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Greek yogurt makes this easy Cilantro Lime Dressing ultra-creamy. The 5-ingredient homemade salad dressing is so tasty, you’ll want to drink the ranch dressing alternative by the spoonful!
The original Hidden Valley Ranch, yes, of bottled ranch dressing fame, is a real place in Santa Barbara, California. With that inspiration in mind, I stepped into my Test Kitchen to create a silky, herb-spiked ranch substitute which I now call “California Ranch.”
Just 5 ingredients are required to recreate this far-better-than-bottled homemade salad dressing. (If you’re looking for the OG, I’ve got your Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix here, by the way.) This Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing recipe features some of my favorite fresh, vibrant flavors the Southwest. Although it sure doesn’t taste healthy, this easy dressing recipe is made with a base of Greek yogurt, which delivers a dose of protein and gut health-promoting probiotics.
This is same kind of dressing they drizzle over taco salads at my favorite Tex-Mex restaurants, but it’s super simple to make at home in 5 minutes flat.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Plain Greek yogurt: For a richer texture and flavor, opt for a fat level of 2% or higher. That said, any plain Greek yogurt from 0% up works for this creamy salad dressing. Sour cream is a great substitute, if you prefer.
- Garlic: Mince the garlic before adding to the food processor, otherwise, you may be left with large chunks of garlic in the salad dressing. (Which I certainly don’t mind, but know that not everyone loves.)
Step by step instructions
- In a food processor, combine cilantro, yogurt, lime juice, and garlic. Blend until smooth.
- With the motor running, slowly add olive oil through the feed-tube.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like ¼ teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper). Chill until serving.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing recipe makes about 2 cups. This is equivalent to 32 tablespoons, enough for 16 2-tablespoon servings.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Garlic: Try roasted garlic instead of raw for a more mellow flavor.
- Green Goddess: Made with parsley, chives, and tarragon, Green Goddess dressing has a similar color and texture but a different (yet equally delicious) herby flavor profile. It’s a great choice to explore next!
Recipe FAQs
Research proves that our genes play a role in whether we swoon over cilantro or think it smells and tastes soapy. If you fall into the anti-cilantro camp, try this same creamy salad dressing concept with basil or a mix of parsley and dill instead. (You may want to swap in lemon juice for the lime juice in either case.)
You sure can. Cilantro stems are tender and full of flavor, but I prefer the texture of leaves in this DIY dressing. Feel free to save the stems for other uses, such as Cilantro Mint Sauce.
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Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup cilantro leaves
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (see note 1)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (from 2 limes)
- 2 cloves garlic minced (see note 2)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine cilantro, yogurt, lime juice, and garlic. Blend until smooth.
- With the motor running, slowly add olive oil through the feed-tube. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like ¼ teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper). Chill until serving.
Notes
- Plain Greek yogurt: For a richer texture and flavor, opt for a fat level of 2% or higher. That said, any plain Greek yogurt from 0% up works for this creamy salad dressing. Sour cream is a great substitute, if you prefer.
- Garlic: Mince the garlic before adding to the food processor, otherwise, you may be left with large chunks of garlic in the salad dressing. (Which I certainly don’t mind, but know that not everyone loves.)
- Yield: This Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing recipe makes about 2 cups. This is equivalent to 32 tablespoons, enough for 16 2-tablespoon servings.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
Best Cilantro Lime dressing I have ever had.
So glad you loved it, Lea! Take care! – Megganj
This dressing is so so good! It’s creamy, tangy, healthy, and the taste reminds me of summer. So much better than bottled dressings! I love the previous reviewer’s idea of adding jalapeno. We’ll try that next time. This would also be great on steak, chicken, tacos, etc!
Hi Laura, thank you so much for your comment! I’m glad you loved it! – Meggan
Very sour. I cut the recipe in half, and I had to add a teaspoon of agave syrup. I wouldn’t make this again.
Hi ENorth, sorry you didn’t care for the dressing. I hope you are able to find another one you prefer. – Meggan
This is sooo good. The cilantro, lime and garlic combined with yogurt are the perfect combination.
Happy you loved it, Sylvia! Take care! – Meggan