Creamy Cilantro Lime Salad Dressing is a tangy addition to add to your next bowl of greens. This easy keto and low-fodmap salad dressing also makes a delicious dip or marinade for chicken, fish or your favorite protein. And, it’s paleo and Whole30 friendly, with an AIP variation, as well!
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Homemade salad dressings take just a few minutes to make and are so much better than store bought varieties.
This FODMAP friendly salad dressing was inspired by my Keto Coleslaw with Cilantro and Lime. Pour it over your favorite summer salad, roasted veggies, such as Herb Roasted Carrots with Curry Leaves and Fenugreek or Herb Roasted Rutabagas, or use it as a marinade for your favorite meats or seafood. It’s creamy, tangy, and has a tiny kick from pepperoncini (optional to add, but highly recommended!).
I’m a lover of creamy, healthy salad dressings and my family enjoys salads year round. Elevate any veggie bowl with some of my favorite keto dressings, including Blue Cheese, and Sesame Ginger. And, be sure to check out my low-FODMAP salads.
Ingredients
Fresh ingredients are key to making the best cilantro lime dressing.
- Cilantro – is the star of this recipe. It’s totally delicious and adds a beautiful green color.
- Fresh lime juice – Adds a zesty and bright flavor and it’s acidity balances perfectly with the fats in the oil
- Salad oil – I recommend avocado oil, as it’s a neutral oil. You can also use olive oil, but it will change the flavor profile just a little. MCT, walnut, flaxseed and sunflower oils are also other good options, but avoid coconut oil, as it turns solid when refrigerated. If you follow a low-FODMAP diet (or even if you don’t), garlic-infused olive oil is a very good choice here.
- Mayonnaise – adds creaminess and depth of flavor. You can also substitute the mayo with full-fat yogurt (think coconut!) or sour cream.
- Pepperoncini – these are optional, but really add a special zing! If you choose to eliminate these, consider adding a teaspoon of apple cider or champagne vinegar.
- Green onion – Just a hint of onion is so good!
- Salt and pepper – these tie all the flavors together
Instructions
This low carb dressing couldn’t be easier to make. Simply put all of the ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend. It’s that easy! I like to use my Nutribullet.
TIP: If using olive oil, place all of the ingredients except the olive oil into the blender or food processor and blend. Then add the olive oil and pulse a few times until thoroughly incorporated. Olive oil tends to develop a bitter flavor when blended, so it’s best to mix it in at the end.
TIP: After washing your cilantro, make sure it’s as dry as possible. Even a little water left on the leaves can result in a thinner consistency. I have this small salad spinner that I love to use for smaller amounts of greens. It's perfect for herbs.
Variations
- AIP salad dressing – Be sure to use an AIP mayonnaise and eliminate the pepperoncini and black pepper
- Cilantro ranch dressing – Add a half packet of ranch seasoning and enjoy! Add some low-FODMAP ranch, AIP ranch seasoning mix, or regular ranch seasoning that is not either of the above.
- Avocado cilantro dressing – Add ¼ or ½ an avocado. If it’s too thick, add a little more oil and/or lime juice.
- Herbs – Try adding powdered coriander, cumin or a pinch of curry or my homemade Tikka Masala Powder. So good!!
- Make it spicy – add ½ a jalapeno, a few pinches of cayenne pepper or some Aleppo pepper. (See my ingredient spotlight on Aleppo Pepper.)
- Add garlic and onion – not following a low-FODMAP diet? Add a garlic clove and/or use a few slices of fresh red onion.
- Keto and low-FODMAP dip – replace the oil with more mayonnaise, sour cream, or your favorite low carb Greek yogurt. Add ½ an avocado for a thick, rich, creamy dip or sauce.
- Use basil instead – Not a fan of cilantro? Replacing it with basil essentially creates a pesto salad dressing.
Serving suggestions
Use this creamy dressing to:
- Top fish tacos or steak, chicken, shrimp salad
- Make an easy fish marinade (think tilapia or cod)
- Pour over a bed of lettuce and top with some Asian Tuna Salad
- Thicken it up to use as a healthy coleslaw dressing, dip for veggies or even a sandwich spread
- Top burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, or use as a dip for quesadillas. It pairs ridiculously well with Low-FODMAP Taco Seasoning
- Mix in with your favorite low carb pasta (it makes a perfect keto pasta recipe) or veggie noodles for a creamy noodle bowl (cilantro noodles are oh, so tasty!)
- Drizzle on Indian Tikka Spiced Salmon, Easy Keto Carnitas, Crock Pot Pulled Pork or a pulled pork sandwich
- Add a few dollops to Homemade Cauliflower Rice
How to Store
Pour the dressing into a mason jar or container with a tight-fitting lid. The dressing will keep for about a week in the refrigerator.
My Nutribullet blender cups come with a lid, so I usually just store my blended dressings in the same cup they were blended in. Super convenient!
FAQ
No. Unlike parsley that has bitter stems, cilantro stems are flavorful and tender. You can use them along with the leaves and they blend up perfectly for use in sauces and dressings.
Technically, yes, but the flavor and consistency will deteriorate quickly. I advise consuming it freshly made.
As long as you use a paleo-friendly sweetener, this is perfect for a paleo diet.
Absolutely! Just make sure you use a Whole 30 mayo.
Anywhere from 4-14% of the world’s population have a variation in a group of olfactory receptor genes that detects aldehyde chemicals, present in both soap and cilantro. The detection of this chemical gives cilantro a soapy aftertaste.
I find the best substitute for cilantro is basil. It's aromatic, fresh flavor is a wonderful fresh cilantro substitute in any recipe.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know how you liked it by giving a star rating and leaving a comment!
Use as a sauce or dipping sauce
📖 Recipe
Cilantro Lime Salad Dressing (low carb and FODMAP friendly)
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- ¼ cup olive oil (or avocado oil work best)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 green onions (green part only for low-FODMAP)
- 3 pepperoncini (optional, but recommended)
- 1 teaspoon stevia sweetener (use sweetener of your choice)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (omit for AIP)
Instructions
- Cut the stems off the pepperoncini and trim ends off the green onions. (Use only the green parts of onions for low-FODMAP)
- Place the cilantro, mayonnaise, lime juice, green onions, pepperoncini, salt and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Add the olive oil and pulse a few times, until just incorporated. If using another oil, such as avocado oil, it can be added in the blender with all of the ingredients in the previous step. Olive oil tends to develop a bitter flavor when blended.
- Taste and make any seasoning adjustments.
- Store in a sealed mason jar or container for up to 5 days.
Notes
Variations:
- Make it an AIP salad dressing by using an AIP mayonnaise and eliminating the pepperoncini and black pepper
- Cilantro Ranch Dressing - add some low-FODMAP ranch, AIP ranch seasoning, or regular ranch seasoning
- Avocado Cilantro Dressing - add ¼ or ½ an avocado
- Herbs - add powdered coriander, cumin, or a pinch of curry or my homemade Tikka Masala Spice Blend - add ½ a jalapeno, some cayenne pepper or Aleppo pepper
- Garlic and onion if not following a low-FODMAP diet
- Use basil instead of cilantro to create a pesto salad dressing
Nutrition
*Net carbs = carbohydrates - fiber
Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools and does not include optional ingredients unless otherwise indicated.
Amy
This recipe is AMAZING! Thank you so much since it's hard to find tasty sauces without garlic and onion. I don't even miss them in this recipe.
Tracey Hatch-Rizzi
Hi Amy!
I'm so happy to hear that you like the dressing! Finding sauces and dressings without onion or garlic can definitely be challenging. I'm glad I could help you find one you like. This recipe is a staple in our house!
Best,
Tracey
Maria
Hi Tracey,
My first batch of preserved lemons is almost two weeks old and I can’t wait to try in this recipe. How would you suggest I sub the lemon for the lime in this recipe? How much? By the way, thanks for sharing your low fodmap recipes!
Tracey Hatch-Rizzi
Hi Maria!
That's very exciting! I'm sure they're going to be wonderful.
I haven't tried this substitution myself, but if you want to add preserved lemons to a dressing, definitely make a paste. I would advise starting with a small amount and add more per your taste. It really depends on how lemony you want your dressing to be. If it were me, I would start off with 2 teaspoons of preserved lemon paste and add more if you want more lemon. As a general rule, if a recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of juice, I will substitute with 1 tablespoon of lemon paste because it's so concentrated. If you're not sure how you'll like it, err on the side of caution - you can always add more, but you can't subtract once it's been added. Keep in mind that this substitution will also add a saltiness to the dressing, so definitely eliminate the salt from the recipe.
I hope this helps!
Best,
Tracey
Meia
Very helpful advice Tracey. Thank you!