Whether you need a cool and creamy sauce for a homemade meal or an easy sauce for adding to a cooked-from-frozen meal, this cilantro lime yogurt sauce is the answer, and it takes just a few minutes to make.
I like making this cilantro lime Greek yogurt condiment as a side with my favorite sheet pan carnitas nachos, but I also use it as an easy sauce for steak and chicken tacos, and it is so good with my popular samosa pot pie, too!
This is a dressed-up version of my easy lemon Greek yogurt sauce.
Lime and cilantro pair really well with a wide variety of dishes, from curries to tacos to roasted vegetables, and this cool yogurt sauce with cilantro is one of my go-to condiments for them.
Variations on yogurt or sour cream sauces are staples in so many different cultures and cuisines. My recipe takes inspiration from raita (Indian yogurt sauce) and crema (a Mexican sauce with the consistency of thin sour cream).
Lime and cilantro are often used in both Indian and Mexican cooking, which makes this sauce a great addition to many recipes from both cuisines. The cool yogurt, sweet-tart lime flavor, and herby cilantro really help balance those warm, spicy flavors!
Whole milk, whole fat plain Greek yogurt has the best flavor and consistency for making this sauce. Greek yogurt is thicker and more concentrated than regular yogurt. If I can't find whole fat Greek yogurt, I look for the highest percentage of fat I can find (usually 2% or 5%). A non-fat Greek yogurt won't help much with cooling the heat from spicy foods — you need the fat for that!
Lime juice adds a slightly bitter, fruity, acidic flavor. It also helps thin out the yogurt into a smoother sauce, while lime zest is what really brings the lime flavor to the table. You don't have to include the zest, but I do recommend it for maximum lime vibes.
Don't like cilantro? Leave it out! This cool lime yogurt sauce will still pair well with all of the dishes I listed above and can be used in the same way.
It takes about 5 minutes to make
I use a whisk to make it but you can also use an immersion blender, mini blender, hand mixer, or mini food processor if you have wrist or joint issues.
Start with half the lime. You can always add more later to adjust.
Add salt and pepper, then whisk until smooth and creamy.
The greek yogurt is quite thick, so start whisking in small circles to incorporate, slowly adding more yogurt from the side as you go.
Adjusting Flavor & Consistency
Here's how to think about the different ingredients in this lime yogurt sauce so you can adjust the flavor and consistency until it's just right.
- Lime Juice: This will thin out your yogurt sauce and add acidity. Add more if you prefer a runnier, more drizzle-friendly yogurt sauce.
- Lime Zest: This will add lime flavor. Add more for a stronger lime flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: If your cilantro lime yogurt sauce still tastes a bit too much like yogurt, adding a pinch more salt and pepper will help tip it over into a decidedly "savory" sauce territory.
Using Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce
- Easy sauce for tacos : Dollop this sauce onto your favorite tacos, spoon it into burritos, spread it on tostadas, or drizzle over nachos.
- Serve as a dipping sauce or finishing sauce for grilled meat or fish — the bright lime flavor is great with chicken, beef, and pork.
- Dollop it over a slice of samosa pot pie. The cool, creamy yogurt and slightly fruity lime flavors are a great contrast to the lightly spiced potato filling.
- Serve it as a dipping sauce for my tikka masala pierogi or dal pierogi. It might not be a traditional raita, but these aren't traditional pierogi either.
- Jazz up your favorite frozen Trader Joe's foods: This lime cilantro yogurt sauce is so good with Trader Joe's frozen tikka masala meals and vegetable masala burgers.
Variations & Other Flavors to Include
While this recipe makes a great easy sauce for tacos, there are lots of other ways you can dress it up whether you're using it for tacos or something else:
- Spicy - Add a pinch (⅛ teaspoon) cayenne pepper, ancho chili powder, hot smoky paprika, or any other hot pepper powder or spicy seasoning blends. You could even grate a fresh hot pepper like a jalapeño, poblano, fresno, or serrano into the sauce to add fresh pepper flavor.
- Avocado - Blend half a ripe avocado into the lime yogurt sauce in a mini food processor or blender for an avocado crema vibe. This is great with spicy chicken or fish tacos!
- Garlic - Grate or paste a garlic clove and stir it in for a garlicky lime sauce.
- Ginger - Grate ½ teaspoon fresh ginger into the lime cilantro yogurt sauce.
📖 Recipe
5-Minute Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce
Recipe Notes
- Store lime cilantro yogurt sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. Some separation will naturally occur; stir to combine before serving. It is best used within 2-3 days. The more lime juice you use in your lime yogurt sauce, the quicker the mixture will curdle and separate. A very thin, drizzle-able lime yogurt sauce with lots of lime juice in it is best used same-day.
- Look for the single-serving cups of Greek yogurt at the grocery store. There's usually enough room at the top of the container that you can mix everything in it without having to wash another bowl.
- To create a thinner sauce, add more lime juice. For more intense lime flavor, add more lime zest!
- Always zest the lime BEFORE you juice it. Don't zest too deep into the skin; the pith (the white part of the peel under the skin) is very bitter!
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole fat plain greek yogurt
- ½ lime, zested
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro (minced)
- ½ teaspoon diamond crystal kosher salt (use half as much of another brand)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk well until combined.
- Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Serve as a dipping sauce or drizzle over roasted veggies, tacos, nachos, samosas, etc!
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up 2-3 days.
Jan says
Absolutely zingly and delicious! I added a mashed clove of garlic. Will be making again!
Sally says
There is no lime zest mentioned in the actual recipe, but you mention it a couple of times in your commentry. How much should be added?
Rebecca Eisenberg says
About half a lime's worth of zest! I'll update the recipe now to include that. Thanks for letting me know that was missing. Enjoy the sauce!
Bill E. says
Really good, and quite zesty. We tried this when we discovered our sour cream was home to growing green stuff, so out it went and in came your recipe. Used it on black bean tacos. Not going back to sour cream any time soon. Thank you!