This spicy garlic cilantro sauce with lime and jalapenos makes my mouth water just thinking about it. It works great as a dipping sauce, a salad dressing, or drizzled over all of your favorite Mexican-style meals like tacos, nachos, and burritos.
This cilantro sauce is fresh and light tasting and brightens up just about any meal. If you can't get enough cilantro and lime, this is the recipe for you!
I use this garlic cilantro sauce instead of salsa on just about everything. It's even delicious poured over mashed potatoes, tofu scramble, or a vegan omelet. You can even use it like pesto and pour it over pasta!
🧾 Ingredients and substitutions
- Cilantro - you must use fresh cilantro for this recipe. You will need a large bunch of fresh cilantro.
- Garlic - fresh garlic cloves are important for a great flavor.
- Lime Juice - you will need the juice of 2-3 fresh limes.
- Jalapenos - for a fresh spicy flavor. You can also swap this out with 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
- Salt - for flavor
- Oil - any neutral-flavored oil will work like canola or light olive oil. I don't recommend extra virgin olive oil. You can also omit the oil - the sauce will just be less creamy.
🔪 Helpful tools
- A Food Processor - or a blender to mix it up very fine.
🥄 How to make garlic cilantro sauce
Step 1 - Wash the fresh cilantro bunch and cut off any long stems.
Step 2 -Place the washed cilantro, 3 cloves of garlic, 1/4 cup of lime juice, and 1 fresh jalapeno (with the stem and seeds cut out), and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a food processor.
Step 3 -Blend until all ingredients are chopped fine, then slowly add 1/3 cup of oil while the food processor is running. Scrape the edges if needed and blend until creamy.
Tip - make it creamy cilantro sauce by mixing it with 1/2 cup sour cream, vegan yogurt, or mayonnaise.
👩🏻🍳 Uses for the cilantro garlic sauce
Use this cilantro lime sauce drizzled on the following meals
- Vegan Breakfast Burritos
- Vegan Tamales
- Spicy Vegan Mac and Cheese
- Vegan Loaded Nachos
- TVP Tacos
- Tempeh Tacos
- Vegan Tostadas
- Southwest Bean Salad
- Vegan Fish Tacos
- Vegan Shrimp
- Vegan Empanadas
Use it as a dipping sauce for the following
🥡 Storage
Refrigerate: This cilantro garlic sauce will keep well in the fridge for 1 week in an airtight container.
🌟 More vegan sauces
📌 Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for new vegan recipes!
📋 Garlic cilantro sauce recipe
Garlic Cilantro Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups cilantro (one large bunch)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup lime juice (fresh squeezed)
- 1 jalapeno (seeded) or 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup oil
Instructions
- Wash the fresh cilantro bunch and cut off any long stems.
- Place the washed cilantro, 3 cloves of garlic, 1/4 cup of lime juice, 1 fresh jalapeno, (with the stem and seeds cut out) and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a food processor.
- Blend until all ingredients are chopped fine, then slowly add 1/3 cup of oil while the food processor is running. Scrape the edges if needed and blend until creamy.
Notes
Nutrition
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Click the stars above or leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you!
SO delish on a salad 🥗!
Thank you 🌱💞
You're welcome, Kat! Glad that you enjoyed it!
I can't wait to try this
I hope that you enjoy it, Judy! 🙂
Delicious. Added it to vegan tacos last night's dinner. Makes more than I can use right away, so going to try freezing in Tbsp messures like lime/ lemon juice for future meals.
I'm so happy that you liked it Marilyn! 🙂
Thank you Monica
You're welcome, Huong! 🙂
Recipe sounds like a real winner. I will make in the morning to use with my lunch, whatever they may be.
I hope that you enjoy it, Roger! 🙂