Homemade Cilantro Lime Sauce

Name: Homemade Cilantro Lime Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 cup sour cream; 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, packed; 1 large jalapeño; 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/4 teaspoon salt

This creamy and zesty sauce is the perfect topping for your favorite burrito bowls and tacos.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 Mexican· July 31, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

10 minutes

Cook

10 minutes

Total

20 minutes

Serves

If you love the fresh, tangy kick of the sauce at Chipotle, you are going to be so happy with this recipe. It has that signature creaminess balanced with bright lime and a little bit of heat from roasted jalapeños, making it a much better choice than plain sour cream for your home taco nights.

The secret here is roasting the peppers to mellow out the spice and bring out a deeper flavor. My best tip is to taste the sauce after mixing and add an extra squeeze of lime juice if you like things really zesty. It keeps well in the fridge for a few days, so I usually make a double batch.

🧺 Ingredients

1 cup sour cream
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, packed
1 large jalapeño
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Turn your oven broiler on high.
2
Place the whole jalapeño on a baking sheet and broil it for about 5 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally until the skin is blistered and charred.
3
Let the pepper cool, then remove the stem and seeds. If you want more heat, you can leave some seeds in.
4
Add the sour cream, cilantro, roasted jalapeño, lime juice, cumin, and salt into a blender or food processor.
5
Blend the mixture until it is smooth and the cilantro is finely chopped.
6
Taste the sauce and add more salt or lime juice if you think it needs it, then transfer it to a small bowl or jar.

💡 Tips

Store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. It tastes best when served chilled over warm rice bowls, grilled chicken, or even as a dip for fresh tortilla chips.

#Vegetarian #Sauce #Mexican #Easy Recipe #Homemade

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