The Best Cilantro Dressing Recipe
Refreshing Cilantro Vinaigrette with fresh cilantro, lime juice, and cumin. It’s so good over salads, bowls, chicken, fish, or roasted veggies.
Jump to:
- A Cilantro Dressing to Use on Everything
- Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette Ingredients
- How to Make Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Cilantro Dressing Recipe Variations
- Ways to Serve Lime Cilantro Dressing
- Storing Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Salad Dressing Recipes
- Lime Cilantro Dressing
- You May Also Like…
Recipe Review: “I make this all the time! It’s delicious and fresh. I use it on salads, roasted vegetables, buddha bowls, chicken – you name it. Thanks!” ~Wendy ★★★★★
Add a zing to your meals with this Cilantro Vinaigrette! It’s an easy-to-make dressing that packs a punch with its fresh, herbaceous, and citrusy flavors and warm cumin notes.
Perfect for spring and summer, this dressing is versatile enough to pair with any salad or meal, from grilled chicken tenders to roasted veggies. Try it with my spring-inspired Salmon Avocado Salad.
A Cilantro Dressing to Use on Everything
A vinaigrette is incredibly easy and convenient. It allows you to create a dressing that perfectly complements any meal with just a few basic ingredients. Plus, you can make extra to enjoy your delicious creation throughout the week, saving you time and effort in the kitchen.
- Fresh and flavorful. The combination of cilantro, garlic, and lime juice creates a bright and zesty taste that pairs well with a variety of dishes. You can also adjust the seasonings and ingredients to suit your tastes.
- Versatile recipe. Cilantro lime vinaigrette can be used in a variety of ways, including as a salad dressing, marinade, or dipping sauce.
- Better than storebought. By making your own herb vinaigrette at home, you can control the ingredients and avoid the preservatives and additives that are often found in store-bought dressings.
- Easy to make. Cilantro lime vinaigrette recipe is quick and easy to make with just a few simple ingredients, making it a great option for busy weeknights or last-minute meals.
Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette Ingredients
See the recipe card for quantities.
- Cilantro: Fresh cilantro will provide the best flavor and aroma to your vinaigrette. Wash and dry the leaves and remove any tough stems to eliminate any bitterness.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is best.
- Oil: Use a neutral oil such as avocado.
- Lime juice: Adds a zesty pop to your dressing and provides a natural acidity that helps balance out the richness of the oil.
- Cumin: It has a warm and earthy flavor that pairs well with the fresh and zesty taste of cilantro.
- Honey: Adds a touch of sweetness and balances the acidity of the lime juice.
- Salt: To enhance the flavor of the other ingredients.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Dressing
With just a few simple steps, a handful of ingredients, and your machine of choice, you can have a delicious and tangy dressing in minutes.
- Add your dressing ingredients to a blender or food processor.
- Pulse, scraping down the sides as needed until the dressing is smooth.
Cilantro Dressing Recipe Variations
It’s incredibly easy to change up this recipe based on what you’re craving. While this version of the vinaigrette is delicious as is, you can easily make it creamy or spicy with the addition of just one ingredient.
- Make it creamy: Add 1/2 cup plain whole milk Greek yogurt to the food processor with the rest of the ingredients. It’s a delicious creamy twist, similar to our easy cilantro lime cream.
- Make it spicy: Add 1/4 teaspoon or more of red chili flakes. It also tastes wonderful with fresh jalapeno.
Tasting and Adjusting Vinaigrette
By tasting your dressing before adding it to your salad or dish, you can ensure that it has the perfect balance of flavors that complement your ingredients. Here are a few tips:
- Dip a piece of lettuce into the vinaigrette to taste it and adjust where needed.
- Adjust the seasoning in small increments and taste again after each addition to avoid over-seasoning.
- If the dressing is too sour, neutralize it with oil instead of adding salt. Adding salt will only make it saltier, so be cautious with the amount you add.
- If the vinaigrette needs more flavor, try adding more seasoning or a touch of honey for sweetness.
- Incorporate other flavorings into your vinaigrette, such as mustard, lemon juice, or soy sauce.
Ways to Serve Lime Cilantro Dressing
Cilantro vinaigrette is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. Here are a few ideas:
- As a salad dressing: Drizzle over your favorite greens, vegetables, and toppings for a fresh and tangy salad like my Chopped Kale Salad, Chopped Mexican Salad, or Corn Salad.
- As a bowl topping: Add a spoonful of lime cilantro vinaigrette recipe to a grain bowl or veggie bowl for an extra burst of flavor. Some recipes to try: Shrimp Quinoa Bowl or Summer Farro Bowl.
- As a marinade: Use the vinaigrette as a marinade for chicken, fish, or tofu for added flavor. It’s perfect for these Baked Fish Foil Packs, Cilantro Lime Chicken, or Chicken Sliders.
- As a dipping sauce: Serve cilantro vinaigrette as a dipping sauce for veggies, chicken tenders, shrimp, or potatoes. I love dipping Sweet Potato wedges and Grilled Shrimp in this zesty dressing.
Storing Cilantro Lime Dressing
To store, transfer the vinaigrette to an airtight container such as a glass jar or a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and give it a good shake before using it as the ingredients may settle over time.
Can I freeze this vinaigrette?
It is not recommended to freeze this vinaigrette as it won’t have the same consistency when thawed.
Frequently Asked Questions
While olive oil is a popular choice for vinaigrettes, it’s not recommended for cilantro vinaigrette. Olive oil can give the dressing a bitter taste, so it’s best to use a neutral-tasting oil like avocado.
Cilantro vinaigrette can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to about one week. Shake well before using.
More Salad Dressing Recipes
If you try lime cilantro dressing, please leave a star rating and a comment letting us know how you liked the recipe.
Print
Lime Cilantro Dressing
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Blend
- Cuisine: American
Description
Refreshing cilantro vinaigrette with fresh cilantro, lime juice, and cumin. It’s so good over a salad or as a dip.
Ingredients
Yields: 3/4 cup
- 2 cups packed cilantro leaves
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/2 cup avocado oil or other neutral-tasting oil
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
- 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 tsp. honey
- 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl of a food processor. Pulse until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Serve immediately or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To Make it Creamy: Add 1/2 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt.
- To Make it Spicy: Add 1/4 teaspoon or more of red chili flakes.
Notes
- Leftovers: Store the vinaigrette in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It will slightly thicken when chilled. Shake well before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 Tablespoons
- Calories: 168
- Sugar: 1.1 g
- Sodium: 157.8 mg
- Fat: 18.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.8 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Recipe originally published July 2015, but has since been retested and rewritten.
Hi! I'm Katya -- a former corporate paralegal turned full-time recipe developer and blogger behind Little Broken. Here you'll find family-friendly and seasonal recipes made from real ingredients.
I just dug two weeks back in my browsing history to find this recipe again (even though I told myself to remember it). My daughter came home and said “I was reminiscing to my friends about that salad you made with that awesome green sauce on top of it… what even was that stuff? It was so good…” I mean, she’s a 17yo high school kid “reminiscing” about… a salad?!? Dying laughing, but I knew I had to make it again tonight!
Awesome sauce! Thank you. So fresh and flavorful and I no longer have to waste my fresh cilantro
I’m so glad to hear that!
Hi thanks for this recipe. I always waste cilantro because it goes bad before I can use the whole bunch. Can you freeze this salad dressing?
I do not recommend freezing this dressing. It will not have the same consistency when thawed.
I make this all the time! It’s delicious and fresh. I use it on salads, roasted vegetables, buddha bowls, chicken – you name it. Thanks!