Cilantro Lime Dressing (Vinaigrette) is a zesty homemade Mexican salad dressing -- perfect for marinades & salads -- featuring lime juice, fresh cilantro, and a touch of honey!
For more delectable homemade vinaigrettes, don't miss Champagne Vinaigrette, Greek Salad Dressing, and Classic Balsamic Vinaigrette!
Cilantro...you either love it or you hate it. So today, I apologize in advance to the poor souls who genuinely think that cilantro tastes like soap. In fact, I will totally understand if y'all need to peace out and check back tomorrow. 😉 However, you lucky ones (like me) who can't get enough of that quizzical herb are going to love this fresh, zesty Cilantro Lime Dressing!
We've been eating a lot of main course salads around here lately, and some variation of taco salad is always a quick and easy last-minute option. I typically pile on as many extra veggies as I can get away with -- even if they're not particularly taco-like -- and my family doesn't seem to notice...because who's going to argue with more "healthy stuff" in a salad when the crowning glory involves a sprinkle of taco meat and shredded cheese, plus a glorious dressing?
Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
I often whip up a batch of homemade Avocado Ranch Dressing to top our taco salads. But since my husband is allergic to avocados, he requires an alternative. So last week, I had the bright idea to adapt my Homemade Italian Dressing into a Mexican-cuisine friendly variation, replacing most of the vinegar with lime juice and swapping fresh cilantro for the dried Italian herbs.
And the result? This Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette is indeed fabulous on taco salad -- or any salad -- but I think it would also make a yummy marinade for flank steak, pork chops, or chicken! And even though it's bursting with cilantro, the flavor is not overwhelmingly cilantro-y. Rather, it's zippy, zesty, and just plain delicious.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Dressing
Making homemade salad dressing is truly as simple as measuring the ingredients into your preferred receptacle and vigorously combining them. And that's it!
I started out by adding 2 tablespoons of fresh minced cilantro to the base of the dressing. Not enough. So I doubled it to a quarter cup. Still not enough! So I doubled that to a whopping half cup. Now you're talking...
That being said, feel free to tweak the amount of cilantro to your liking. I also added a squeeze of honey to the dressing, which balances the acidity as opposed to making it sweet. But again, you can add more or less to taste. And as far as preparing the cilantro dressing, it only takes a few minutes.
So whether you're a fan of cilantro...or you adore Mexican/Tex-Mex fare...or you're looking for a new homemade salad dressing to add to your repertoire...this Cilantro Lime Dressing has got you covered! It's fresh and flavorful and just a little bit different than your standard salad dressing. Enjoy!
Helpful Tips, Tricks, & Equipment
- You may make this vinaigrette with extra-virgin olive oil, if you wish. Just keep in mind that the stronger flavor of olive oil is going to come through in the dressing.
- When I make homemade vinaigrette, I prefer measuring all of the ingredients into my mini food processor (this is the one I have) and pulsing until well-combined. This results in tiny little pieces of cilantro nicely distributed throughout, and it helps to emulsify the dressing as well. But alternatively, you may whisk the ingredients together in a bowl or shake 'em up in a tightly-sealed jar or a handy-dandy salad shaker.
- Check out more yummy homemade salad dressings here!
More Recipes for Cilantro Fans
- Creamy Jalapeño Dip {Chuy's Copycat Recipe}
- Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Slow Cooker Charro Beans
Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette {Zesty Mexican Salad Dressing}
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup finely minced fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/2 cup neutral-flavored salad oil (such as sunflower or safflower)
- 3 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lime juice
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Measure ingredients into the bowl of a mini food processor (or blender). Pulse until well-blended and emulsified. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more salt and pepper if necessary. (Alternatively, you may measure all ingredients into a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously, OR whisk the ingredients together in a bowl.)
- Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator; allow to come to room temperature and shake well before using.
Notes
Erin
Hi!! Do you think this dressing would still be good without the garlic? We have a garlic allergy here. ๐
Samantha Skaggs
Sure! Just taste it after you make it and see if you might need to bump up any of the other ingredients in case the flavor is a little bland. ๐
Vishakha
Can we use olive oil instead of sunflower oil?
Samantha Skaggs
Yes! ๐
Linda
Omg I love this dressing. Iโm needing to loose some weight before my need surgery. So I have been looking for some different dressing for salads. This is on different dark greens with a little of the fried onions and very little parma cheese oh my my my. But I need to make some to take on a trip. So how long will it keep? Also thank you so much for sharing your recipe
Samantha Skaggs
So happy that you enjoyed it, Linda! Given the fresh cilantro, it should keep about a week in the fridge (maybe more). ๐
Diana
Searching online, I found dozens of different versions of โlime cilantro dressingโ. Many had yogurt, buttermilk, mayonnaise, or sour cream, as base ingredients, and often included loads of honey. I wanted a dressing that would showcase the fresh, bright flavors of cilantro and lime, and this one really did the trick. I made a big salad and served this dressing on it at our family taco night, and everyone was crazy about it!
Manda
This is delish! Ended up using a bit less than 1/2 a cup of the cilantro so we had some for the chicken marinade. I also added a tablespoon of pineapple juice in place of one of the tbsp. of water because I had it on hand. You can adjust things slightly to your own tastes but this is fantastic. I also made it in our Ninja smoothie maker which makes dressings like this a cinch! Thanks!!