Cilantro Lime Fresh Dressing (Printable)

Zesty cilantro and lime emulsion with garlic and olive oil—bright, versatile, vegan-friendly dressing for salads and more.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fresh Ingredients

01 - 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, packed, stems removed
02 - 2 cloves garlic, peeled
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
04 - 1 small jalapeño, seeded (optional, for heat)

→ Liquid Ingredients

05 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
06 - 2 tablespoons water

→ Seasonings

07 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon honey or agave nectar (optional, for balance)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Place the cilantro leaves, garlic cloves, lime juice, seeded jalapeño (if using), sea salt, black pepper, and honey or agave into a blender or food processor bowl.
02 - Pulse the mixture several times until the cilantro and garlic are roughly chopped and beginning to break down.
03 - With the blender running on low, slowly drizzle in the olive oil followed by the water. Continue blending until the dressing is smooth and fully emulsified, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
04 - Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning as desired, adding additional lime juice, salt, or sweetener to balance the flavors.
05 - Transfer the dressing to a glass jar or serving container. Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 4 days. Shake well before each use as separation may occur.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It takes about as long as scrolling through your phone, and the result is miles better than anything in a bottle.
  • You will start putting it on everything: salads, rice, roasted carrots, even cold leftover pizza if you are being honest with yourself.
02 -
  • If you skip scraping down the blender sides you will end up with chunks of raw garlic hiding in an otherwise smooth dressing, which is a rude surprise mid bite.
  • Adding the oil too fast once caused the whole thing to break and separate, so a slow drizzle really does matter.
03 -
  • Use the cilantro stems as well as the leaves if your bunch is looking sparse; they carry plenty of flavor and blend up seamlessly.
  • Rolling the lime on the counter while pressing down with your palm before juicing yields almost twice as much liquid.

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