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With just six ingredients, this cilantro garlic sauce recipe is simple to prepare, but packed with flavor, making it perfect to drizzle on anything.
I'm a huge fan of cilantro - from cilantro chimichurri sauce to cilantro lime vinaigrette.
It's fresh, citrusy flavor makes it a perfect way to brighten up dishes. And this sauce is actually inspired by Pollo Tropical. If you've ever been, you know what I'm talking about and if you haven't, well you're missing out.
You get a nice tang and base from the Greek yogurt, freshness from the cilantro, acid from the lime and a little heat from the fresh garlic. It really is a tasty sauce.
It doesn't hurt that you can prepare it in 5 minutes.
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Ingredient Notes
- Greek yogurt - adds the right amount of tang and works well in creating a creamy sauce. However you can substitute for sour cream, mayonnaise or a combination of both.
- Cilantro - always use fresh.
- Olive oil - adds some fat and flavor, while also helping emulsify everything together. You can also use another oil like avocado or vegetable oil.
- Lime - gives the cilantro garlic sauce some brightness and acid.
- Garlic - adds a nice pungent flavor. You can add more or less, depending on how much you like garlic.
- Salt - enhances the flavor.
Step-by-Step Photos
Add all of the ingredients to the food processor. Pulse until it is smooth, but there are still some specs of cilantro.
FAQs
I know cilantro is one of those things you either love or hate. Some think it tastes like heaven (like me), while others think it tastes like soap. It actually comes down to your genes.
If you have the gene that codes for the receptor that picks up scent of aldehyde chemicals then you won't like cilantro as it will smell/taste like soap.
However even people who aren't fans of cilantro like this sauce.
Yes. You can substitute cashew or almond yogurt for the Greek yogurt.
You can keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
No. Since this is a dairy-based sauce, when you thaw it out it won't be very appealing.
Sauce Uses
This cilantro garlic sauce can be used in a ton of different ways. Some options include:
- As a dip for shrimp empanadas
- A light dressing for a pasta salad
- Brushed on kebabs
- Mixed in with roasted potatoes
- On top of tacos
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Add more or less cilantro depending on your preference.
- If you like some heat, add half of jalapeño pepper.
- Use quality olive oil as part of the taste comes from it.
- For extra flavor, roast the garlic.
- While store-bought bottles can be quite convenient, they lack in flavor compared to the real thing. It really isn’t that much extra work to freshly squeeze the lime and you’ll notice a difference in flavor.
Other Sauce Recipes
If you’ve tried this cilantro garlic sauce recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.
Cilantro Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt
- ½ cup fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lime, juiced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth with specs of cilantro. Store in refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Notes
- Add more or less cilantro depending on your preference.
- If you like some heat, add half of jalapeño pepper.
- Use quality olive oil as part of the taste comes from it.
- For extra flavor, roast the garlic.
- While store-bought bottles can be quite convenient, they lack in flavor compared to the real thing. It really isn’t that much extra work to freshly squeeze the lime and you’ll notice a difference in flavor.
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