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Cilantro Yogurt Sauce — Fresh homemade recipe photo

Cilantro Yogurt Sauce

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I found myself making this sauce last month when I was trying to salvage some limp grilled chicken from the fridge. I tossed it with lemon juice and a dollop of yogurt, then realized something: I'd been buying fancy tahini-based sauces for my grain bowls while ignoring the most versatile thing in my pantry.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American
Calories: 85
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
  • 2 cups packed fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled
  • 1 lemon about 2 tablespoons juice
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Method
 

  1. Place the yogurt in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Add the cilantro, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice to a food processor. Pulse about ten times until the mixture is finely chopped but not completely smooth — you want visible flecks of green.
  3. Transfer the cilantro mixture into the bowl with the yogurt. Stir gently until evenly combined. Season generously with kosher salt (start with ¾ teaspoon) and freshly ground black pepper to taste. If the sauce feels too thick, add a tablespoon or two of water and stir again.
  4. Let sit for at least ten minutes before serving so the flavors have time to meld. Taste and adjust seasoning — you'll likely want more salt than you think.

Nutrition

Calories: 85kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 195mgPotassium: 160mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 45IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 110mgIron: 1mg

Notes

Cilantro yogurt sauce has earned its place because it works everywhere — over roasted vegetables, drizzled onto tacos, stirred into rice, spooned over any protein. The trick is getting the cilantro texture right: too fine and it turns pasty, too coarse and you get big chunks that don't distribute well. I pulse everything in a food processor until just combined.

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