The right sauce can make a big difference
Sometimes all you need is a great sauce to take a dish from good to great. Some people like a little, others a lot, so a sauce on the side pleases all palates.
The idea for this cilantro-lime sauce was inspired by Café Rio's Creamy Tomatillo dressing. Like so many others, I am a big fan of Café Rio. For those not familiar, Café Rio is a fantastic casual restaurant chain based in Salt Lake City. My daughter lives there, and a Café Rio visit is mandatory every time I visit. Hey Café Rio people: your brand would be HUGELY popular in Madison, Wisconsin. Hint, Hint.
How to make Cilantro-Lime Sauce
There are many copycat recipes for Café Rio's dressing; but the one I used as my starting point was from "the girl who ate everything". Her recipe starts with buttermilk and a ranch-dressing packet. This sounded brilliant, because most other recipes like this have a much longer ingredient list!
I like to simplify even more, so decided to use Hidden Valley's Buttermilk Ranch dressing, conveniently available in "light." From there, I played with sour cream, lime juice and cilantro to get the right proportions.
Since I was not trying for a copycat, I skipped the tomatillo part. I just wanted a cilantro-lime sauce.
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It turned out great! A light, creamy sauce, which works on any Tex-Mex dish. I particularly like it on a taco salad - yum! Add some salsa and you have a party on your plate.
And be sure to check out the recipes for Mini Bell Pepper Poppers and Air Fryer Taquitos. I LOVE dipping them both in this sauce!
📖 Recipe
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Cilantro Lime Sauce
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch dressing light
- ⅓ cup light sour cream
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ bunch cilantro chopped
- Juice from one lime
Instructions
- Prep all ingredients.1 clove garlic, ½ bunch cilantro, Juice from one lime
- Place in a food processor or blender and process until smooth.½ cup Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch dressing, ⅓ cup light sour cream, 1 clove garlic, ½ bunch cilantro, Juice from one lime
- Adjust taste as needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
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Need some other sauces for your Tex-Mex buffet? Try making Roasted Salsa, Guacamole or Avocado Dip. I love them all!
Another great sauce inspired by a fast food restaurant: Taco Bell (Copycat) Quesadilla Sauce. So good!
Kat
I’m so excited to of found this recipe:) ty
Sula
You're so welcome, enjoy!
Colette Zaharko
This cilantro lime sauce was absolutely delicious! I made chicken tacos tonight, so I made this sauce to go with it; everyone in the house loved it. I had to adjust the taste a because I used too much lime juice but it was still so good.
This recipe is a winner! Thanks for the recipe 👌🏼
Sula
Thanks for the kind review Colette. Chicken tacos sounds like the perfect meal for this sauce!
Swathi
Cilantro lime sauce looks delicious and perfect dip anyday, Thanks for sharing with me.
Sula
You are welcome, I hope you try it soon!
Maren
Cilantro and Lime are two of my favorite ingredients. I'm going to make this tomorrow!
Sula
I hope you love it as much as I do!
Robyn
This is so delicious with chips and carrot sticks! I love that it’s made from easily accessible ingredients too
Sula
I have it with chips often. Really need to add carrots in to be a little more healthy!!
Capri
This sauce is so perfect! I use it on my salad and it’s the best!
Sula
Oh yes, I LOVE it on a salad!
Amanda Marie Boyle
This sauce rocks! Such a nice change from salsa!
Sula
Yes and it actually goes well WITH salsa also!
Chef Dennis
Damn!! Talk about deliciousness! This dip was a huge hit and I've got a request to make it again tomorrow for friends coming over.
Sula
I'm so glad everyone enjoyed it so much!
Amy
I'm always looking for delicious new sauces and dressings. This was so good!
Sula
It's a real keeper!
Debra
You had me at cilantro! Seriously, the best herb every. This versatile sauce is so up my alley.
Sula
I love it too - it works with everything!
Kerri
obsessed with this sauce! i can think of so many ways to use it!
Sula
Yes it is useful in so many ways!