Chili Lime Seasoning

This Chili Lime Seasoning embodies the bold flavors of Mexican cuisine. It’s a simple mix of chile powders, salt, and dehydrated lime for a mouth-puckering taste often used to spice up fruits and vegetables.

 

A love affair with Chili Lime Seasoning

Made famous by the brand Tajin and more recently Trader Joes, Chili Lime Seasoning has become a household staple.

The vibrant red seasoning is spicy and sweet, offering a delightful balance that keeps you returning for more. This seasoning blends two definitive flavors of Mexican cuisine: chili spice and citrus.

It’s not just for fruit; this seasoning elevates many dishes, from grilled meats and roasted vegetables to beloved Mexican street snacks like elote (grilled corn on the cob) and Mangonadas.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Paprika: dried and ground red pepper that is very mild. Use a regular/sweet variety, not the smoked version, for this recipe. You can substitute this for Cayenne Powder if you want a spicier seasoning blend.
• Guajillo Chile Powder: a sweet, tangy, mild Chile powder. 
• Lime Powder: This powder is made from freeze-drying limes; you can use a homemade or store-bought version. If you can’t find it in your local market, there is a product sold on Amazon that we enjoy; the link is included in the recipe card.
• Sugar is an optional ingredient; we enjoy a slight sweetness to our seasoning blend. You can omit it entirely or add it to suit your taste. 
• Salt: fine ground salt helps make the spice mix blend easily.

How to Make your own Chili Lime Seasoning

1. Add all of the ingredients together, the Chile powders, salt, and lime.
2. Taste and add sugar as desired.
3. Use immediately or store in a sealed jar and use as needed.

Ways to use Chili Lime Seasoning

• Fruit: sprinkle this homemade version of tajin on Mexican Fruit Salad, Mexican Fruit Cups, or servings of sliced watermelon, pineapple, mango, or your favorite fruit.
• Vegetables: This chili lime seasoning is an ideal topping for cold, fresh vegetables such as cucumber or jicama. Or use it as a seasoning for roasted vegetables.
• Meat: use this blend as a dry rub or added to marinades for chicken, steak, fish, and shrimp.
• Corn: sprinkle over Elotes (Mexican Grilled Corn) or on top of Esquites, where the corn is cut off the cob and served in cups. 
• Cocktails: Dip the rim of your cups into this homemade chili lime seasoning for a spicy flavoring as you sip on your favorite margarita. 
• Mangonadas: When you combine chili lime seasoning with chamoy, it creates a burst of delicious flavor. These delightful drinks feature layers of chamoy and frozen mango slushy, with an extra sprinkle of seasoning on the Chamoy rim dip for a sweet and spicy kick with every sip.
• Mexican Street Food: this seasoning blend appears on many street foods, including Mexican candy, Tostilocos, Chamoy Candy (Dulce Enchilados), and more!

Storage Information

While spices don’t typically have an expiration date, their flavor can weaken over time. To extend their lifespan, store your seasonings in air-tight, sealed containers. Use this blend within three months to ensure the best flavor.