5-Minute Creamy Cilantro Lime Sauce
Create this zesty, creamy cilantro lime sauce quickly. It works as a versatile dipping sauce, dressing, or marinade for tacos, grilled chicken, or bowls.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 5 min
- Yield: About 1.5 cups 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mexican Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (or sour cream/mayonnaise for non-yogurt base)
- 1 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 small jalapeño, seeds removed (optional, for spice)
- 1 tablespoon water (or more, for thinning)
Instructions
- Place the Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, salt, pepper, and optional jalapeño into a food processor or high-speed blender.
- Process the ingredients until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed.
- If the sauce is too thick for your desired consistency, add water one tablespoon at a time while blending until you reach a smooth, pourable texture. This is your best taco sauce base.
- Taste the sauce and adjust salt or lime juice as needed.
- Use immediately as a versatile condiment for bowls or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- For a vegan cilantro sauce alternative, substitute the Greek yogurt with a plain, unsweetened vegan yogurt or use 1/2 cup of soaked raw cashews blended with 1/2 cup of water instead of the yogurt.
- If you prefer a richer sauce for grilled meats, swap the Greek yogurt for mayonnaise or sour cream to make a spicy lime crema.
- To use this as a zesty lime marinade, thin the sauce slightly more with lime juice and let meat sit in the mixture for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 Tbsp
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 110
- Fat: 3
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 2
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 5