Lime juice is often used to add flavour to cocktails and gives a pleasant sour taste to curries, tacos and sauces. You can also use the zest of this citrus fruit in your baking, and just a pinch is enough to give a fresh flavour to your cake icing.
But what if you are out of stock of limes. What substitutes for lime juice are there?
Our 4 Substitutes for Lime Juice
You entered your kitchen to make a beverage or cook a delicious meal that requires lime juice, and after opening your refrigerator, you realise that there is not even half a lime.
But wait, don’t panic! In the list below, you will discover four of the best alternatives that you can use for either sweet or savoury dishes.
Some of them are from the same citrus family but have differences in taste and aroma:
1) Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is closely related to lime juice, and both share the same acidic taste. Both fruits are enriched with vitamin C & B. You can substitute it with 1:1 without even noticing the difference in taste.
Lemon juice can easily cover in margaritas, and it can also be used as a substitute when baking. It can also be used to add acidity to savoury dishes.
Swap 1:1
Lime juice can be swapped out with lemon juice in equal quantities. The sourness is slightly different but it will work just fine.
2) Orange Juice
Orange juice is another go-to option to replace lime juice. However, oranges are less acidic and have a sweeter taste.
Unlike lime fruits, they have a delicious flavour and are far easier to eat neat as they come. They have a more sugary taste than limes.
If you are making a recipe that needs a touch of sugar, like dressing a fruit salad or a citrus fruit beverage, then oranges are the best substitute. The quantity of orange juice in your recipe depends on the amount of sugar you require.
Avoid in Savoury Dishes
If you’re looking for a lime juice substitute that can used to add acidity to sauces, stews or curries then avoid using orange juice which can be a little too sweet.
3) Black Lime
Have you heard the term black lime before? Probably not because they are mostly known as dried limes. Black limes do not precisely taste like fresh limes, but they will give a solid sour flavour to your meals.
They will go best with savoury dishes like soups, meat, and stews. Black limes also provide a smokey taste to your savoury dishes.
The almost same quantity of black lime is used in most dishes. To make the taste more delicious, you can set the amount according to how much you want your recipe to be sour.
Pierce the Black Lime First
Before adding a black lime to your cooking, make sure you pierce it a couple of times with a sharp knife. This will ensure the flavour from the lime seeps into your cooking.
4) Citrus Zest
Citrus zest, instead of juice, can be a fantastic substitute to add tangy and acidic flavour to your drinks and baked goods. Citrus zest can also be the most suitable option for your savoury dishes.
Lemon zest goes best with the curries served with grilled fish/chicken complemented with a bowl of garlic rice or pasta tossed in olive oil and garlic.
Different Zests for Different Dishes
You know what lemon, oranges and grapefruit taste like so consider this when using the zest. Grapefruit zest will work great in cocktails. Orange zest is perfect for cakes. Lemon zest will add zing to cooked dishes.
Other Substitutes for Lime Juice
Here are other substitutes that can be used under some conditions; not every ingredient is suitable for all dishes:
- Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar and red vinegar are excellent substitutes if you want lime juice for its acidity. In fact, any type of vinegar can be used as long as you use a ratio of 1:2. It works brilliantly in guacamole, salsa, and salad dressing recipes.
- Tamarind – This sour fruit is a suitable substitute for lime juice. Tamarind grows in pods on a Tamarind tree, and this will work well for Asian and Middle Eastern recipes with a sour flavour. Add a bit at a time until you have reached the desired level of sourness as it packs a punch!
Summary
So, lemon juice, orange juice, black lime, tamarind, and vinegar are some of the ingredients that can be used as a substitute for recipes requiring lime juice. All of these substitutes work really well in recipes that require lime juice for an acidic content and flavour.