If you have ever had a CAVA bowl, you already know their Hot Harissa Vinaigrette ties everything together in one bite. This bold vinaigrette blends spicy harissa, sweet honey, bright lemon juice, and rich olive oil into a perfectly balanced dressing. It takes just minutes to make and works beautifully for salads, grain bowls, marinades, or dipping sauces.

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Spicy Mediterranean vinaigrette and a grilled chicken salad behind it.

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What makes this CAVA Hot Harissa Vinaigrette recipe so good?

Transform the simplest salads into something you will want to eat every day with this CAVA Hot Harissa Vinaigrette recipe. The sweet heat of the harissa and honey combines beautifully with the red wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil for a truly addictive dressing. But it’s more versatile than just a salad dressing. It also works as a marinade, dip, or sauce. Whichever way you choose to use this CAVA Hot Harissa Vinaigrette recipe, you’re going to love it.

Hot Harissa Vinaigrette ingredients and their roles in the recipe

For this CAVA Hot Harissa Vinaigrette, you’ll need:

Extra-virgin olive oil – provides richness and a nice mouthfeel to the dressing. The EVOO carries the spices and adds its own slightly floral flavor.
Harissa – gives the dressing some heat and a burst of flavor.
Fresh lemon juice – contributes sharp acidity that balances the heat, sweetness, and rich flavors.
Red wine vinegar – is essential to turn this dressing into a vinaigrette. Red wine vinegar has a deeper, less sharp acidity than lemon juice.
Garlic – provides savory elements to the vinaigrette.
Honey – provides a milder sweetness than sugar, along with a floral flavor.
Dark chili powder, like McCormick dark chili powder – gives the dressing a more subtle, earthier heat than harissa.
Water loosens the dressing, allowing it to pour more smoothly and coat evenly.
Salt – enhances the taste of the other ingredients.
Ground black pepper – adds a subtle warmth.

Harissa, honey, oil, lemon, vinegar, garlic, and seasonings.

How to make CAVA Hot Harissa Vinaigrette

To prepare the Hot Harissa Vinaigrette CAVA serves:

Add all the ingredients to a mason jar or another container with a screw-on cap.
Shake vigorously until the harissa paste dissolves and the dressing is smooth.
Chill the vinaigrette for at least half an hour to allow the flavors to come together, but the longer, the better.
Shake well, or blend for a creamier texture, right before serving.

Mixing a spicy vinaigrette in a mason jar.

What to serve with Hot Harissa Vinaigrette

At CAVA, they put their Hot Harissa Vinaigrette on almost everything. Yeah, it’s that good. So, even if you are not making a CAVA-inspired bowl, you’ll still find dozens of uses for it. Below are a few recipes where it can really shine.

Panera’s Mediterranean Grain Bowl – This grain bowl has all the classic Greek Salad ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese, but adds yogurt and hummus for a creamy element piled high on a bed of arugula, brown rice, quinoa, and chicken for extra protein. Marinating the chicken in Hot Harissa Vinaigrette will take the dish in a new direction.
Chili’s Beef Fajitas – This set-it-and-forget-it meal tastes just like Chili’s fajitas, but it’s so easy to make. For a spicier version, try marinating the beef in Hot Harissa Vinaigrette overnight, and in the morning, throw the meat and all the other ingredients into the slow cooker for the perfect Mexican night dinner.
Perfect Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts – High heat turns Brussels sprouts into a seconds-worthy side dish in this simple recipe. But if you want to make these Brussels sprouts really addictive, try reducing the Hot Harissa Vinaigrette in a pan, then tossing the roasted sprouts in it right before serving.

Mediterranean spicy dressing in a mason jar in front of a salad.

How to store this salad dressing

The Hot Harissa Vinaigrette CAVA serves is so good, you’ll want to make at least a double batch so you never run out.

Refrigerator Storage: Store in airtight containers for up to 7 days. Separation is normal when chilled.
Reheating Method: Not required. Let sit at room temperature for a brief time, then shake well before using.
Freezer Storage: Not recommended, as vinaigrettes lose texture when frozen.

A jar of tangy and spicy vinaigrette in front of a Mediterranean salad.

More copycat spicy salad dressing recipes

Find lots of easy salad and salad dressing recipes right here on CopyKat!

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