Creamy Cilantro and Lime Dressing

Cilantro and lime are a match made in flavor heaven - bright, aromatic, and truly meant to be together. This creamy cilantro lime dressing reunites them in the best way possible. You just need five simple ingredients (plus a blender!) for an intensely flavorful topping for salads, burrito bowls, and so much more. It's naturally creamy thanks to the blending process, so you can enjoy maximum flavor without any added dairy or mayo. It's the best!

If you're trying to add more flavor and veggies to your meals, pairing cilantro and lime together is the perfect solution.

Cilantro has the most beautifully bright and aromatic flavor that makes almost everything taste better, and lime has an almost fragrant quality and subtle sweetness, plus all that beautiful citrus flavor. 

Together, they're the ultimate power couple, making it easier than ever to eat sky-high piles of greens and veggies. I love it in this Tropical Kale and Quinoa Salad, especially when paired with fresh papaya and peppers!

This super simple dressing adds a little sugar and olive oil to make it slightly sweet and just creamy enough - you'll want to pour it on everything.

Unlike other creamy dressings, this version is blended together. The blending process emulsifies and aerates the dressing, making it thicker and creamier than traditional vinaigrettes. It's not quite as creamy as dressings with yogurt or sour cream, but believe me, it does the job just fine!

Why you’ll love this Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing Recipe

• Naturally rich and creamy dressing without any added dairy or mayo
• One of the most incredibly flavorful salad dressings ever
• Requires just 5 simple ingredients
• Ready in mere moments - it all comes together in the blender!
• Tastes better than any bottled dressing you'll find at the grocery store

Ingredients for Homemade Cilantro Lime Dressing

For the best flavor, use the freshest ingredients you can find. Fresh limes and fresh cilantro will make a world of difference.

• Fresh lime juice - With so few ingredients, it's really best to use fresh limes instead of juice from concentrate. Feel free to add the lime zest for an even brighter flavor.
• Olive oil - This will help thicken the dressing and make it more satisfying.
• Fresh cilantro - We're using all of it here: the cilantro leaves and the stems. They add extra flavor and a little extra bulk to help this dressing become nice and creamy.
• Turbinado sugar - Just a hint of sweetness will help balance all of the flavors and bring the dressing together. You can also use maple syrup, if preferred.
• Salt - To balance all of the flavors in the dressing.

How to Make Creamy Cilantro and Lime Dressing

• To a high-powered blender or food processor, add lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, turbinado and salt.
• Blend until smooth and thick.

How to Store

Store any leftover dressing in an airtight container, like a mason jar, in the fridge for up to 1 week. Shake well before using.

Tips for Making the Best Cilantro Lime Dressing

• Season to taste. Feel free to add more spices and seasonings, if you'd like. For a bit of a kick, you can even add a few dashes of hot sauce or some red pepper flakes.
• Make it creamier. For an even creamier dressing, blend in 1-2 ripe avocados. 
• Play with other herbs. In addition to cilantro, feel free to try substituting some fresh parsley, adding mint, or playing with other fresh herbs from the garden. 

How to Serve

This recipe is so quick and easy that I tend to make it all the time. It's one of my favorite recipes and it's also a great way to use up a bunch of cilantro quickly to keep it from going bad.

The fresh flavors work great in summer salads, but honestly, I enjoy it all year! It adds a brightness to this Autumn Butternut Bulgur Salad, and makes it taste even more vibrant and fresh.

Serve it drizzled over all your garden salads and Tex Mex favorites like my Nacho Salad, burrito bowls, and more. I also like to use it as a flavor-packed garnish drizzled over tacos or a smoking hot plate of vegan fajitas or nachos. 

Really, you can use it as a cilantro lime sauce anytime you want a bit of acidity and herby brightness - whether that’s for a salad or something else entirely.

Plus, the flavors are similar to my Southwest Tahini Lime Dressing, but without the tahini. This makes it a great alternative for people who can't tolerate sesame seeds, and can be used instead of that dressing in many of my summer salad recipes.