Artificial Food Coloring Free Cilantro Lime Green Sauce
That vivid, grassy green color comes entirely from fresh cilantro and parsley — no dyes, no additives, just real ingredients doing exactly what they're supposed to do. Bottled green sauces and store-bought condiments are notorious for sneaking in artificial colorings to punch up their appearance, so making your own is the cleanest way to get that gorgeous hue with zero compromise. A handful of pantry staples — garlic, cumin, olive oil, a squeeze of fresh lime — come together in under a minute of blending to produce something bright, herby, and genuinely craveable. The jalapeño brings a gentle kick you can dial up or down depending on whether you leave the seeds in, making this as weeknight-friendly or as bold as you want it. It's the kind of sauce that makes everything it touches taste more alive — tacos, grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, even a simple bowl of rice. Blend it smooth, taste it, adjust the salt and lime, and you're done. Keep a jar in the fridge and you'll find yourself reaching for it constantly over the next few days.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 2 cups fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, loosely packed
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 jalapeño, seeds removed for mild heat or kept for more
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp water
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the cilantro, lime juice, jalapeño, garlic, olive oil, water, cumin, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Add the parsley, if using.
- 2
Blend on high until the sauce is smooth and uniformly green, about 30–45 seconds, scraping down the sides once halfway through.
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