Craving a new kind of vegan salad dressing or sauce to put on your Tex Mex food? Look no further, our creamy avocado cilantro dressing will make you completely satisfied with your choice.
It tastes great with our taco salad! If you're craving something sweet and spicy, we think you'll love our copycat Chipotle honey vinaigrette.
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Ingredients
Creamy avocado cilantro dressing is made with mostly fresh ingredients creating a tasty, fresh sauce with lots of uses.
- Brightness and tang: fresh cilantro, lime zest, lime juice
- Creamy: avocado
- Aromatics and sweetner: fresh garlic and honey or maple syrup
- Mild heat: jalapeno
- Oil: Extra virgin olive oil
How to Make
- Put the fresh cilantro (leaves and stems) in the food processor and pulse.
- Add the remaining ingredients, except for the olive oil, and pulse until smooth.
3. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Add the oil with the food processor running until the dressing is smooth and emulsified.
5. The dressing will look creamy when it's done. You should have 1 ½ cups.
6. Pour the dressing into a mason jar. Seal tightly with a lid and refrigerate until ready to use. Enjoy it on salads, Tex-Mex foods, pasta, and rice.
Recipe FAQs
This green dressing is made with fresh, everyday ingredients that are easy to find at the grocery store such as avocado, cilantro, fresh lime juice, jalapeno, and a few other seasonings. This recipe is dairy-free, so it's perfect for people that are lactose intolerant or are vegan.
Our recipe has 106 calories and 3.6g of carbs for a 2 tablespoon serving size. It is also high in healthy fats. For more nutritional information, scroll down to the end of the recipe card.
Cilantro isn't spicy at all. It has a fresh, bright, herb-like flavor that's used in many different dishes. Our dressing recipe is made with jalapeno making it a little bit spicy. If you prefer a milder flavor, you can leave it out or reduce the amount.
This dressing has a smooth and creamy texture from the avocado and olive oil. The fresh cilantro adds a brightness. It has just the right balance of garlic and tang from the lime juice. It has just a hint of sweetness from the honey that gives this dressing the finishing touch.
Store
Make ahead: Whip this creamy sauce up the night before, and refrigerate it in a mason jar. This recipe makes 1 ½ cups.
Leftovers: Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Variations
- Want a different sweetener? Try raw honey, maple syrup, date sugar, or agave.
- Want a different oil? Try avocado, grape seed or coconut.
- Want this smokier? Add chipotle pepper in adobo sauce.
- Don't like cilantro? Use fresh parsley or fresh basil.
- Want this spicier? Add the seeds and membranes of the jalapeno.
- Need this oil free? Substitute ½ cup of Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Want to increase the tang? Use 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.
- Want to add nuts? Try shelled pistachios.
Expert Tips
- Tempted to use dried cilantro? Don't substitute fresh for dried, because the fresh herbs adds a brightness to the creamy sauce.
- Need this thinner? Add one tablespoon of water at at time to get the consistency you want.
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Recipe
Creamy Avocado Cilantro Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 bunch cilantro, rinsed
- ½ cup avocado, from one ripe avocado
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 3 tablespoons jalapeno, chopped
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 3 tablespoons garlic
- 1 tablespoon raw honey, or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Pulse the bunch of cilantro, with the stems and leaves, in a food processor until chopped.
- Add the remaining ingredients, except the oil, and pulse until smooth. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides.
- With the blade running, slowly pour in the olive oil to help emulsify the creamy sauce.
- Pour the creamy dressing into a mason jar, screw on the lid tightly, and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Don't substitute fresh cilantro for dried. The taste will change drastically because the fresh cilantro adds a bright flavor.
- Add one tablespoon of water at at time to get the consistency you want.
Alex
This dressing is garlicky and sour, and the creamy texture is wonderful. The lime adds a kick to this dressing! YUM
Emma
I love the punch of lime and garlic in this, too! Thanks for commenting, Alex!
Beth
The smooth, zesty taste of this dressing is delectable! The flavors from the garlic and cilantro are excellent, and the lime and avocado blend delightfully into this yummy dressing. I like eating this dressing plain!
Emma
Yes, this dressing tastes good even by the spoonful! I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Beth.