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.
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Why does this recipe work?
- Better than the ones you get in some restaurants.
- Make the best use of fresh summer herbs from your garden or farmers’ market.
- Has big bold flavors of herbs.
- It’s slightly different from authentic chimichurri sauce, as it’s creamier and the texture is different too.
- 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
- Cilantro: the hero ingredient. Use cilantro with tender stems. Cilantro stem bag flavors in it.
- 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.
- 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.
- Cumin powder: Enhances the flavors in the sauce. This is an optional ingredient. But we highly recommend you don’t skip it.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- Jalapenos – substitute jalapenos with red chili flakes. You can also use pickled jalapenos.
Step-by-step pictorial
Step 1: Add cilantro with tender stem, garlic cloves, jalapenos, salt, ground pepper, cumin powder, lime juice, and Greek yogurt into the blender.
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.
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
- Use fresh ingredients for the best taste.
- 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.
- Tender cilantro stem has loads of flavor in it, use it along with the leaves.
Recipe FAQs
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.
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.
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📋5 Minutes Easy Creamy Cilantro Sauce
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)
- â…“ 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
- Use fresh ingredients for the best taste.
- 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.
- Tender cilantro stem has loads of flavor in it, use it along with the leaves.
Nutrition
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.
Comments & Reviews
Fallon says
Hi, thanks for the recipe! Do I substitute Greek yogurt with 1/2 cream cheese 1/2 milk? Thanks for your help!
Jyothi Rajesh says
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!
Ash says
My bf and I love this recipe soooo much! We make it almost weekly & love it on salmon & tacos!
Jyothi Rajesh says
Thank you very much, so glad you guys loved the recipe
Lynn says
Can it be frozen?
Jyothi Rajesh says
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.
Daniela says
I’m a big time cilantro lover and this sauce looks and sounds delish!!! Thanks so much for sharing :)!
jyothirajesh says
Glad you liked it
Chef and Steward says
Love the cumin and greek yogurt in this recipe. It’s perfect over grilled meat and fish.
jyothirajesh says
Thank you
Michele says
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!
jyothirajesh says
Thank you
Ana Frias says
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!
jyothirajesh says
Thank you
Michelle says
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!
jyothirajesh says
Thank you
Carmen says
Where can I buy cumin power or what should I substitute with
Jyothi Rajesh says
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
Jacqueline Debono says
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!
jyothirajesh says
Thank you
Chef Dennis says
Now thats a delicious looking sauce. I love cilantro and can think of lots of ways to use that sauce!
jyothirajesh says
Thank you
Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
It looks incredibly delicious. I wish this were in front of me.
jyothirajesh says
Thank you
Julie says
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!
jyothirajesh says
Thank you
kylee says
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.
jyothirajesh says
I agree, it’s one humble herb that is neglected by many. But it sure is my favorite
Marisa F. Stewart says
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.
jyothirajesh says
Oh I love cilantro, and this sauce was amazing! Thank you Marisa
Karly says
I need this sauce in my life! Thanks for sharing!
jyothirajesh says
Glad you liked it, thank you. This sauce is something I put on everything these days.