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Home > Condiments, Sauces & Seasonings > 5 Minutes Easy Creamy Cilantro Sauce
5 minutes minutes

5 Minutes Easy Creamy Cilantro Sauce

Published: Jun 18, 2024

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cilantro cream sauce in jar with text
green herb sauce made of cilantro and Greek yogurt in a glass jar.
cilantro cream sauce in jar with text

Cream cilantro sauce takes just 5 minutes to make using simple ingredients. This green sauce has big flavors of cilantro and can be used on everything from salad dressing, to drizzle on tacos, or use it on chimichurri grilled chicken. Use it to jazz up Mexican-inspired food.

green herb sauce made of cilantro and Greek yogurt in a glass jar.
Jump to:
  • Why does this recipe work?
  • Ingredients
  • Step-by-step pictorial
  • Serving suggestions
  • Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Related sauces
  • 📋5 Minutes Easy Creamy Cilantro Sauce

Why does this recipe work?

  1. Better than the ones you get in some restaurants.
  2. Make the best use of fresh summer herbs from your garden or farmers’ market.
  3. Has big bold flavors of herbs.
  4. It’s slightly different from authentic chimichurri sauce, as it’s creamier and the texture is different too.
  5. The freshness of this sauce is unbeatable. The ones served in restaurants lack fresh cilantro flavors due to the excessive amount of sour cream or cream cheese. The homemade version is well-balanced, with the right cilantro flavors.

Ingredients

all ingredients for cilantro sauce recipe in small glass bowls
  1. Cilantro: the hero ingredient. Use cilantro with tender stems. Cilantro stem bag flavors in it.
  2. Garlic: Too much raw garlic flavor will offset the taste of the sauce, don’t add too much garlic. For 2 packed cups of cilantro use about 2 to 4 cloves of garlic.
  3. Jalapeno: Adds mild heat to the sauce. Remove and discard the seeds of the jalapenos if you want mild heat. Feel free to use pickled jalapenos if you can’t get fresh jalapenos.
  4. Cumin powder: Enhances the flavors in the sauce. This is an optional ingredient. But we highly recommend you don’t skip it.
  5. White vinegar: You don’t need vinegar if using lime juice. I used both. Use either lime juice or vinegar. For 2 packed cups of cilantro, use either ¼ cup lime juice (or) 2 tablespoon white vinegar.

Variation ideas

  1. Cilantro – If you belong to the cilantro hater group, you can substitute cilantro with parsley or fresh basil. Note, the flavor of the sauce with different herbs than cilantro will taste different.
  2. Greek yogurt – a low-calorie substitution for Greek yogurt is avocados. Adding ripe avocado makes it a creamy avocado dip-like consistency that it thicker, creamier, and super delicious! Other substitutions for Greek yogurt are cream cheese or sour cream and milk together.
  3. Jalapenos – substitute jalapenos with red chili flakes. You can also use pickled jalapenos.

Step-by-step pictorial

fresh herbs, jalapeno, garlic, Greek yogurt, and cumin in a food processor.

Step 1: Add cilantro with tender stem, garlic cloves, jalapenos, salt, ground pepper, cumin powder, lime juice, and Greek yogurt into the blender.

blending fresh herbs, jalapeno, garlic, Greek yogurt, and cumin in a food processor.

Step 2: Blend until smooth. Pour in vinegar (optional) and olive oil in slow streams. Continue to blend until it reaches a smooth and creamy sauce.

creamy cilantro sauce in a food processor.

Step 3: Taste and adjust the season (salt and pepper) to taste.

Transfer cilantro lime sauce into an airtight glass jar. You can store it in the fridge for up to a week.

Use it on salads, burgers, sandwiches, roasted chicken, chimichurri grilled chicken, or dip for Parmesan baked potato wedges.

Serving suggestions

Use the sauce –

  • salad dressing,
  • to drizzle over tacos, quesadillas,
  • burritos, nachos,
  • spreads for burgers, and sandwiches,
  • drizzle it over grilled meat or fish,
  • stir it with crispy roast potato or roast chicken, 
  • use it as dipping sauce with your fries, and vegetables.

Tips

  1. Use fresh ingredients for the best taste.
  2. Cilantro is the main ingredient to make this sauce. I wouldn’t recommend any other herb, but if you are a cilantro hater and have to use some other herbs, try parsley or basil.
  3. Tender cilantro stem has loads of flavor in it, use it along with the leaves.

Recipe FAQs

Is the sauce the same as cilantro chimichurri sauce?

No, this sauce is creamier and has a different texture than chimichurri sauce. Authentic chimichurri sauce usually is rustic in texture where herbs, shallots, and garlic are smashed in a mortar or pestle or chopped fine using a knife.

Can you use this sauce for pasta?

Yes, you can. Cook pasta such as spiral, fusili or farfelle al-dente. Toss pasta in the sauce until coated well, and top it with freshly grated parmesan cheese and toasted pinenuts. Enjoy.

creamy green cilantro sauce in a glass jar.

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    Taco Bell Baja Sauce Recipe (Copycat)

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spooning cilantro lime sauce from a glass jar.
5 from 16 votes

📋5 Minutes Easy Creamy Cilantro Sauce

Jyothi Rajesh
Cream cilantro sauce takes just 5 minutes to make using simple ingredients. This green sauce has big flavors of cilantro and can be used on everything from salad dressing, to drizzle on tacos, or use it on
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Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course sauce
Cuisine Tex-Mex
Servings 6 servings
Calories 125

Equipment

  • food processor or blender

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 huge bunch fresh cilantro with tender stem (2 cups fully packed)
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2 jalapenos
  • ¼ cup lime juice
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar (optional)
  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Add cilantro with tender stem, garlic cloves, jalapenos, salt, ground pepper, cumin powder, lime juice, and Greek yogurt into the blender.
  • Blend until smooth.
  • Pour in vinegar (optional) and olive oil in slow streams. Continue to blend until it reaches a smooth and creamy sauce.
  • Taste and adjust the season (salt and pepper) to taste.
  • Transfer cilantro lime sauce into air tight glass jar. Store it in fridge for up to a week.
  • Use it on salads, burgers, sandwiches, roasted chicken, grilled meat, or as a dip.

Video

Notes

  1. Use fresh ingredients for the best taste.
  2. Cilantro is the main ingredient to make this sauce. I wouldn’t recommend any other herb, but if you are a cilantro hater and have to use some other herbs, try using parsley or basil.
  3. Tender cilantro stem has loads of flavor in it, use it along with the leaves.
 
Nutritional Info – Please keep in mind that nutritional information provided is only a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 125kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 8mgPotassium: 61mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 60IUVitamin C: 9.2mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 0.3mg
Did you make this recipe?Follow @CurryTrail and tag #CurryTrail to share your creation!

Created by Jyothi Rajesh

Jyothi Rajesh is the founder of the food blog, Curry Trail. She lives in Bangalore, India and is the mom of two beautiful kids. Her passion is creating and sharing delicious and easy recipes for the home cook. She’s been blogging since 2014 and many of her recipes have appeared in both online and print publications over the years. Learn more about Jyothi Rajesh.

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    5 from 16 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Fallon says

    August 01, 2023 at 3:16 am

    Hi, thanks for the recipe! Do I substitute Greek yogurt with 1/2 cream cheese 1/2 milk? Thanks for your help!

    Reply
    • Jyothi Rajesh says

      August 01, 2023 at 10:50 am

      Hi, I haven’t tested with cream cheese, but I’m guessing you can substitute it with cream cheese and milk. Remember with cream cheese the sauce will taste richer (might be slightly heavy too). If you like a richer taste, yes you can try this substitute!

      Reply
  2. Ash says

    June 21, 2023 at 6:46 am

    5 stars
    My bf and I love this recipe soooo much! We make it almost weekly & love it on salmon & tacos!

    Reply
    • Jyothi Rajesh says

      June 21, 2023 at 8:52 pm

      Thank you very much, so glad you guys loved the recipe

      Reply
  3. Lynn says

    December 12, 2021 at 8:14 am

    Can it be frozen?

    Reply
    • Jyothi Rajesh says

      December 12, 2021 at 8:20 pm

      You can refrigerate the sauce for 5-7 days. I wouldn’t recommend freezing it as there is diary ingredient (yogurt) in it. If you do want to freeze, make the sauce without yogurt and then freeze in zip lock bags. Fill the bags 3/4, close it up by pushing all air out and flatten it to stack up easily.

      Reply
  4. Daniela says

    July 08, 2019 at 3:44 pm

    I’m a big time cilantro lover and this sauce looks and sounds delish!!! Thanks so much for sharing :)!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      July 08, 2019 at 3:52 pm

      Glad you liked it

      Reply
  5. Chef and Steward says

    July 08, 2019 at 6:59 am

    Love the cumin and greek yogurt in this recipe. It’s perfect over grilled meat and fish.

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      July 08, 2019 at 8:26 am

      Thank you

      Reply
  6. Michele says

    July 08, 2019 at 2:01 am

    5 stars
    This cilantro sauce looks so flavorful and delish! There are so many things I would want to put it on. The first thing I would try it on is TACOS!! Looks really good!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      July 08, 2019 at 8:26 am

      Thank you

      Reply
  7. Ana Frias says

    July 07, 2019 at 8:58 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe has my name all over it! It’s truly delicious! I love Greek yogurt and cilantro and together are magical! Thanks of sharing!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      July 07, 2019 at 9:36 pm

      Thank you

      Reply
  8. Michelle says

    July 07, 2019 at 8:00 pm

    5 stars
    What a great sauce! It just screams summer and I think I could add this to everything I eat this summer! Thanks so much for sharing this!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      July 07, 2019 at 9:36 pm

      Thank you

      Reply
    • Carmen says

      April 14, 2022 at 5:13 am

      Where can I buy cumin power or what should I substitute with

      Reply
      • Jyothi Rajesh says

        April 15, 2022 at 9:51 am

        Where do you live Carmen? Cumin powder is available in Indian, Middle Eastern stores. You can look for those store near you or try online stores like amazon which most probably should have

  9. Jacqueline Debono says

    July 06, 2019 at 6:02 pm

    5 stars
    This is the best cilantro sauce I have ever tasted! I made it with cilantro growing in my garden and it was amazing! Served it on salad and chicken!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      July 06, 2019 at 8:50 pm

      Thank you

      Reply
  10. Chef Dennis says

    July 06, 2019 at 6:32 am

    5 stars
    Now thats a delicious looking sauce. I love cilantro and can think of lots of ways to use that sauce!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      July 06, 2019 at 8:50 pm

      Thank you

      Reply
  11. Mama Maggie's Kitchen says

    July 06, 2019 at 3:54 am

    5 stars
    It looks incredibly delicious. I wish this were in front of me.

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      July 06, 2019 at 8:48 pm

      Thank you

      Reply
  12. Julie says

    July 06, 2019 at 12:04 am

    I bet this cilantro sauce is delicious on grilled chicken. if my cilantro plant ever picks up and grows a little, I’ll give it a try!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      July 06, 2019 at 8:49 pm

      Thank you

      Reply
  13. kylee says

    July 05, 2019 at 10:04 pm

    5 stars
    Cilantro is one of the BEST and most flavorful herbs out there. It’s a big favorite of mine. Can’t wait to try it.

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      July 06, 2019 at 8:49 pm

      I agree, it’s one humble herb that is neglected by many. But it sure is my favorite

      Reply
  14. Marisa F. Stewart says

    July 05, 2019 at 5:41 pm

    5 stars
    The first time I tried cilantro I hated it!! Now, I almost crave it. I’ve made lots of things with cilantro but not a sauce. Using yogurt makes it nutritious and creamy. What a great addition over fish or meat. So yummy. I could even put this on my baked potato!! I’m pinning.

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      July 05, 2019 at 8:14 pm

      Oh I love cilantro, and this sauce was amazing! Thank you Marisa

      Reply
  15. Karly says

    June 30, 2019 at 11:43 pm

    I need this sauce in my life! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      July 01, 2019 at 8:01 am

      Glad you liked it, thank you. This sauce is something I put on everything these days.

      Reply
Newer Comments »

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Jyothi - Author of Curry Trail.

Welcome, I'm Jyothi

My food philosophy is simple, fresh and full of flavors! I love ‘spicy’ food. In fact so much so that I can skip dessert for extra spicy savory food!

More About Me
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