This dairy free creamy cilantro lime dressing takes just minutes to make! The perfect salad dressing, dip, topping or sauce for a burst of flavor.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: sauce is king. And this creamy cilantro lime dressing is no exception. It is perfect - cool, creamy, and requires no cooking.
For real, though, what meal isn't transformed for the better by a good sauce, dressing, or dip?
As evidenced by my 5 minute mayo, homemade ranch, garlic cream sauce, and cumin-lime avocado dip, clearly I believe that no matter what the question is, sauce is the answer. (Especially on Whole30!)
What goes in creamy cilantro lime dressing
Not a whole lot, honestly. It's mayonnaise based. That, plus some cilantro, lime, vinegar, and salt.
You can use my homemade mayo as the base for this. If you don't have homemade mayo on hand, or don't have time to make it, you can certainly use store-bought.
I use this avocado oil mayo (they sell it at my Costco), but if you're on Whole30, watch out - it has honey in it, so you'll need to make your own or purchase the Primal Kitchen mayo, which is Whole30 compliant.
What you can use this dressing for
Here are some ideas:
- salad with salmon and avocado
- mix with shredded chicken to make chicken salad
- mix with tuna instead of mayo
- as a dip for fresh veggies
- as a topping for roasted white potatoes
- a topping for sweet potatoes
If you come up with another great combo, add it in the comments so we can all reap the rewards of your kitchen prowess!
I don't like mayonnaise. What else can I use?
I haven't tried it, but I think plain greek yogurt would make a great substitute if you tolerate dairy!
You could also try coconut cream, and thin it out with a bit of almond milk if needed. I use this brand of coconut cream.
Whatever you top with it, this creamy cilantro lime dressing is the star of the show!
Recipe
Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
A versatile creamy cilantro lime dressing that takes just minutes to make! Use as a salad dressing, dip, topping or sauce for a burst of flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups mayo
- ½ cup cilantro, packed
- 1 whole lime, zest and juice
- 2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine the cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, vinegar and salt in a food processor and pulse to combine.
- Add the mayo and pulse a few times until all ingredients are combined. Be careful not to over process your mayo, or it may separate! Just a few pulses should do the trick.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
Head's up, Whole30'ers! Make sure you're using compliant mayo for your base. If you're not making it yourself, you'll need to get this Primal Kitchen mayo to keep it Whole30.
If you want to make your own, you can find my recipe for homemade mayo here.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 10 ouncesAmount Per Serving: Calories: 1Sodium: 59mgCarbohydrates: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 1g
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Leslie
This was good! I had to sub apple cider vinegar for the white wine vinegar. I used it on a salad with seasoned chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheddar, and tortilla chips. (Was gonna add an avocado but it had gone bad.)
Jessica
Avocados are so fickle, aren't they?! That salad sounds delicious. I love love love chips on a salad. Such a good crunch. Glad you liked the dressing!
Amanda
Is the Mayo hellmans or miracle whip?
Jessica
Hi Amanda,
I use my own homemade mayo for this. You can find that recipe here: https://www.paleoscaleo.com/five-minute-mayo/
Hope that helps!
Cara
Really good! A little salty for me (I'll do less next time) and might be a little less "mayo" tasting with a little full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream added in. I'm going to try that next time. But LOVE the taste of this....what a great combination for my veggies and meats. Love it! 🙂
Jessica
Hi Cara, so glad you enjoyed it! Let me know how adding the coconut goes. I love using this sauce on everything!
Luisa
Delicious
Jessica
Thanks Luisa, glad you enjoyed it!
Kelly
Have you tried this on fish/chicken/pork lettuce wrapped tacos? I’m having the oddest craving for tacos with a cilantro lime sauce! Thanks!
Jessica
Hi Kelly! First, I don't think a craving for tacos with a cilantro lime sauce is weird at all. 🙂 I have not tried this on tacos, but I'm sure it would be delicious - it works great as a sauce on most anything. Now that I'm talking about it, I think it would be perfect on some blackened fish on paleo tortillas! Yum.