20 Lime Recipes That Make the Most of This Humble Citrus

By Frances Kim
February 13, 2011
Janelle Jones
A squeeze of lime or sprinkling of lime zest can make all the difference in a recipe, whether it's a rich meat dish or decadent dessert. The fruit's high acid content and tartness make it a powerful cooking ingredient. Here are 20 delicious ways to use limes.
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Janelle Jones

A squeeze of lime or sprinkling of lime zest can make all the difference in a recipe, whether it's a rich meat dish or decadent dessert. The fruit's high acid content and tartness make it a powerful cooking ingredient. Here are 20 delicious ways to use limes.

Lime Basics

In Season: Persian limes (the most widely available limes in the United States) are available year-round.

What to Look For: Persian limes are shaped like lemons but generally smaller, with a thin green rind and pale, fragrant green pulp. Look for smooth skin with no brown spots; avoid dried-out limes. The fruit should be heavy for its size and give slightly when pressed.

How to Store: Fresh limes will last about 10 days in the refrigerator. Cut limes can also be refrigerated up to five days.

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Roast Chicken with Scallion, Ginger, and Lime

Christina Holmes
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Lime zest is blitzed in the food processor along with scallions, ginger, garlic, salt, and oil to form a flavorful paste for marinating whole chicken.

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Cilantro Limeade

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Just the thing for cilantro lovers! Use the bright herb to infuse simple syrup, then stir in seltzer and fresh lime juice.

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Linguine with Clams and Lime

VICTORIA PEARSON
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Take classic linguine alle vongole to the next level by adding lime zest and juice and jalapeno to the usual clams and white wine.

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Eggnog-Lime Lassi

Bryan Gardner
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We've combined two iconic drinks -- classic eggnog and the traditional Indian beverage lassi -- into a delicious hybrid. Bright lime juice and zest cut the richness perfectly.

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Indian-Spiced Cashew-Lime Cookies

Johnny Miller
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Lime zest and juice amp up both the batter and glaze for these nutty Indian-inspired cookies spiced with cardamom and cayenne.

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Lime-Glazed Shrimp

Stephen Johnson
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Lime zest and juice, honey, garlic, red-pepper flakes, oil, and salt make an irresistible sweet and spicy glaze for broiled shrimp skewers.

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Hibiscus Tea with Lime

Con Poulos
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Honey and lime juice make freshly brewed hibiscus tea even more refreshing. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

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Beef and Cabbage Tacos

Yuki Sugiura
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Lime juice and zest add zing to the ground beef filling for these simple 20-minute tacos. Serve with sliced avocado, sour cream, pickled jalapenos, and lime wedges.

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Strawberry Daiquiri

Mike Krautter
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Lime juice is a must for a proper daiquiri. The lime zest-and-sugar rim is optional, but trust us, you're not going to want to skip it.

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Chili-Lime Roasted Butternut Salad

Johnny Miller
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Lime juice, cilantro, honey, and olive oil make a zippy dressing for this fall-perfect salad. Spicy roasted butternut squash, crunchy toasted pepitas, and creamy Cotija cheese complete the dish.

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Chile-Lime Peanuts

Kate Mathis
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Turn up the volume on cocktail nuts by tossing peanuts with fresh lime zest, Thai chiles, butter, sugar, and salt. Your guests will be gravitating towards the bowl all night.

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Chaas

Jonathan Lovekin
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Similar to lassi but thinner, this north Indian drink calls for plain yogurt, ice-cold water, and fine sea salt. Try it with fresh lime juice first, then go sweet with sugar and mint or spicy with cumin seeds and curry leaves -- you can't go wrong!

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Pork with Tangy Citrus Sauce

Anson Smart
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A combination of citrus juices -- lime and orange -- are used to deglaze the pan for these juicy pork chops. Onions, garlic, and a touch of sugar deepen the flavor of the resulting sauce.

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Chamomile Tea and Limeade

Marcus Nilsson
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Love Arnold Palmers? Try this refreshing riff that combines freshly brewed chamomile tea with lime juice and simple syrup.

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Margarita Cupcakes

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Not only do lime zest and juice jazz up the cupcake batter in this festive cocktail-turned-dessert, but they're also transformed into a rich tequila-spiked curd for the filling. Make a big batch for Cinco de Mayo or an extra special Taco Tuesday.

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Coconut-Lime Soup with Chicken and Rice Noodles

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You've never had chicken noodle soup like this before! It's boldly flavored with coconut milk, Thai chiles, cilantro, fresh ginger, kaffir lime leaf, and fish sauce. Lime juice gives it extra oomph.

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Bombay Fizz

Chris Court
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Shake up cocktail hour with this invigorating cocktail inspired by nimbu pani, a lemon- or limeade popular in India. All you have to do is stir together fresh lime juice, gin, orange-blossom water, simple syrup, salt, and seltzer in a pitcher.

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Red Snapper en Papillote with Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

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The secret behind this super flavorful whole fish dish? Slipping thin rounds of lime into the cavity before roasting. The spicy, garlicky lime-cilantro vinaigrette doesn't hurt either.

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Mango-Lime Ricotta Parfaits

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This four-ingredient wonder might be the easiest dessert ever. Just toss ripe mangoes with sugar and lime zest and juice, let the flavors mingle for 20 minutes, and top with fresh ricotta.

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Frozen Margaritas

Johnny Miller
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It's not a margarita without limes! You need at least 5 or 6 to make enough juice for this classic tequila cocktail.

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