22 Ways to Cook with Limes and Add Some Zest to Your Step

Citrusy, bright, and full of flavor, every part of a lime, from the zest to the juice to the segments, adds tang and freshness to a variety of dishes. Find some inspiration on how to use them with our 22 favorite recipes!
Tuukka Koski1/22Carrot, Ginger, and Lime Juice
The classic carrot-ginger combo gets extra zesty with lime juice.
Juco2/22Lime and Grapefruit Daiquiri Ice Pops
Refreshing and a little bit inebriating; if you’ve got kids running around, pick up a box of Rocket Pops so there’s no confusion!
Danny Kim3/22Papaya with Orange and Lime
To pick a ripe papaya, look for skin that has more yellow-orange-red tones than green. It should yield slightly when gently squeezed.
Ted Cavanaugh4/22Ginger-Lime Spritz
Go with a Brut style (the driest) when picking out your Prosecco for max refreshment.
Marcus Nilsson5/22Mixed Beans with Peanuts, Ginger, and Lime
This is a high-summer throw-together of a sauté to make when there are lots of snap beans at the market. Mix colors and types for the full effect.
Alex Lau6/22Cherry-Lime Hand Pies
Despite the egg along the seal, and the crimps for extra insurance, the fruit juices will run; that’s what the parchment paper is there for.
Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott7/22Lime-and-Cilantro-Stuffed Black Bass
The stuffing can be varied easily. Try lemon with tarragon, or orange with rosemary.
Alex Lau8/22BA's Best Key Lime Pie
Using coconut oil in place of some of the butter suggests hints of the tropics, and yogurt folded into the whipped cream reinforces the tang of the lime juice.
Alex Lau9/22Grilled Padrón Chiles with Fish Sauce and Lime
Other not-too-hot chiles are great with the same seasonings if you can’t find Padróns. Look for shishitos or Italian frying peppers instead.
Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott10/22Grilled Clams with Aleppo Pepper, Tumeric, and Lime Butter
When you toss hot clams right off the grill with some flavored butter, the butter melts and mingles with the clam liquor, creating an irresistible combination.
Alex Lau11/22Pomelo Salad with Chile, Lime, Peanuts, and Coconut
A palate cleanser packed with sweet, sour, and salty flavors; taste and tweak the seasonings as you go.
Chris Searl12/22Almond Tart with Stone Fruit and Lime Meringue
Yes, it’s a long recipe with several parts, but each step is easy enough, and it can all be made ahead.
Danny Kim13/22Yogurt-Lime Sorbet
It doesn’t come out of a soft-serve machine, and you can’t twist it, but our version of fro-yo wins at everything else.
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott14/22Herby Lime Dressing
A blend of chiles, arugula, mint, and lime, this dressing brightens up everything from salads and grains to fish and meat.
Max Kelly15/22Shrimp with Mustard-Lime Dipping Sauce
Cooking the shrimp with their shells on helps them retain flavor; scoring them along the back lets you remove the vein and makes peeling easier. Win-win.
Alex Lau16/22Spaghetti Squash and Avocado Chicken Salad
Spaghetti squash is really more like a rice noodle then spaghetti, so we riffed on a cold noodle salad. This would be great with leftover sliced steak or pork, too.
17/22Lime-in-the-Coconut Macaroons
Lime zest is a fresh addition to macaroons, and a Microplane is our zesting tool of choice. If you can’t find unsweetened coconut chips, use two 7-oz. bags of sweetened shredded coconut and reduce the sugar to 1 Tbsp.
18/22Apple Salad with Walnuts and Lime
An invigorating hit of citrus brings together crisp apples, toasty bread and nuts, and sharp cheese, making this one of our favorite recipes this year.
19/22Striped Bass with Lime Broth
Serving a perfectly cooked, crisp-skinned piece of fish in a seasoned lime broth lets you get a spoonful of bright flavor in every bite.
20/22Ginger-Lime Cauliflower
The Indian flavors of this dish combine cooling spices (fennel, coriander) with the heat of a jalapeño. Remove the seeds from the pepper if you like things a little less fiery.
21/22Collard Green Salad with Cashews and Lime
Collards and kale have some chew to them. Use your hands to work the dressing into the leaves until they soften and start to wilt.
22/22Roasted Corn with Manchego and Lime
A delicious, super-versatile side dish that is a fantastic way to use fresh summer corn and goes great with tacos.