Cilantro Avocado Lime Dip

This cilantro avocado lime dip is creamy, zesty, citrusy, and works beautifully as a sauce, dip, or spread. It makes a beautiful addition to any spring meal, especially when cilantro is abundant.

We had a mild winter, so the cilantro that I planted last fall overwintered beautifully and showcased its deep, fresh green leaves this spring, in all its glory. It loves the cooler weather, and I got to harvesting before the spring warmth hit (which is when it turns a bit bitter and starts to bolt). This cilantro avocado lime dip is a perfect balance, showing off the fresh cilantro notes with a bit of kick from the lime, and creaminess from the avocado.

A LITTLE CILANTRO EDUCATION

I personally enjoy avocado with my cilantro, vs. cilantro with my avocado ~ I love it that much! And spring time (and fall) especially when the weather is still a little bit chilly, cilantro thrives. In fact, the bunch above was planted in the fall, overwintered and gave us heaps of cilantro this spring. It loves the cold and easily bolts in hot weather, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Cilantro is sometimes called coriander in other parts of the world, but in the states, Coriander refers to the seeds of the plants and cilantro refers to the leaves. Both the leaves and the stems have loads of flavor, so save those stems and use them in this recipe. Do make sure you wash cilantro well, as it’s often very sandy and has a gritty texture. I like to rinse it well, then give a good soak in a bowl of water so the sediment falls to the bottom. Then lift it up out of the water, and repeat the process until no more sediment remains.

Herbs are one really easy way to augment a simple ingredient, like avocado. Avocado is amazingly creamy, that’s its strong suit. But cilantro is so flavorful and doesn’t have much body. So together, they are suited really well and make for a dynamic duo!

THIS CILANTRO AVOCADO LIME DIP IS ALSO VERSATILE

I love recipes that are templates, and this is one of them. Feel like throwing in some chives and parsley? Go for it. Make it a little more creamy and pourable with some yoghurt? Done. Thin it out with a little water or more lime juice to make it a pourable dressing, feel free. I like to think that life in the kitchen is highly improvisational and personalized, and your tastes matter just as much as mine do. So go with how your palate dictates.

HOW TO USE THIS DIP

• Use it as a dip for crudités
• Slather it on cauliflower steaks (like we did below), fresh salsa and beans
• Thin it out and use it as a dressing (it does contain a fat, after all)
• Add in some chickpeas, minced cucumbers, fresh tomatoes for delicious salad.
• Add a portion to a warm soup and stir it in (it will make it green, vibrant, and creamy!)
• Add some to sweet potato toast or sprouted bread

Let us know how you enjoy it, and the many ways you like to use it in your kitchen. Leave us a comment below or tag us on social media @littlebitesofjoy.