This Healthy Cilantro-Lime Sauce is thick, creamy, and ridiculously flavorful! It’s hard to believe this is a naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan sauce, but it is!
Healthy Cilantro Sauce
My original Cilantro Lime Sauce is a go-to on so many recipes. I almost always have a batch of it in the fridge. Whether we’re drenching Shrimp Tacos, Baked Chicken Tacos, or Air Fryer Chickpeas, everyone goes crazy for it!
But through the years of sharing recipes using this sauce, I’ve received countless emails or comments asking how to make it a bit healthier or how to make it without the mayo.
Well, I finally rose to the challenge and after a few weeks of testing, I am so thrilled with the result — I can’t wait for you all to try it!
Quick Tip
The ingredients in this Healthy Cilantro-Lime Sauce are naturally gluten free, but make sure to check all your ingredient labels to be sure they weren’t processed in a facility with gluten.
Ingredients
Here’s a quick breakdown of the ingredients in this Healthy Cilantro-Lime Sauce:
- Fresh limes: We love zesting the lime with a microplane and then juicing with this citrus juicer. When zesting, avoid the white pith of the limes–it can be quite bitter.
- Minced garlic: Use jarred, frozen, or fresh — whatever you prefer.
- Fresh cilantro: Take a fresh bunch and loosely pack it in the measuring cup for the perfect measurement.
- Jalapeño: Remove the seeds and ribs to control the heat in this sauce or leave in ’em for a spicier sauce!
- Cashews: We use these raw cashews.
- Olive oil: We recommend extra-virgin olive oil for the best possible flavor.
- Water: We thin the sauce with water, but don’t worry– it doesn’t make it bland! With so many intense flavors, the water balances everything nicely and ensures it can blend into a nice smooth sauce.
- Salt and pepper. No sauce is complete without salt and pepper, and this creamy sauce is no exception. Add to your taste preference, remembering that an extra pinch can be the difference between a good and a stellar sauce!
How To Make This Healthy Cilantro-Lime Sauce
This sauce is as simple as adding everything to a blender or food processor and giving it a whirl! Taste, adjust, and enjoy! Below are a few tips:
- Which to use—a high-powered blender or a food processor? Either works just fine, but to get an ultra-smooth sauce, use a powerful blender. In the food processor, you’ll have a slightly chunkier sauce (the cashews won’t break down as well).
- For the smoothest possible healthy cilantro-lime sauce, soak the cashews to ensure they’re softened.
- Chill the sauce: This is a great sauce to make ahead of time as it gets more flavorful as it sits. It also tastes better cold!
- If you’d like a slightly sweeter sauce, add a drizzle of honey. Depending on the cilantro used, you may want to add a touch — there can be some flavor variation from bunch to bunch.
How To Use Homemade Cilantro-Lime Sauce
- Drizzle this sauce on all kinds of tacos, quesadillas, or burritos — think steak tacos, fish tacos, black bean quesadillas, healthy burrito, or chicken tacos!
- Add to a bowl: Use on these Cilantro Lime Shrimp bowls, Honey-Lime Chicken, or Taco Bowls.
- Drizzle on grilled protein: Boost flavor by adding on some grilled chicken, our favorite Grilled Fajita Chicken, or over grilled flank steak.
- Get a rotisserie chicken to serve over this tasty Mexican rice and drizzle everything with Healthy Cilantro-Lime Sauce.
- Vegetarian uses: We love drizzling this sauce over these Mexican Chickpeas, over these Vegetarian Fajitas, or on these Vegetarian Tacos.
More Homemade Dressing Recipes:
- Lemon Vinaigrette with dried herbs
- Balsamic Vinaigrette the best I’ve ever had!
- Greek Salad Dressing with fresh lemon juice
- Vinaigrette our go-to basic vinaigrette
- Green Goddess Dressing with fresh herbs
Healthy Cilantro-Lime Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons seeded and coarsely chopped jalapeño
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1 large lime zest and juice
- 1-1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup water
- Salt and pepper
- Honey optional, see note 1
Instructions
- Place cashews in a heatproof bowl, pour 1 cup of boiling water over them, and let stand for 10 minutes to 1 hour. Drain and dry thoroughly.
- Add cashews and remaining ingredients to a small blender or food processor (see note 2). Add 1 tsp lime zest and 2 tbsp lime juice. Season with salt and pepper (I add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper). Blend until smooth.
- Place in the fridge to chill and let the flavors meld. The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated; just stir before serving. If it thickens, add a bit more lime juice to thin it.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
