Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (full-fat, 2%, or non-fat)
- ½-1 cup fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, loosely packed
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (1-2 limes)
- 1-2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1-2 teaspoons honey or agave nectar
- ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- Optional: 1 jalapeño (seeded for less heat)
- Optional: ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- Optional: 1-2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil (for creaminess)
Instructions
Make the Dip:
- Add Ingredients to Blender: Place Greek yogurt (1 cup), fresh cilantro (start with ½ cup—you can add more), fresh lime juice (2 tablespoons to start), garlic (1 clove), honey (1 teaspoon), and salt (¼ teaspoon) in a blender or food processor.
- Blend Until Smooth: Blend on medium-high speed for 30-60 seconds until completely smooth and uniformly green with no large chunks of cilantro or garlic remaining. Stop and scrape down the sides if needed.
- Taste and Adjust: This is crucial! Taste the dip and adjust to your preference:
- Need more cilantro flavor? Add another ¼ cup cilantro and blend
- Need more tang? Add more lime juice (½ tablespoon at a time)
- Need more garlic? Add another clove
- Too tart? Add more honey (½ teaspoon at a time)
- Need more salt? Add a pinch at a time
- Too thick? Thin with water, olive oil, or more lime juice
- Rest for Best Flavor: Transfer to a bowl or container, cover, and refrigerate for at least 15-30 minutes before serving if time allows. This resting period allows the garlic and cilantro flavors to infuse into the yogurt, creating more cohesive, developed flavor. (If you’re in a rush, you can serve immediately!)
- Stir Before Serving: Give it a good stir, then transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, garnish with fresh cilantro leaves, and serve!
For Chunkier Texture: Instead of blending, finely chop the cilantro and mince the garlic, then whisk everything together in a bowl. This creates a more rustic, textured sauce.
Notes
- Fresh Cilantro Only: Dried cilantro doesn’t exist/work—fresh is essential for color and flavor.
- Greek Yogurt Required: Regular yogurt is too thin—you need thick, strained Greek yogurt.
- Adjust Consistency: Add water or olive oil to thin; use less liquid for thicker dip.
- Make It Spicy: Add jalapeño, serrano, or cayenne pepper for heat.
- Flavor Develops: Tastes even better after 30 minutes to overnight as flavors meld.
- Storage: Keeps 5-7 days refrigerated in airtight container.
- Color Preservation: The bright green fades slightly over time—totally normal and still delicious!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican-Fusion
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 tablespoons
- Calories: 35
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 3mg