Citric Acid Free Cilantro Lime Green Sauce
Fresh, herby, and punchy, this blended green sauce is the kind of condiment that makes everything it touches taste better — tacos, grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, or even a simple bowl of rice. The brightness here comes entirely from real lime juice squeezed straight from the fruit, which means you're getting clean, natural acidity without any of the processed citric acid that sneaks into bottled sauces and store-bought dressings. For anyone who needs to avoid that additive, making a sauce like this at home is genuinely the easiest workaround — no label-reading required. Jalapeño and garlic bring depth and a gentle kick, while cumin rounds everything out with a warm, earthy undertone. A handful of flat-leaf parsley is optional but adds a slightly more complex herbal note if you want to stretch the flavor. The whole thing comes together in under a minute of blending, and the result is a vibrant, pourable sauce you'll want to keep stocked in the fridge all week.
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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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