This zesty Cilantro Lime Dressing combines the vibrant flavors of fresh cilantro and tangy lime juice, creating a refreshing and versatile dressing that pairs perfectly with salads, tacos, and grilled meats. It's a burst of flavor in every bite!
Looking for more healthy and dairy free dip ideas? Check out these (mostly) dairy free dips here! They're all soy and gluten free!
Why You'll Love this Recipe!
There's SO many ways you can utilize this recipe! See below for an entire list of ideas.
It's super clean! The ingredients are real foods and fresh.
Ingredients Needed
- Mayonnaise
- Cilantro
- Garlic
- Salt
- Lime
I like to make this homemade Whole30 Mayo as the base for this dressing. It's very clean and simple and made with real food!
Substitutions/Variations
- Add some spice to this dressing by adding a jalapeno!
- If you'd like a thicker dressing, add in an avocado.
- If you'd like a thinner dressing, drizzle in avocado or olive oil as it blends.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Dressing
This is the absolute easiest dressing to make! Just combine all the ingredients and blend!
Start with mayo as your base. Chop the cilantro, and smash or chop the garlic. Add it to the mayo along with the lime juice and zest, and salt.
Using an immersion, blend it all together. That's it!!!
Delicious uses for Cilantro Lime Dressing
- This dressing is great with Mexican dishes. Try it over these Gluten Free Chicken Fajitas!
- Drizzle it over Mexican rice.
- Try it on tacos! When you make the tacos, use this Whole30 taco seasoning. It's the perfect Cilantro Lime Dressing for tacos!
- It's also delicious paired with Puerto Rican papas rellenas (delicious deep fried potato balls) or empanadas!
- I really love pairing this on my breakfast hashes. Put it on eggs too!
- Speaking of eggs, this would also work so well for deviled eggs.
- Dip fries into it!
- Use it as a spread for burgers, wraps, and sandwhiches.
- Of course, use it as a salad dressing!
Storage
Store this in an air tight container, or in a glass jar sealed with a lid or saran wrap, in the fridge.
The dressing should last 3-5 days in the fridge.
It does sometimes thicken in the fridge due to the oil.
Tools Needed
- Chef's Knife
- Cutting Board
- Zester
- Immersion Blender
- Jar
Top Tip for Cilantro Lime Dressing
If you don't have an immersion blender, you can make this in a regular high speed blender. The only difference you'll need to add more oil, I recommend avocado oil, and keep pausing to push it all down.
A Note About Diets
As written, this recipe is naturally gluten free, paleo, dairy free, and Whole30!
If you are participating in any of these diets, then this recipe is safe to eat as written.
It is not vegan as it contains an egg.
FAQ's
This dressing consists of a mayo base, then blended with cilantro, lime zest and juice, salt, and garlic!
It's made of the same ingredients listed above and below, but if you'd like to make it even creamier, add an avocado before blending.
There are a few reasons a cilantro dressing may be bitter.
Be careful to only use the juice and zest only, not the pith! The pith is the white later below the zest, the green outer layer.
Sometimes cilantro stems can make it bitter, so chop off the bottoms or even use only leaves.
Make sure the ingredients are fresh and not rotting!
While other recipes may, this particular recipe does not! It contains no sugar in any form.
Cilantro Lime Dressing
Equipment
- 1 Jar
- 1 Immersion Blender
- 1 Zester
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayo
- ½ bunch cilantro chopped
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and rough chopped
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ juice and zest of lime
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a jar.
- Using an immersion blender, fully blend and incorporate everything together. Enjoy!
Other Healthy Dips and Sauces You Will Enjoy
Did you make this recipe? Leave me a comment below letting me know how much you loved it!
Also feel free to share a picture and tag me on Instagram @thecleanhappylife!
Tanner says
Finally took the plunge. So easy, fast, and delicious! I used rice wine vinegar because that s what I had and dried parsley and fresh chives for the herbs because that s what I had. I don t like wine or vinegar so I used a scant tbls of the vinegar because I was afraid. It was fine, so next time I ll follow the recipe as written. You ladies know your stuff! Thank you for doing the hard work to bring this into our lives.
Rachel Rivera says
I'm glad you tried it! Definitely try it as written, it's so worth it and you won't regret it!
Lani says
Perfect, just what I need. Trying this out, thanks for the recipe.
Rachel Rivera says
Your welcome! I hope you love it!
Marnie says
Yummm... delicious, easy and fresh... what more could you want!! Thank you for this recipe. Marnie xx
Rachel Rivera says
Definitely, nothing more to ask for! I hope you enjoy it!
Anita says
This looks soooo good! And easy too. The best of both worlds. 🙂 I can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing!
Rachel Rivera says
Oh yes, easy and delicious is my favorite combo! I hope you enjoy it!
Elaine says
Wow This looks delicious. Can’t wait to try it !!
Rachel Rivera says
Thank you! I hope you love it 🙂
Casey says
I looooove a good dressing – especially when it’s super easy like this! Can’t wait to try it out on my salads this week!
thecleanhappylife says
Yes same!! Hope you love it!
Yvonne says
This was super easy and tasty!! I think I had a little too much cilantro because it’s pretty green 😂 but definitely tastes good!
thecleanhappylife says
I'm so glad you liked it! Easy and tasty recipes are the best, thank you for trying it!! 🙂
Carolyn says
Holy smokes this looks good. I love the flavors of avocado and lime together, and I’ve been wanting to make a dressing like this for chicken salad wraps. I’m glad I found this recipe, thanks!
thecleanhappylife says
Thank you! I hope you love it, it's definitely a favorite around here!! 🙂