Creamy Cilantro-Lime Dressing (Vegan!)
This delicious Cilantro Lime Dressing features fresh herbs, creamy avocado, and zesty flavors! It's easy to prepare and great on southwest salads, tacos, burritos, and more.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup water (more or less*)
- 1/2 medium avocado
- 1/4 cup vegan yogurt (plain, unsweetened)
- 2-3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
- 1-2 tsp. pure maple syrup
- 1 1/2 tsp. white wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder (or 1-2 fresh cloves)
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Optional add-in:
- Fresh jalapeño
Instructions
- Roughly chop the cilantro. (I trim off the large stems at the very bottom of the bunch, but keep and include the smaller stems since they have lots of flavor too.)
- Adding the water first, place all ingredients in a small high-speed blender or small food processor.** (I use a small Nutribullet which works great for sauces and dressings.)
- Blend for about 10-15 seconds or until smooth. Add another splash of water if needed to help it along in the blender. Then taste and adjust the flavors if desired. (Add more salt, lime juice, sweetener, etc.)
Notes
*Water: Adjust this amount as you see fit. Use more for a thinner dressing, or less for a thicker consistency.
**Speckled look: For more of an herby, speckled dressing, first blend everything except the cilantro. Then pulse in the cilantro at the end so it's not completely blended green.
Yield: Recipe makes about 1 heaping cup dressing.
Updated version: This recipe was originally published April 2013, and updated December 2025 with no refined oil and more balanced flavors.
Original recipe: 1 cup loosely packed cilantro + 1/2 avocado (or 1/2 cup plain vegan yogurt) + 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice + 1-2 garlic cloves + 3 Tbsp. olive oil (or water) + 1.5 tsp. white wine vinegar + 1/8 tsp. salt. Add agave and cumin to taste.
Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)
Calories: 60 kcal | Carbohydrates: 6 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 4 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g | Potassium: 165 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 2 g | Vitamin A: 314 IU | Vitamin C: 8 mg | Calcium: 31 mg | Iron: 0.4 mg
