Cilantro-Lime Dressing
Updated
Updated
This homemade Cilantro-Lime Dressing only requires a handful of ingredients, but renders incredible flavor and will take any salad or grilled meat up several levels! Use as a dressing or marinade.
If you love the flavors of cilantro and lime, don’t miss our cilantro-lime rice!
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Easy Homemade Cilantro Lime Dressing
I adore homemade sauces and dressings to the moon and back. Store bought ain’t got nothing on homemade! And making dressings at home from scratch is SO easy.
This Cilantro-Lime Dressing came from my friend Sherry; she said it’s a recreation of some TGI Friday’s dressing they use on their grilled chicken salad. I’ve never been to TGI Friday’s, but I can totally see this dressing being awesome on grilled chicken. The funny thing is, I’m not really a huge fan of cilantro, but I absolutely love this dressing where it’s basically the main ingredient. I kind of want to drink it.
Ingredients Needed
You just need a handful of ingredients for this dressing recipe.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Cilantro – Our star ingredient and the base of the dressing. Feel free to use the leaves and stems, since it’s all blended anyway.
- Jalapeño pepper – Provides a bit of awesome heat. Make sure to remove the seeds so the dressing isn’t overly spicy.
- Garlic & Ginger – For wonderful aromatics and flavor.
- Lime juice – Adds tanginess. Freshly squeezed is a must.
- Balsamic vinegar – Adds a rich, complex explosive flavor with sweet undertones.
- Honey – For a bit of sweetness to balance out the sharp vinegar and tart citrus.
- Kosher salt & pepper – Heightens all the other flavors.
- Olive oil – Adds richness and blends everything together.
Make it Creamy
Is This a Salad Dressing or Marinade?
You can use this cilantro lime dressing recipe for salads or a marinade for grilled meats. I’ve actually been putting it on all.the.things. because it’s so wonderful.
Great as a marinade for grilled chicken, or in these Tropical Chicken Lettuce Cups. And also just drizzled on some (rinsed and drained) canned chickpeas – AWESOME afternoon snack!
Proper Storage
Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight jar in the refrigerator and will last up to 4 days.
More Dressing Recipes:
- Honey-Sesame Dressing
- Green Goddess Dressing
- Greek Salad Dressing
- Poppy Seed Dressing
- Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Homemade Ranch Dressing
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Cilantro-Lime Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 small jalapeño pepper, , seeds removed, roughly chopped
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1/2 cup lime juice, , freshly squeezed
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup packed cilantro
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Place jalapeño, garlic clove, and ginger in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until finely chopped. Pour in the lime juice, honey, balsamic, salt, pepper, and cilantro leaves; pulse until well blended.
- Leave the food processor running and slowly pour in the olive oil until incorporated.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
- Use on leafy or bean salads or as a marinade for grilled chicken or beef.FOR A CREAMY DRESSING: blend in 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt or a ripe avocado.
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!
For the first time, I have found a dressing that I really like!
This was DELISH! Way better than anything I’ve purchased at the store.