Creamy Cilantro Lime Sauce (Printable)

Fresh, tangy sauce ready in minutes. Perfect blend of creamy, zesty flavors for tacos, bowls, and grilled dishes.

# What You Need:

01 - 1/2 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt for a lighter, tangier option)

02 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise

03 - 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, loosely packed

04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)

05 - 1 small garlic clove, peeled

06 - 1 small jalapeño, seeded (optional, for heat)

07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

08 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

09 - 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

10 - 1-2 tablespoons water or milk, to thin as needed

01 - Place sour cream, mayonnaise, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, jalapeño (if using), cumin, salt, and pepper into a blender or food processor.

02 - Process on high until completely smooth, pausing to scrape down the sides of the blender or food processor as needed.

03 - Stream in water or milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, blending after each addition, until the sauce reaches your desired thickness.

04 - Taste the sauce and adjust salt, pepper, or lime juice as needed to balance the flavor.

05 - Transfer the sauce to an airtight jar or bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving.

01 -

It turns plain rice, roasted vegetables, or stale tortilla chips into something you actually crave again the next day.
The sauce comes together in a blender with zero cooking, which means you can make it while chatting with someone and barely look down.

02 -

If you skip the resting time the garlic will taste harsher and the cilantro will seem raw rather than mellow and integrated.
A high speed blender will give you the smoothest result, but a food processor works fine if you pulse longer and scrape carefully.

03 -

Double the batch because it disappears faster than you expect and scales perfectly without any recipe math.
Shake the jar vigorously before each use since the sauce can separate slightly as it sits in the fridge.