Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
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Creamy cilantro lime dressing is enjoyed on both sides of the border where my husband and I live in California and Mexico. Although the internet is filled with different variations of this popular salad dressing recipe, this special California-Mexico hybrid is hands down the most scrumptious cilantro lime dressing you’ve ever tasted. When I serve this at large backyard gatherings or for work parties we host at our home, everyone is asking for the recipe. It’s been kept as a closely-guarded family secret until today. But now this fantastic recipe for creamy cilantro lime dressing belongs to you too. So get your taste buds ready for a real treat!
About Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
For the Mexico-inspired portion of this recipe we’re using tomate verde (tomatillos), avocado, lime juice, pepitas (roasted and salted pumpkin seeds), and a little bit of fresh jalapeno chili pepper. For the California portion of this recipe we’re incorporating a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix. Over 50 years ago the founder of Hidden Valley Ranch in Santa Barbara, California produced a fabulous salad dressing that is now packaged and sold in stores across the globe. So it’s quite fitting that we’re incorporating a sprinkling of that delicious unique taste that originated in my own home state.
Ingredients for Cilantro Lime Dressing
These are the recipe ingredients you’ll need to make ultra-fabulous cilantro lime dressing: fresh cilantro leaves, tomatillos, Haas avocado, lime juice, buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic cloves, chopped onion, minced jalapeno, pepitas, packet of Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning mix, and salt and pepper.
Recipe for Cilantro Lime Dressing
You’re going to love how easy it is to make this yummy Mexican salad dressing recipe! Remove the stems from the cilantro. Husk and quarter the tomatillos. Peel and remove the pit from the avocado. Chop a small amount of onion and jalapeno. Measure out the remainder of the ingredients. Now you’re ready for the fun the part! Toss all of the ingredients into a food processor. Pulse until the creamy cilantro lime dressing reaches the desired consistency you’ve been craving. It doesn’t take long. It’s literally that simple.
Transfer the cilantro lime dressing into your favorite salad dressing container. And please – dip your little finger into the mixture and have a taste! Mmmm…isn’t that scrumptious? If time allows, refrigerate the cilantro lime dressing for 30-60 minutes so the mixture can further thicken up. This will also give the Mexican and California flavors within the dressing enough time to hold hands, dance together and beautifully meld like magic!
How to Serve Cilantro Lime Dressing
Drizzle or pour yummy cilantro lime dressing over your favorite Mexican salad. Or substitute this popular salad dressing for any occasions when you usually use Ranch. Include it when making a vegetable tray. Cilantro lime dressing is the perfect dipping sauce for fresh veggies like carrots, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers and grape tomatoes. Your family and friends will absolutely love it!
Best Kitchen Tools for This Cilantro Lime Dressing Recipe
Now that I have one, it’s really hard to remember kitchen life without my efficient and essential Breville Sous Chef food processor with attachments. It makes cooking and whipping up recipes, like this cilantro lime dressing, super quick and delightful!
Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 Cups 1x
Description
Creamy cilantro lime dressing is enjoyed on both sides of the Mexican border. This recipe produces the most scrumptious cilantro lime dressing you’ve ever tasted. Your taste buds are in for a real treat! Cilantro lime dressing is a perfect substitute for Ranch dressing. Use it for salads, as an appetizer dip, as a sandwich spread, and as a dipping sauce for onion rings, oven-baked French fries and crispy chicken tenders.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh cilantro leaves (approximately 2 bunches)
- 3 medium tomatillos, husked and quartered
- 1 medium Haas Avocado, peeled and pit removed
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon yellow onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon jalapeno, seeds removed and minced
- 1 tablespoon pepitas (roasted salted pumpkin seeds)
- 1 one-ounce packet Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing/seasoning mix
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Remove the stems from the cilantro. Husk and quarter the tomatillos. Peel and remove the pit from the avocado. Chop a small amount of onion and jalapeno. Measure out the remainder of the ingredients.
- Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the cilantro lime dressing reaches a nice creamy consistency.
- Transfer the cilantro lime dressing into a salad dressing container. If time allows, refrigerate the cilantro lime dressing for 30-60 minutes before serving. This will allow the mixture to further thicken up, and the ingredients will have a chance to meld and blend together for an enhanced flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Potluck, Party
- Method: Blend
- Cuisine: Mexican, American, Tex-Mex
CREAMY CILANTRO LIME DRESSING > PIN IT TO PINTEREST
Save this popular CILANTRO LIME DRESSING recipe for later! Pin it to Pinterest.
TAHINI SALAD DRESSING RECIPE
If you loved this scrumptious creamy cilantro lime dressing, you’re going to flip over this delicious and flavorful Tahini Salad Dressing recipe.
CREAMY CILANTRO LIME DRESSING RECIPE > JOIN THE CONVERSATION!
Do you enjoy making fresh, delicious salad dressings from scratch? What are your favorite salad dressing recipes? What do you think about this creamy cilantro lime dressing? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR GOOD DRESSING RECIPES. I CANT WAIT TO TRY THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH WARMER TEMPS ON THEIR WAY.
xo
Taylor
This sounds super yummy. I have to give it a try!
This looks delicious! Need to try this myself
Nicole – NicoleParise.com
I love cilantro and lime, these are my essentials! I cannot wait to try!!
This looks so good & different from most creamy cilantro dressings I’ve seen. Beautiful photos!
Yummmmm this looks so good! I definitely want to try this later! Just pinned it. :)
xoxo
Annie
Yummmmm this looks so good! Just pinned it. :)
xoxo
Annie
I love cilantro lime dressing and am so happy to have stumbled upon your recipe. I had no idea pepitas were a part of the ingredient list! You just can’t beat the flavor of homemade dressings and I can’t wait to make your recipe.
I’m saving the recipe. Based on the ingredients, it must taste absolutely fantastic.
Thank you! It really is fantastic!
That looks incredible! You made so much, though…does that mean it will keep for a good amount of time?
Hi Erin! What you see in my images is actually a double batch of this scrumptious cilantro lime dressing. My husband and I are gearing up to host a big family BBQ this weekend, so I need to have enough salad dressing on hand to feed a crowd. When purchasing buttermilk and sour cream for this recipe, I look at the expiration dates of these products. It will determine how long I can expect my cilantro lime dressing to last in the refrigerator. But around here, it’s usually used up by the end of the week.
That dressing looks so good! Always looking for ways to spice up my salads!
Thank you Carrie! This one won’t disappoint.
this looks great. I love cilantro and ranch! I love the combo of California and Mexico!
Thank you Kristen!
Looks so good and reminds me of summer. Thank you for also including other foods that this dressing compliments. Can’t wait to try. Will be adding to my salad pinterest board.
You’re welcome Kelli! So glad you like this. I would love to hear how it turns out for you:)
This is going on my list! I have started collecting dressing recipes to use for salads and quick bowls and this is perfect!
This will be perfect for your list! Enjoy!
This would taste good on SOOOOO many things!
I agree :) It is truly so delicious!