• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chisel & Fork logo

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • DIY
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • DIY
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You Are Here: Sauces

    Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

    August 5, 2021 by Ryan 7 Comments

    25784 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    With fresh cilantro and lime, this cilantro lime vinaigrette is simple to make but a great addition to any salad. You could also use this as a marinade.

    spooning out cilantro lime vinaigrette from jar

    I love homemade salad dressings - from a creamy balsamic dressing to a basil lime vinaigrette to a lime Caesar dressing.

    I realize most people don't bother making a homemade salad dressing as it's just easier to buy from the grocery store, but if you've never made your own, you're missing out.

    While I've had cilantro vinaigrette multiple times at my favorite fast casual salad restaurant in Baltimore, Nalley Fresh, I never made it from scratch.

    So today I decided to make my own and share with everyone here reading. It's so easy to make something like this. You might be able to tell just by the one line of directions!

    But as I said, something fresh makes all the difference. And now that I think about it, I've never seen cilantro lime vinaigrette at the grocery store, but maybe I'm just looking in the wrong spot! I'm sure it is, but I'm choosing to believe it doesn't exist.

    If you're feeling like a fresh summer salad, then I would give this cilantro vinaigrette a try. I decided to just use some kale, peppers, mango, corn and fresh avocado and it tasted great. You will not be disappointed.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Ingredient Swaps
    • How to Make
    • FAQs
    • Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
    • Salad Recipes to Use this Vinaigrette With
    • Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
    cilantro lime vinaigrette in glass jar on dish towel

    Ingredient Notes

    • Cilantro, garlic, lime - where most of the flavors come from.
    • Olive oil - helps emulsify the vinaigrette.
    • Honey - gives some sweetness.
    • White vinegar - adds some necessary acid.
    • Salt - enhances the flavor.

    Ingredient Swaps

    Like any recipe, you can mix up some of the ingredients. Some variations include:

    • While it is called a cilantro lime vinaigrette for a reason, you can sub the cilantro for Italian parsley or basil.
    • I like olive oil for the added flavor, but any oil will work - from canola to vegetable to avocado oil.
    • Honey complements the cilantro well from a sweetness perspective, but sugar or maple syrup are good substitutes.

    How to Make

    cilantro lime vinaigrette being blended in blender

    Place all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth and emulsified. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time if you need to thin it out.

    FAQs

    What if I Don’t Like Cilantro?

    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. So if you’re in the latter group, you can easily just replace the cilantro with Italian parsley, but the flavor will be different.

    Do I Need a Blender to Make a Vinaigrette?

    No although it makes life easier. You'll want to finely chop the cilantro and then throw all of the ingredients in a glass jar that you can close. Just shake until it starts to emulsify.

    What Does Emulsify Mean?

    Oil and vinegar don't naturally mix so when you emulsify are combining two liquids that are normally separate.

    How Long Does Homemade Vinaigrette Last?

    It will last for 2 weeks if you place in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

    Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

    • Use quality olive oil as part of the taste comes from it.
    • 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.
    • Puree just until the cilantro starts to break up and the vinaigrette emulsifies. You wants bits of cilantro throughout it.
    • If the cilantro vinaigrette is too thick, just add water 1 tbsp at a time.
    cilantro lime vinaigrette in glass jar

    Salad Recipes to Use this Vinaigrette With

    • Kale Mango Salad
    • Kale Cauliflower Salad
    • Couscous Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
    • Kale Crunch Salad

    If you’ve tried this cilantro lime vinaigrette 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.

    spooning out cilantro lime vinaigrette from jar
    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

    With fresh cilantro and lime, this vinaigrette is simple to make but a great addition to any salad. You could also use this as a marinade.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Total Time5 mins
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 49kcal
    Author: Ryan Beck

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup fresh cilantro
    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon white vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 1 lime, juiced
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 2 tablespoon water (if needed to thin out)

    Instructions

    • Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth and emulsified. Add water if you need to thin out. Store in refrigerator for 3-4 days.

    Notes

    • Use quality olive oil as part of the taste comes from it.
    • 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.
    • Puree just until the cilantro starts to break up and the vinaigrette emulsifies. You wants bits of cilantro throughout it.
    • If the vinaigrette is too thick, just add water 1 tbsp at a time.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 49kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 0IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 0mg | Iron: 0mg
    Did You Try This Recipe?I love seeing what you make so mention @ChiselandFork or tag #chiselandfork on Instagram and please give a star rating below!

    « Bacon Cheddar Scones
    Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese »
    25784 shares

    Receive Top 25 Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris says

      June 06, 2019 at 6:02 pm

      5 stars
      Yum!

      Reply
    2. Diatta says

      May 22, 2021 at 2:15 pm

      I just made this with fresh cilantro growing in my aerogarden and it smells divine! I want to mimic the Nalley Fresh salad and now I can. Thank YOU!!!!

      Reply
      • Ryan says

        May 22, 2021 at 2:54 pm

        Great to hear!

        Reply
    3. Linda Sharpe says

      June 20, 2021 at 9:27 am

      5 stars
      Just what I was looking for. Had this dressing in a salad at a local restaurant and wanted to recreate their salad that I live so much. This was perfect. Followed the recipe but doubled it and did ad more cilantro than noted as I love cilantro. Did not have to add any water at all. Highly recommend this one.

      Reply
      • Ryan says

        June 20, 2021 at 11:43 am

        Definitely a go-to for us!

        Reply
    4. Merian Oakes says

      October 12, 2021 at 5:34 pm

      5 stars
      I didn’t even use this for salad as I intended to. I ended up using it as dressing for chicken and/or fish. Perfect for garlicky chicken!
      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Ryan says

        October 12, 2021 at 5:49 pm

        Glad you liked it.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About Chisel & Fork

    ryan standing in kitchen

    Hey there! Welcome to Chisel & Fork, a blog with tasty recipes and DIY projects. I'm Ryan and here you'll find hundreds of recipes ranging from true comfort food to vegan. Oh and if you like woodworking, you might just find your next inspiration. Read More About Chisel & Fork…

    Get Your Free Copy of My Top 25 Most Popular Recipes

    title page of ecookbook

    Memorial Day Recipes

    • Smoked Boneless Chicken Thighs
    • Bison Bacon Jam Burger
    • Smoked Pork Tenderloin
    • Grilled BBQ Chicken

    Popular Recipes

    • Chocolate Chip Scones
    • Chicken Paprikash
    • Mongolian Pork
    • Lobster Ravioli

    Featured In

    logos of places where Chisel & Fork has been featured

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    Information

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Recipes
    • DIY

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Work With Us

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Chisel & Fork

    25784 shares