Name: Creamy Lime Chile Dressing
Ingredients: 6 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream; 3 tablespoons lime juice, fresh is better but prepared is OK; 2 teaspoons minced seeded jalapeno, or serrano pepper; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon sugar; ¼ teaspoon salt

Why it works: Lime and jalapeno are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,035 recipes. Both carry isobutyraldehyde, which smells malty, green. The science ↓

Creamy Lime Chile Dressing

Ingredients

6 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
3 tablespoons lime juice, fresh is better but prepared is OK
2 teaspoons minced seeded jalapeno, or serrano pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl.
Make ahead tip: cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

168Calories

18 gProtein

1 gFat

24 gCarbs

What these numbers assume: 5 portions

Ingredient	Portion assumed	kcal
Yogurt	170g plain Greek	100
Sugar	1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated	49
Lime	juice of 1 lime (44ml)	11
Chili	1 tsp (2.7g)	8
Salt	1 tsp (6g)	0

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Recipes Wiki (Fandom).

Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.

Explore the science

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

Lime + jalapenotop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together1,035 recipes

Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
Cream + sugartop 9% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together43,450 recipes

Shared aroma: 2,3-butanedione (butter, sweet).
Jalapeno + sugartop 27% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together499 recipes

Shared aroma: phenylacetaldehyde (hawthorne, honey).
Lime + sugartop 29% of all pairs

Smell alikelow

Cooked together3,332 recipes

Shared aroma: 1-penten-3-one (fish, pungent).
Cream + jalapenotop 31% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together116 recipes

Shared aroma: acetaldehyde (pungent, ethereal).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Reduced-fat sour cream: Provides the creamy body and tangy richness of the dressing.
Lime juice: Adds acidity that brightens the flavor and balances the sweetness and cream.
Jalapeno or serrano pepper: Contributes heat and fresh pepper flavor.
Chili powder: Adds warm, earthy chile flavor throughout the dressing.
Sugar: Softens the sharpness of the lime and chile for a rounder taste.