Cilantro Yogurt Sauce

5 from 143 votes

This herbed yogurt sauce is a refreshing condiment for summertime grilling. Add it to grilled shrimp or throw it in salads for a bright and fresh flavor!

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This cilantro yogurt sauce is one that is so versatile, you can throw it on salads, eat with grilled shrimp, toss with pasta or even use it to marinade chicken. It’s zesty, tangy and so flavorful!

Cilantro yogurt sauce in a small bowl with spoon for serving
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Ingredients to make cilantro yogurt sauce

  • Cilantro: This is where all the green comes from and gives the yogurt sauce a wonderful flavor! You can also substitute half the amount for parsley, dill, mint or basil.
  • Greek yogurt: It makes the sauce tangy and fresh without using heavy cream. I recommend 2% Greek yogurt which has more fat and moisture and won’t separate after mixing.
  • Lime juice: For more tanginess
  • Olive oil: To emulsify the sauce and avoid it breaking after storage.
  • Garlic, salt and cumin : For flavoring the sauce. Feel free to add in other spices and black pepper.
Ingredients for making the sauce

How do you make cilantro yogurt sauce

Throw all the ingredients together in a food processor or blender. If you have a food processor, I recommend leaving the olive oil until the end to drizzle it in. It creates a more emulsified texture that won’t separate after storarage.

Blend everything together until you don’t see any more chunks of the herbs or garlic. And you’ll get a gorgeous green sauce ready to be used anywhere!

Process shots for how to make the sauce

Tips for making cilantro yogurt sauce

  1. Leave the stems on the cilantro. You can remove some of the really thick and woodsy stems, but leave the finer ones on because that’s were most of the flavor is!
  2. Add some heat. I recommend adding some jalapeño peppers to the sauce if you want to make it more spicy. You can also add crushed pepper flakes.
  3. Taste the sauce before serving. You can add in an extra bit of salt or lime juice to get it just how you like.
  4. Make it without a food processor if you don’t have one. It’s easiest to make this sauce in a food processor, but you can just chop the cilantro finely by hand and use a whisk to combine the ingredients.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it keep?

Store the sauce in an airtight container or sealable jar and it will keep well for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Can you make it vegan?

You can easily make this sauce dairy-free by using a plant based yogurt. Soy, cashew and vegan Greek-style yogurt all work really well and result in a creamy dressing.

How do you use it?

This sauce can be used as a dip, a dressing or as a marinade! It’s great served with sliced veggies and chips for an easy appetizer, or used as a marinade for chicken breasts before oven baking or grilling. It’s an easy way to liven up everyday salads, so be sure to make a double batch!

FInal cilantro yogurt sauce in a small serving bowl

More sauce recipes:

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Cilantro Yogurt Sauce

This herbed yogurt sauce is a refreshing condiment for summertime grilling. Add it to grilled shrimp or throw it in salads for a bright and fresh flavor!
5 from 143 votes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 96
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
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Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups fresh cilantro
  • 1 cup 2% Greek yogurt
  • 1 garlic clove peeled
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  • Add the cilantro in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to roughly chop the cilantro. Add the Greek yogurt, garlic, lime juice, salt and cumin and blend until well combined and smooth.
  • While the food processor is running, slowly pour in the olive oil and allow it to emulsify the sauce, scraping down the sides of the food processor as necessary.
  • Serve with veggies, salad, chicken or shrimp.

Notes

Storage: Store any leftovers in a small airtight container. It will last for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 2g, Calories: 96kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 3mg, Sodium: 313mg, Potassium: 112mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 540IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 60mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American
5 from 143 votes (134 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Nat says:

    It was great! Thanks!

    1. Yumna says:

      Yay, glad you liked it!

  2. Niko says:

    Extreamly delicious and packed of flavor 😋

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Thanks so much!

  3. gayle eales says:

    I love this recipe…it is delicious

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed it!

  4. Donna says:

    This is really delicious but much more dip-like than dressing consistency. Any tips on getting it more pourable?

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Hi Donna! Thank you so much. I am glad you liked it! You can make it thinner by adding a tablespoon of water to the mix. If that is still too thick you can add another. Hope that helps!

  5. Elizabeth Field says:

    I’ve never been a big fan of Cilantro but consider me a convert 😊 .
    Easy, excellent meal compliment, healthy and especially good for gobbling with Doritos Nacho Cheese 😋.
    Thank you Ssoooo much 🥰

    1. Yumna Jawad says:

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it in this recipe! Sounds perfect!! You’re so welcome!

  6. Samuel says:

    Super tasty. Just made it for my family and they loved it!!

    1. Yumna Jawad says:

      Thank you! Aww, I love that!

  7. Nancy says:

    Yummy!!!! Thank you!! Great as a substitute for tzatziki or raita!! Last week I made this with black bean tacos, and again last night to have with the tandoori chicken that we ordered for takeout! I’m thinking of adding some cucumber to the recipe in the future for Indian recipes.

    1. Yumna Jawad says:

      You’re so welcome! That sounds incredible. So many delicious ways to enjoy this sauce!

  8. Echo says:

    I just made this and all I can day is….yummmmmy delicious!!! The spices in here taste awesome. Thanks for sharing😊

    1. Yumna J. says:

      I love that! You’re so welcome!

  9. Ana Reynafarje says:

    That cilantro sauce is amazing!!! I have been doing a lot of your recipes and I like them all.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Thank you! That makes me so happy to hear!

  10. Dominic Black says:

    Absolutely superb, nice zesty dib with chargrilled King prawns and a glass or two of a chilled white.! Brilliant ??

    1. Yumna Jawad says:

      Thanks so much!!! Glad you enjoyed it!

  11. Audrey says:

    Yummy