Cilantro-Lime Dressing Recipe

Tangy, sweet, and delicious Cilantro-Lime Dressing is the perfect addition to your favorite salad. Made with fresh cilantro, lime juice, ginger, garlic, salt, olive oil, and sweetened with honey. This is one homemade salad dressing you are going to want to eat all the time. 

I know that salads get a bad rap. People will say they’re boring or a form of deprivation. Guess what! Those days are long gone. Salads can be a quick and delicious meal for lunch or dinner without much effort. Then when you drizzle this homemade salad dressing on it, it’s a brand new level of amazing.

I have some exciting news to tell you! Not only is this salad dressing amazing in a big fresh salad, but there are other uses too. Drizzle it on tacos, add it to burrito bowls, pour on top of roasted veggies, or add some to cooked potatoes. Seriously…SO MANY OPTIONS!

If you enjoy making your own dressings, be sure to try my Creamy Vegan Salad Dressing and my Homemade Italian Dressing. They are incredible and are so flavorful.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED:

1. Cilantro – You’ll need fresh cilantro with the leaves and stems. It’s a great source of folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K. It’s just a bonus that it tastes so good.
2. Lime Juice – If there is one thing that goes well with cilantro, it’s lime juicy. I prefer to use fresh limes to get the best flavor.
3. Garlic – Minced garlic is one of my favorite ingredients. It makes the dressing taste better and also gives your body some vitamin C, vitamin B6, calcium, iron, potassium, copper, and more.
4. Ginger Root – You’ll need to use fresh ginger root, and there really isn’t any substitute that will work. If you don’t have it, you can just omit it.
5. Salt – I typically add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, but you can add more or less, depending on your preferences.
6. Olive Oil – It gives the dressing a great texture, but it’s still creamy.
7. Honey-I sweeten this dressing Cilantro-Lime dressing with honey because it is a natural pair. Strict vegans can use maple syrup instead.

HOW TO MAKE CILANTRO-LIME DRESSING

1. Add the cilantro, lime juice, honey, minced garlic, ginger root, and salt to a food processor. Mix until the cilantro is chopped up.

2. Slowly add in the extra virgin olive oil and keep mixing.

3. Pour the dressing in a jar or airtight container until it’s time to serve.

VARIATIONS

In the mood for some other flavors? No problem! I have some tasty ideas that I’m sure you are going to enjoy.

• Jalapenos – To add some heat to the dressing, add a few fresh jalapenos. Make sure to remove the seeds. This is amazing if you are adding the dressing to tacos or taco salad.
• Avocado – Mix in 1/2 – 1 avocado to the dressing for a very creamy result! It will make it slightly thicker, so you may need to add another teaspoon or so of oil or water until it reaches your desired thickness.
• Cayenne Pepper – Add a dash of cayenne pepper to add some firey heat to the dressing.
• Lemon Juice – You can actually swap one lime for one lemon. It’s zesty and gives the recipe a new spin.
• Greek Yogurt – If you aren’t dairy-free, you could also add in 1/4  – 1/2 cup of your favorite plain Greek yogurt. It will make the dressing even creamier but will still keep it light and refreshing.

FAQS ABOUT CILANTRO-LIME DRESSING

WHAT CAN I USE IN PLACE OF HONEY?

Not a fan of honey, or do you eat vegan? No problem, you can swap it for maple syrup or agave nectar instead. Both are tasty options and will give the dressing a subtle sweetness.

IS CILANTRO-LIME DRESSING GLUTEN-FREE?

Yep, if you needed one more reason to get on board with making your own dressing, it’s naturally gluten-free. Many store-bought dressings do have gluten in them, so always be sure to read the labels if you aren’t making homemade.

HOW LONG DOES HOMEMADE DRESSING LAST?

The dressing lasts around 5-7 days in the refrigerator. It’s vital to use a sealed container when storing it so it will last longer. I like to just mason jars, but even an old dressing container that’s been cleaned would work well.

CAN I MAKE DRESSING WITHOUT A FOOD PROCESSOR?

Yep, you can actually use a high-quality blender. Another option is to use an immersion blender if you have one. You just want to make sure that the ingredients are smooth and creamy and not lumpy. The better quality of gadget you use, the better it’s going to turn out.

I could go on and on about all the scrumptious salads I enjoy, but I wanted to tell you about my favorites. Pear Gorgonzola Salad, Roasted Delicata Squash Salad, and Easy Kale Salad with Peaches and Goat Cheese are all pretty tasty options.

If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating below! It’s so helpful for other readers to see which recipes are tried and true! I’d also love to see it–share your photo of this dish and tag me on Instagram, and I’ll feature you!

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