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Secret Cilantro Sauce (5 minutes)

[heart_this] · Jul 2, 2019 · Leave a Comment

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This isn’t your typical cilantro sauce. There’s a secret spice inside that adds a layer of warmth to an otherwise basic dip. So good. Sooooooo good.

You can use it as a chip dip, a taco topper, a stir fry starter, or pretty much anything that needs a delicious flavor boost.

It’s also super easy: just 7 ingredients and 5 minutes. It keeps well in the fridge overnight, and can be frozen in ice cube trays for use when needed.

  • cilantro sauce ingredients in blender
  • cilantro sauce combined in a blender

What’s the secret?

Most cilantro sauces have a flavor base made from cilantro (obviously), lime, and garlic. Then they typically mix in a fat like olive oil, cream, or avocado. Add a pinch of salt and you’re good to go… or so you thought!

The secret ingredient you’ve been missing in your cilantro sauce is CARDAMOM!

I first learned about adding cardamom to sauce with lots of acid like lime juice from a recipe called “zhug” from Yemen. The primary ingredient in zhug is spicy peppers, with cilantro as the main herb, and cardamom as a complimentary seasoning.

tortilla chip dipped into cilantro sauce

Some liken zhug to the Spanish chimichurri, another herb garlic sauce, but chimichurri is traditionally made from parsley rather than cilantro. It has a more earthy, grassy flavor that is often served in Argentina as a condiment for grass fed beef.

Zhug is more of a spicy, Middle Eastern salsa verde. Although, my recipe isn’t a traditional zhug, it borrows the chili peppers and cardamom to add heat and complexity to an otherwise basic (read: boring) sauce.

Without the cardamom, the cilantro sauce has a mostly garlic-lime flavor. With just a half teaspoon of cardamom, it becomes something new entirely.

Cilantro Sauce Serving Suggestions

This is one of the most versatile sauce recipes I know. Try some of these serving variations:

  • In a dip bowl for tortilla chips, or drizzled on nachos
  • Spread on a sandwich or wrap
  • As a taco sauce or in an enchilada casserole
  • Blend with cashews or avocado for a creamy cilantro dressing
  • Mix into a veggie stir fry
  • Freeze in an ice cube tray and use as needed
  • Stir into vegan sour cream or hummus
  • Use as a cilantro lime marinade for tofu or veggie kabobs
  • If you want it even spicier, swap a hotter pepper like habanero for jalapeno, or add red pepper flakes.
  • If you’re REALLY into that cilantro lime flavor, plop this sauce on top of my cilantro lime slaw recipe for vegan fish tacos!
secret cilantro sauce stirred into vegan sour cream in a bowl

I prefer to serve the sauce chilled, because it thickens up a bit after an hour or two in the fridge. It’s also a perfect make-ahead sauce because it keeps well for a couple days when chilled, and the flavor actually improves on day two. Expert bartenders ran a taste-test experiment that showed people prefer lime juice that’s a few hours old rather than fresh squeezed. Apparently fresh isn’t always best!

The oil may separate if stored in the fridge. Just let it sit at room temp for a minute or so, then stir.

secret cilantro sauce on top of tacos
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Secret Cilantro Sauce


  • Author: Nina | Tofu Test Kitchen
  • Prep Time: 4
  • Cook Time: 1
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
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Description

A touch of cardamom brings warmth to this cilantro lime garlic dressing.


Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch (1 cups packed) cilantro leaves, some stems okay
  • 2 jalapenos, halved and seeded
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom
  • Juice from 1 lime

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to a food processor or high speed blender. Blend until smooth.
  2. Serve chilled as a dip or meal topper. Sauce with thicken a bit after 1-2 hours in refrigerator.

Notes

Sauce will keep for 1-2 days in the refrigerator. If the oil separates from the mixture, let sit at room temperature for a couple mins, then stir well.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @tofutestkitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #tofutestkitchen

step by step cilantro sauce for pinterest

Have you tried other serving ideas or variations of this recipe? Comment below!

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Hi, I'm Nina, sharing what I've learned to make plant-based foods ...

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