marinades.

Is Maple Syrup Gluten Free?

Yes, maple syrup is gluten free. The rest of the ingredients for this maple syrup dressing are also gluten free, making it coeliac friendly.

We have plenty of other gluten free salad dressings such as sumac dressing, shrimp cocktail sauce or coleslaw dressing recipe.

Ingredients

These are the ingredients you need for maple syrup lime dressing:

• Lime and orange juice: Adding the juices of 2 citrus fruits to give the dressing the tartness it requires. 

• Maple syrup: I know, how decadent to have both honey and maple syrup in one recipe! But why not? We are after a sweet dressing and they both play a part on the overall flavours.

• Honey: Nothing beats pure honey and I love getting a small jar from farmers markets when I know they have all been recently bottled and ever so fresh. Just be sure to use good quality honey for the best results.

Variations and Substitutions

Maple syrup substitute: Substitute maple syrup with agave syrup for a slightly different sweetness profile. You won’t get that nice butterscotch finish but it will certainly do the trick.

Citrus blend: Feel free to experiment with different citrus fruits like lemon or grapefruit juice instead of lime for varying levels of tartness. We love blood oranges, too, when they are in season so that we can make our blood orange salad dressing.

Spiced version: Add a pinch of ground cinnamon or ginger for a warm, spicy undertone such as our spiced yoghurt dressing with honey.

Herbed version: Mix in finely chopped fresh herbs like mint, cilantro, or basil for added freshness and flavour complexity.

Sweeteners: Instead of honey and/or maple syrup, you use normal sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, or a liquid sweetener like organic rice malt syrup.

Mustard: Add a touch of Dijon mustard for extra depth and creaminess without the dairy.

Saltiness: Enhance the dressing with a splash of soy sauce or tamari for a savoury umami twist.

Instructions

Step by step instructions for how to make maple syrup lime dressing:

In a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients. Whisk well.

The consistency should almost be like a juice rather than a drizzle. If you prefer the dressing to have more of a syrupy consistency, half the juice from the lime and orange. 

How To Store

Store any leftover dressing in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Use within a few days for the best flavour.

Best Salad for This Dressing

Best Watermelon Salad with Maple Syrup Dressing

Take advantage of the many varieties of melons to create a delicious fruit salad with a sweet and tangy flavour. This is the Best Watermelon Salad and is the perfect end to a great meal.