This cilantro lime salsa is fresh, tangy, and the perfect go-to salsa! I love it on everything from beans to tacos, to grain bowls!
A confirmed cilantro lover here and if you are too, I have the perfect salsa for you!
When you think of salsa, I'm sure most of you think of tomatoes. However, this cilantro salsa will make you change your mind about that!
Made with fresh cilantro, jalapeño peppers, garlic, lime juice, and olive oil. It brightens up the flavor of everything! Today I am using it on some Instant Pot Black Beans.
Ingredients.
- Cilantro - you could also sub your favorite herb.
- Garlic cloves - I use two cloves, you can use less or more depending on your love of garlic.
- Jalapeño pepper - leave the seeds in if you want it hotter.
- Extra virgin olive oil - use a good variety here to add even more fruity flavor.
- Fresh lime juice - freshly squeezed, not from a container. If you bought organic be sure and freeze the zest!
- Salt and pepper - to taste.
Instructions.
I like to use my mini food processor for this (that comes with an immersion blender) however you can use a blender or finely chop everything by hand.
Coarsely chop the cilantro.
Peel and lightly smash the garlic.
Stem and seed (or leave them in for hotter salsa) and roughly chop the jalapeño pepper.
Juice the lime. I used one lime to get the 2 tablespoons of lime juice needed.
Add the cilantro, garlic cloves, jalapeño pepper, olive oil, a sprinkling of salt and pepper, olive oil, and lime juice to the processor.
Process until it's desired consistency. You may add a little more olive oil if you want it smoother.
This is the most used salsa in my house! I always keep what I need on hand to make it because it is so versatile!
Some ideas for using cilantro salsa:
- tacos, burritos, quesadillas
- spoon it on top of soups
- on a bowl of beans
- drizzle over steamed veggies and toss
- use on grilled meats
- sandwiches and wraps
- spoon over fish
- stir into yogurt or sour cream for an easy dip
Recipe.
**As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Cilantro Lime Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 cup cilantro leaves chopped
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and lightly smashed
- 1 jalapeño pepper stemmed, seeded and chopped
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice fresh squeezed
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place cilantro, garlic, jalapeño and extra virgin olive oil in a mini food processor or blender.
- Blend or process until smooth.
- Stir in lime juice and add salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2009 and has been updated for 2023.
Enri Lemoine says
This cilantro salsa is delicious and so easy to make that it will become a staple in my kitchen. I had it with yuca (cassava) fries, and it wast to die for! Thanks for the recipe and inspiration.
Veronika says
I'm a huge fan of cilantro so this salsa is right up my alley! We served it on tacos and added the leftovers to sandwiches. So good!
Dani says
Had a bunch of cilantro to use up and WOW! This Cilantro Salsa is amazing. My jalapeno had a bit of heat too it but the cilantro and lime juice gave it a wonderful balance.
Jacqueline Debono says
What a fabulous way to use cilantro. I normally grow it myself as it's not widely available here in Italy. Bookmarking this recipe for when my cilantro is in season.
Lisa says
I just love cilantro and this is perfect on grilled Chicken and fish! It's delcious with beans too!
Tammy says
Mmmm simple but so good! Love those fresh, bright flavors! This would be perfect over tacos or steak.
Isabelle says
I love this salsa in crispy fish or shrimp tacos. We love it spicy, so leave the seeds in the jalapenos and sometimes add a habanero. Delicious!
Kristina says
This salsa is a favorite of mine to drizzle over grilled steaks in the summertime. The hot steak and the cool refreshing flavors of the salsa are the perfect combination.
Bernice says
Oh yes, definite cilantro lover over here and beans too! Especially with how easy it is to make beans in the instant pot. We eat a lot more of them these days.
Sean says
I had grilled some mahi mahi and put this on top of it and it was perfect! It complimented the fish perfectly!
Laurie Constantino says
Lima beans are an abomination. Horrible. Cilantro, on the other hand, is wonderful and your salsa looks like an incredible way to use it. Yummy.
Pam says
Joanne - it would be great on sandwiches!
Natashya - lima beans - always bad.
Judi -I buy it routinely. As soon as I get it home, I wash it, spin it dry, wrap it in a paper towel and store it in a ziplock bag, it keeps for about 2 weeks like that.
Terri - I wish I could grow it, it seems to go to seed on me.
dp - I'm with you, I love it.
Paula - an ode to cilantro!
Debbie - I buy it as soon as I run out.
Pam - it's mine too, or at least tied with basil.
Marjie - it's fascinating, isn't it.
ts - everyone needs to be converted.
Katherine - I love beets!
Leanne - I'm glad I'm not the only one who grew to love it.
Doris - it does seem to be either love/hate, no middle ground.
Tins - try it and let me know what you think.
Susan - I know, you can see the bowl is almost empty.
Grace - everything is better with cilantro.
Mary - oh yes!
Noble - I almost forgot to save some for the picture.
Sherry - I'm kind of iffy on brussels sprouts, I'll have to give that a try.
Katie - try once more.
Kevin - I'm sure you'll kick it up a couple of notches.
n.o.e. - well, I'm not going to hold my breath on the whole lima beans thing.
n.o.e says
Ooh, I love cilantro (although my husband and daughters have that soapsuds thing). I used to despise limas but now I love them too - so you might like them some day! This salsa looks delish.
Nancy
Kevin says
Cilantro salsa sounds good! Cilantro is one of my favorites herbs.
katiez says
Okay...I'll try it again. You've convinced me!
noble pig says
I love cilantro, this sounds divine. I love the almost finished bowl.
Mary Coleman says
so good with grilled swordfish! love it!!!
Grace says
i pity the fools too. 🙂 i could probably simply eat this by the spoonful, and i would happily drain that bowl into my mouth. 🙂
Susan says
Crazy about cilantro. One cup of this salsa wouldn't be enough for me.
Thanks for the simple, snappy recipe for WHB!
Tins and Treasures says
I love Cilantro too...thanks for sharing the recipe! Have a great weekend, Natalie
doris says
Cilantro makes me wanna gag ... literally. It really does taste like soap. I understand that so many of you love it, but I wish there would always be salsa with a no-cilantro alternative. The newest thing that someone told me is that some smart people think a dislike of cilantro is genetic.
leanne says
I get what you are saying. I hated cilantro but lately I buy fresh almost every grocery trip. I am in need of a good salsa fix.
Katherine Aucoin says
I'm with you Pam, cilantro is one of my loves. I like this salsa it's so different. I would have been scared to add the ginger.
Yours is lima beans, mine is beets - sorry Natashya.
_ts of [eatingclub] vancouver says
LURV cilantro! CSC said she didn't like it... but we slowly converted her. ;)(I like your books posts, btw.)
Pam says
Cilantro is my favorite herb - I use it all the time. This salsa sounds wonderful.
Debinhawaii says
I always have it in my fridge--LOVE it! This looks like a great sauce for just about anything.
Paula says
Ah, cilantro. How do I love thee, let me count the ways ... 1) cilantro salsa!!!
dp says
Life would be meaningless without cilantro!
Okay, an exaggeration. But it tells you how much I love cilantro. I use it almost on a daily basis. And if I eat something particularly garlicky, I chew on cilantro leaves to tone done the garlic breath 🙂
Terri and Bob says
I love cilantro... I grow it in the summer and in the winter you will find me sniffing it in the produce aisle. Love the stuff!
Judi says
I love cilantro! Regarding the cilantro you keep in the refrigerator, do you grow cilantro year-round in your garden, freeze it, buy routinely at the grocery store, what? There must be a secret to keeping cilantro fresh that I don't know. I doubt you use a paste but I wouldn't think less of you:-)
Marjie says
There was just an article in the Wall Street Journal last week about cilantro. Front page and everything! Some folks love it and some hate it. Who knows!
Joanne says
It's almost like cilantro pesto...minus the nuts! This would be great on sandwiches or as a marinade for chicken.