This easy Thai cilantro sauce recipe combines refreshing lime juice, garlic, and green chilies. Use it as a dipping sauce or drizzle over grilled meats, seafood, or fresh vegetables for lots of flavor!
For more authentic Thai sauces, try my green chili sauce, seafood sauce, or the delicious nam jim jaew!
Why you’ll love this cilantro lime sauce
This Thai cilantro lime sauce is ready in less than 10 minutes and goes with almost anything. You can adjust the flavor to your liking by making it tangier, spicier, or sweeter. Itโs healthy and gluten-free, made with fresh, natural ingredients, contains no oil, and pairs perfectly with many of my Thai recipes!
Ingredient notes
You can find everything you need at Asian markets or Asian grocery stores. Head to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the measurements!
- Cilantro – Use both the leaves and cilantro stems for a bright, fresh flavor.
- Sugar – I used natural cane sugar, but white sugar works too. Feel free to adjust the sweetness to your liking.
- Fish sauce – Salty, umami-packed, and a key ingredient in Thai cuisine made from fermented fish. I recommend using Megachef fish sauce.
- Green chilies – I used Thai Jinda chilies, which pack quite a spicy kick! You can use any fresh green chili pepper you have on hand, as long as theyโre green.
- Fresh lime juice – Adds tangy acidity that balances the sweet and salty flavors.
- Garlic
- Water
How to make cilantro sauce
Step 1: Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning as neededโadd a little extra sugar if itโs too spicy. If using a mortar and pestle, pound the dry ingredients first, then mix in the sauces.
Serving suggestions
- Drizzle over grilled chicken or fish
- Pair with sticky rice for dipping
- Use as a sauce for fresh spring rolls
- Serve alongside Thai-style seafood dishes like prawns or squid
- Enjoy as a dipping sauce with grilled meats such as moo yang
How to store leftover dipping sauce
- Refrigerate: Transfer the dipping sauce to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: For longer storage, pour the sauce into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw individual portions in the fridge as needed, and give it a stir before serving to refresh the flavors.
More Thai dipping sauce recipes to try
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Thai Cilantro Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 35 g cilantro, leaves and stems
- 1-3 green chilies, adjust to taste
- 1 tbsp or 12 g sugar
- 6 cloves of garlic, peeled
- 3.5 tbsp or 50 ml water
- 1.5 tbsp or 22 ml fish sauce
- 2 tbsp or 30 ml fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning as neededโadd a little extra sugar if itโs too spicy. If using a mortar and pestle, pound the dry ingredients first, then mix in the sauces.
Notes
- Use the nutrition card in this recipe as a guideline.
