This is the best creamy cilantro green sauce that takes less than 10 minutes to make. The sauce is super flavorful and savory, it goes well with so many dishes. Use the cilantro sauce as a chip dip, pasta, on salad, or on fish (even chicken too!).
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Healthy and delicious – the sauce is packed with protein from yogurt and lots of fiber from the cilantro and jalapeno!
- Versatile – the sauce goes great on everything such as chicken or fish. It tastes a little spicy, savory, umami and has a nice creamy texture to almost all dishes! I think it goes well with American, Mexican, Indian cuisine (like this One Pot Curry Chicken)- honestly everything!
Ingredients
Here’s a look at what you need to make the best creamy cilantro green sauce. The highlights are here but the full ingredient list and quantities of each are in the recipe card.
I recommend using fresh ingredients taste as it will taste best for this recipe!
- Cilantro – this recipe is primarily made with cilantro, but you can use basil or parsley. The dish may not yield the same results.
- Jalapeno – you can remove the seeds if you dont want it too spicy. Feel free to substitute with serrano peppers
- Fish sauce – a little bit of fish sauce (Three crabs brand is the best) in this sauce makes it taste out of this world! Trust me that it adds the perfect umami and it’s not fishy at all.
- Cumin – adds some complex flavor and is a must for this sauce!
- Low fat greek yogurt (something not too tart), add more if you like a thicker/Creamier sauce – substitute with avocado if you’re dairy-free.
- Lemon – I prefer to add fresh citrus compared to vinegar for this dish.
How to Make The Best Creamy Cilantro Green Sauce
Step 1. Wash cilantro in running water and make sure to strain well. You can also pat dry with a towel.
Step 2. Chop cilantro, jalapeno and garlic.
Step 3. Place cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, fish sauce, cumin, black pepper, and lemon (squeezed) in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth or until your desired chunkiness.
Step 4. Pour in a bowl or storing container. Then, add some greek yogurt. Mix well until there are no chunks of yogurt (this ensures the sauce is extra creamy!). Serve with chips, on salad or your favorite protein.
Serving Suggestions
Use the sauce with…
- pasta salad
- fried chicken or fries (try with this easy Japanese karaage)
- drizzle on top of tacos or your favorite Mexican cuisine
- dips for chips or pita bread
- on top of salads
- drizzle over grilled meat (feta grilled chicken) or fish (teriyaki salmon is my favorite!)
- potatoes and vegetables
Expert Tips
- After making the sauce, let it sit in the fridge for a few hours so the flavors can marinate and develop!
- Use fish sauce for a super delicious umami flavor you can’t replicate with salt. It doesn’t make the dish taste asian, it brings out the cilantro and jalapeno flavors very well!
- Instead of blending the yogurt with the cilantro, mix it in at the end so the sauce ends up being extra creamy!
Recipe FAQs
Yes you can! Mix it in with some pasta and vegetables and you have a super delicious meal. Let the pasta salad sit in the fridge and it will taste even better!
To store the creamy cilantro sauce, place in an airtight container. Then place in the refrigerator for up to one week.
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The Best Creamy Cilantro Green Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 bunch cilantro (can sub with basil) chopped
- 1 jalapeno sliced
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1.5 tablespoon fish sauce
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ lemon squeezed
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash cilantro in running water and make sure to strain well. You can also pat dry with a towel.
- Chop cilantro, jalapeno and garlic.
- Place cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, fish sauce, cumin, black pepper, and lemon (squeezed) in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth or until your desired chunkiness.
- Pour in a bowl or storing container. Then, add some greek yogurt. Mix well until there are no chunks of yogurt (this ensures the sauce is extra creamy!). Serve with chips, on salad or your favorite protein.
Notes
Expert Tips
- After making the sauce, let it sit in the fridge for a few hours so the flavors can marinate and develop!
- Use fish sauce for a super delicious umami flavor you can’t replicate with salt. It doesn’t make the dish taste asian, it brings out the cilantro and jalapeno flavors very well!
- Instead of blending the yogurt with the cilantro, mix it in at the end so the sauce ends up being extra creamy!
Team Cook With Dana says
This cilantro sauce is a flavor bomb! Tangy, a little spicy, and super creamy. It’s perfect on tacos, grilled chicken, or even as a dip. Quick to make and packed with fresh flavor, it’s the kind of sauce that instantly lifts any meal!