Cashew Cilantro Sauce

5 from 1 vote

This creamy vegan Cashew Cilantro Sauce is a great for tacos or a flavorful appetizer dip! It's made with garlic, jalapeno, and lime juice.

Prep Time15

Soaking Time:2

Total Time2 15

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Mexican

Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan

Keyword: cilantro lime sauce, cilantro sauce for tacos, vegan cashew sauce

Servings:

Calories: 50kcal

Author: Christine Rooney

Equipment

High Speed Blender such as a Vitamix

Ingredients

1 cup cashews raw, unsalted
2 cloves garlic
½ cup water
4 Tbsp. lime juice equals 2-3 limes
1 jalapeno pepper seeds removed for less heat
½ heaping cup cilantro
¾ tsp. kosher salt
¼ tsp. pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To Soak The Cashews:

Place 1 cup of raw, unsalted cashews in a small bowl. Top with enough water to cover the cashews.
Allow the cashews to soak for 2 hours at room temperature.
The cashews may soak for a few extra hours if needed. Do not allow them to soak too long, or they may become slimy.
After 2 hours, drain the cashews and rinse with cold water.

To Make The Sauce:

Peel 2 cloves of garlic and cut them in half.
Cut 1 jalapeno pepper in half and remove the seeds and membranes for less heat. Chop the jalapeno into chunks.
Roughly chop a heaping ½ cup of fresh cilantro.
Squeeze 4 Tbsp. of fresh lime juice (equals 2-3 limes).
Place the rinsed cashews, garlic cloves, jalapeno pepper, cilantro, lime juice, ¾ tsp. kosher salt, and ¼ tsp. pepper into a high speed blender (such as a Vitamix). Place the cover securely on the blender. Pulse all of the ingredients a few times.
Place the cover securely on the blender. Slowly pour ½ cup of water through the opening of the cover and puree the mixture at a high speed until the sauce reaches a smooth consistency (you may need to use the tamper to scrape and push the ingredients to the bottom of the blender).
The amount of time it takes to achieve a creamy texture may vary depending on the type of blender or food processor used.
To Serve: Serve on top of tacos or any of your favorite Mexican inspired dishes. Alternately, this sauce can be served as a dip with chips or fresh veggies, drizzled on roasted vegetables, or used as a spread on a sandwich or burger.

Notes

Make sure that the cashews used to make this sauce are raw and unsalted. Choose a brand that is gluten free if gluten is an issue for you.

Adjust salt and pepper levels as needed.

A high speed blender like a Vitamix is essential to achieving a super creamy texture. A less powerful blender or food processor will work, but you likely won't achieve optimal creaminess.

This sauce can absolutely be made using a regular blender or food processor, but the texture will be grainier. You can puree the sauce longer to achieve a creamier texture, but it likely won't be as creamy.

Nutrition