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Nuts and Twigs » Recipes » Quick and Easy Vegan Recipes

Vegan Cilantro Lime Dressing

Published: Mar 3, 2025 · Modified: Apr 8, 2025 by Regi Pearce · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

This Vegan Cilantro Lime Dressing is a zesty, creamy, and oil-free recipe that comes together in 5 minutes or less! Perfect for meal prep, this raw, WFPB-friendly dressing adds fresh flavor to salads, grain bowls, tacos, and roasted veggies. Make a batch ahead and keep it on hand for an easy, quick way to elevate any meal!

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

If you love Vegan avocado crema or Creamy Vegan Lemon Mint Salad Dressing, you're going to love this sauce.

This is another of my delicious FASSS dressings, following the Fat, Acid, Sweet, Salt, and Spice method for making perfectly balanced vegan sauces.

By blending just eight simple ingredients, including cashews for creaminess and a hint of sweetness, lime juice for acidity, and a balance of salt, black pepper, and cilantro for flavor, this dressing achieves the perfect harmony of taste that's always better than store-bought.

If you love creating easy, homemade dressings with well-rounded flavors, check out my FASSS method guide in How to Make Homemade Vegan Sauces to learn how to build your own signature sauces!

Why You'll Love This Dressing

  • A quick and easy dressing that comes together in no time.
  • Whole-food, plant-based and made without added oils.
  • Great for salads, grain bowls, tacos, roasted veggies, and even as a dip.
  • You can make a batch ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for easy meals.
  • Creamy without any dairy, making it a great alternative to traditional dressings.

Ingredients

You can make a delicious sauce in minutes with just a few easy-to-find ingredients. See the recipe card for a list of all ingredients plus quantities.

Raw Cashews - I always soften cashews when I'm using them in recipes, but waiting four hours to soak them isn’t always practical. Check out my Guide to Soaking Cashews for quick and easy ways to soften them in less time.

Variation

Swap out the cilantro for mint, parsley, basil, or a combo for a different flavor profile.

How To Make Vegan Cilantro Lime Dressing

Just like my other sauces and dressings like Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce or Easy Vegan Ranch Dressing, this low-effort, smooth dressing comes together fast in one step.

Combine ingredients in a blender, bullet, or food processor until smooth. Add more water if needed to thin it to your desired consistency.

Top Tips

You can use a blender, but half the dressing ends up trapped in the blender abyss, clinging to the blades. For maximum dressing extraction (and minimal frustration), a bullet blender or food processor makes life much easier.

Add more water a tablespoon at a time to make the dressing thinner.

If you have leftovers, store the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Serving Suggestions

Use the dressing as a flavorful topping for salads, grain bowls, Jackfruit Tacos, burritos, Mexican Potatoes, grilled tofu, Vegan Jackfruit Nachos, and Quick Cuban Black Beans.

Use the dressing as a dip for veggies, chips, or crackers.

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Recipe FAQS

How long does this dressing keep in the fridge?

If stored in an airtight container, this will keep well in the refrigerator for about 3 days.

Have a minute? I'd love for you to dive into the comments and rate this Vegan Cilantro Lime Dressing. Your feedback is invaluable—did you love it? Did you make any fun twists? Let me know how my directions worked for you so I can keep improving my recipes. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for inspiration.

vegan cilantro lime dressing in a mason jar.

Vegan Cilantro Lime Dressing

Regi Pearce
This Vegan Cilantro Lime Dressing is a zesty, creamy, and oil-free recipe that comes together in just 5 minutes! Great for meal prep, this raw, WFPB-friendly dressing adds a burst of fresh flavor to salads, grain bowls, tacos, and roasted veggies.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course condiment
Cuisine American, Vegan
Servings 8 servings
Calories 92 kcal

Equipment

  • Bullet
  • Blender

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup raw cashews soaked for atleast 4 hours (or see notes)
  • ½ cup cilantro ~11 grams
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ cup water or more as needed
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • In a blender, food processor, or bullet combine the ingredients.
  • Add ½ cup of water or more to thin the dressing.
  • Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Notes

Visit Guide to Soaking Cashews for quicker soaking methods.
Nutritional information is only an estimation.

Nutrition

Calories: 92kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 176mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
Keywords 5 minute recipe, batch cook, beginner friendly, easy, meal prep, oil free, quick, raw, veganuary, wfpb
Tried this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review!

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About Regi Pearce

Hello! I am Regi, the creator of Nuts & Twigs. I debunk the myths that vegan food is all nuts and twigs and offer plant-based scrumptiousness that goes far beyond that "rabbit food" stereotype. So grab your fork and put on your stretchy pants, 'cause you're gonna want seconds.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Regi Pearce says

    March 03, 2025 at 2:18 pm

    5 stars
    Bright, zesty, and so creamy! This vegan cilantro lime dressing is packed with fresh flavor and the perfect balance of tangy, herby, and slightly sweet. I love it on salads, tacos, grain bowls, or as a dip. It's a new fav.

    Reply

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Regina Pearce

I'm Regi.

Head nut, chief twig, and creator of Nuts & Twigs. My husband, Rob, and I live in Colorado. Here, you can expect delicious vegan recipes that make you realize that a life without cheese is not only possible but also worth living.

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