So you ate the Guacamole Greens salad at sweetgreen every day for a year because you loved that Cilantro Lime Dressing. Then after realizing you basically spent the equivalent of a down payment for a house on just a salad, you graduated to making a salad at home with bottled Cilantro Lime Dressing from Trader Joe's. Now you're ready to level up to making Cilantro Lime Dressing yourself.

Welcome to your whole new world.

What Ingredients You Need for Cilantro Lime Dressing

You probably already have most of the ingredients to make Cilantro Lime Dressing, and the rest of the ingredients in the recipe are fairly accessible!

• Cilantro, obviously!
• Green onions
• Garlic
• Jalapeño or serrano pepper (more heat!)
• Lime, obviously
• Nutritional yeast, or other salty, savory umami ingredient like cheese
• Neutral flavored oil
• Salt

Do these ingredients look familiar? If you've been here a while and know about my absolute obsession with the Peruvian green sauce Aji Verde, you might think the two cilantro and lime-based sauces are the same thing because they have nearly the same list of ingredients and even have the same color. However, Aji Verde and Cilantro Lime Dressing have similar but not the exact same ingredients, and in different proportions.

Cilantro, green onions, garlic, jalapeño and lime are ubiquitous ingredients in Latin cuisines. Of course, they're also common garnishes in pho, the Vietnamese rice noodle soup, and I don't know how that geographical cuisine developed, but that's a master's dissertation for another day.

But You Hate Cilantro

Never in a million billion years would I have ever thought I would develop a recipe for Cilantro Lime dressing, let alone make it at least once a week and put it on any- and everything. I hate cilantro. Like HATE it. No, cilantro doesn't taste like dish soap to me. It tastes much much worse.

By itself.

For some reason, cilantro doesn't stand out so aggressively vile in this dressing. There has to be something in the biophysical chemistry of blending entire bunches of cilantro, including their stems which are actually where the worst of the olfactory offense is, at very high speeds that render the previously foul flavor into one that's only subtly noxious. Kind of how anchovy sauce, kimchi, and blue cheese are.

It could of course, also be that the other very intensely fragrant ingredients like multiple cloves of raw garlic, fresh green onions, and nutritional yeast or cheese "tame" the flavor of the cilantro.

Whatever the science, it somehow works out to create Cilantro Lime Dressing, a bright green, garlicky, tart lime-spiked sauce. Drizzle it as a sauce over a burrito bowl. Stir it into scrambled eggs. Serve with chips. And of course, use it exactly like its name, tossed with fresh greens and vegetables for an incredible salad. Because there is up to one whole jalapeño blended into the dressing, it's also got a spicy kick.

One quick note: the Cilantro Lime Dressing as presented is plant-based/vegan, and is endlessly flexible with respect to substituting for other dietary preferences or in ingredients you may already have i.e. parmesan cheese, olive oil

Ingredients Notes and Substitutions

Cilantro. The recipe is based on cilantro. If you have to substitute out cilantro because you don't like cilantro or don't have any, don't make this recipe. I used to pull the leaves completely off every stem, but at this point, there's no reason. You can use most of the stem except for the fibrous, bottom 2-inches.

Green Onions. Green onions have their own flavor, and you can use both the white and green parts of the stalk. If you don't have green onions in the kitchen or they don't look super fresh at the market, substitute any round white, yellow, or red onion.

Garlic. Use fresh garlic. Garlic powder and/or dehydrated garlic are too different in intensity for a dressing like this.

Jalapeño. I use half a very large jalapeño pepper for this recipe, and the dressing's intensity of heat just depends on how spicy the pepper is. You can substitute serrano pepper with the understanding that serranos, though smaller, are spicier. Proceed accordingly. If you want a pure Cilantro Lime Dressing with no spice, leave the jalapeño pepper out. If you like the flavor of pepper, use about ¼ of a small green bell pepper.

Lime. I use 2 whole limes, but limes vary in size, and how much lime juice they render. Aim to get about 4 tablespoons=¼ cup of juice

Nutritional yeast. I use nutritional yeast as a non-dairy substitute for parmesan and other salty, savory, umami-packed cheeses. If you don't have a preference for non-dairy, by all means use the regular dairy grated parmesan cheese.

Neutral flavored oil. I use avocado oil. It has a more neutral flavor than olive oil. However, if you already have olive oil, use that. Other neutral oils that work here are canola and grapeseed.

How to Make Cilantro Lime Dressing

There is nothing more than throwing all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and let the machine do its work until the dressing is light, bright green with tiny specks of cilantro.

Order of Ingredients in Blender or Food Processor

Pro-tip for blending and food processing: There is an optimal order in which to add ingredients to a blender or food processor, so that you won't have to open the lid and push everything down with the handle of your wooden spoon. Trust me, I Iearned easily through research and the hard way through trial-and-error.

• Always start with liquids in the bottom of the blender first (closest to the blades). In the case of this recipe, that's the lime juice and avocado oil.
• Next, add any powdered/grated or lighter ingredients.
• On top, hard solid ingredients, like garlic cloves.

I used to trust my intellect and put the solid ingredients first, closest to the blade because I thought they took the longest to blend so they needed to be closest to the blades. And I couldn't understand why it never seemed to work. I also had to take freshman physics three times before I passed so I think that explains a lot.

Cilantro Lime Dressing Without a Blender/Food Processor

If you have neither a blender nor a food processor, it is absolutely possible to make Cilantro Lime Dressing by hand! It takes a little more time. Very finely mince the cilantro, garlic, green onions, and jalapeño, then combine with the remaining ingredients either by whisking in a bowl or shaking vigorously in a tightly lidded mason jar. The final dressing won't be a smooth puree, but all the flavors will still be there!

Other Green Dressings and Sauces

Once you've made this Cilantro Lime Dressing enough times, you can try a new green sauce! These are house favorites:

• Aji Verde, a cilantro-forward Peruvian sauce that has many of the same ingredients as this dressing, served famously with Pollo a la Brasa
• Italian Salsa Verde, made with a base of parsley
• Chimichurri, similar to Italian Salsa Verde with almost all parsley, and with oregano and red pepper flakes
• Green Goddess Dressing/Dip
• Ginger Scallion Sauce, with just scallions, ginger, and searing hot oil
• Kale Pesto of any and every kind
• Avocado Green Goddess, which is just a non-creamy version of the original Green Goddess

Print

Cilantro Lime Dressing Recipe

A light, bright, green dressing that hits the anti-inflammatory checklist with garlic, green herbs, fresh citrus juice and heart-health promoting oils. Cilantro Lime Dressing is perfect for a taco salad, burrito bowl, or just as a dip for tortilla chips.

Course Sauce

Cuisine Latin, Mexican

Keyword anti-inflammatory, herbs

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 minute minute

Servings 1 cup

Ingredients

• 1 bunch cilantro
• 1 stalk green onion
• 2 clove garlic peeled and lightly smashed
• ½ jalapeño seeds removed
• 1 lime, juice and zest
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast or cotija, feta or parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup avocado oil
• ½ + ½ teaspoon coarse salt

Instructions

• Place cilantro, green onion, garlic, jalapeño pepper, lime juice and zest, and nutritional yeast (or cheese) in a blender or food processor. Pulse, then process until ingredients are finely chopped and well combined.
• Add the oil and ½ teaspoon salt to blender or food processor. Combine until olive oil is emulsified.
• Taste Cilantro Lime Dressing, and add the remaining salt if needed. The dressing should taste fairly tart and salty.

Notes

Cilantro Lime Dressing will keep in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

The post Cilantro Lime Dressing, the Flavor You Love to Hate appeared first on The Delicious Life.

Fruits and Vegetables in Season in June | Recipes and Ideas for June |
Fruits and Vegetables in Season Year-Round

What Fruits and Vegetables in Season in June

Here's the tl;dr list easy to copy and paste into your grocery list for the week ahead. Peep the following section for more details, and the best recipes that are fast, fresh, easy, and of course, healthy.

• Avocados
• Berries-blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries
• Carrots-always in season
• Cherries-end of the season so get what you can!
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant-new in June
• Figs
• Garlic and onions-always in season
• Grapes
• Lettuce and Leafy Greens-year-round
• Melons like cantaloupe, honeydew and of course, watermelon
• Mushrooms
• Peaches
• Peas and snap peas
• Peppers
• Radishes-year-round
• Squash like zucchini
• Strawberries, in California year round in California, but everywhere else June is the peak
• Tomatillos-new in June
• Tomatoes
• Tropical fruits like mango, papaya, and pineapple

Recipes and Ideas for June

AVOCADO

• Avocado Hummus
• California Roll Summer Rolls
• How to Cut and Slice Avocado, Five Ways
• Lobster Cobb Salad with Avocado Goddess

BLACKBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, and RASPBERRIES

Look, berries are in the category of food of "Why Mess with the Best?" i.e. just wash them and eat them fresh right out of hand. However, when berries are abundant, you might as well put them in everything for their extraordinary nutritional profile that makes them the healthiest fruits.

• Berry Chia Seed Jam with Blackberries, Blueberries, and Raspberries
• Blueberry Avocado salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
• Blueberry Muffin Baked Oatmeal
• Kale Salad with Berries, the ULTIMATE antioxidant boost!

STRAWBERRIES

• Strawberry Salad
• Strawberry Chia Jam
• Strawberry Mochi Cake
• Berry Chantilly Tiramisu, faster and easier than THAT cake

CHERRIES

Cherries are another fruit in the "Why Mess with the Best?" category, i.e. just wash them and eat them fresh right out of hand, especially if we're talking about eating the antioxidant-rich fruit as anything but a baked sweet treat. But since everything cherries-from jewelry to paint colors-will be trending in 2025, get as many as you can and make these recipes:

• Cherry Tabbouleh
• Cherry Salsa for Grilled Salmon
• Cherry Pomegranate Smoothie
• How to Pit Cherries without a Pitter
• Summer Red Fruit Salad with Berries and Cherries

CARROTS

You probably don't pay that much attention to carrots the rest of the year except as a flavor base along with fellow NPCs onions and celery for soups or as a supporting ingredient. But in the winter, when other main character vegetables are off-duty, carrots can take center stage with their bright, crisp, subtly sweet, vitamin A-rich glory.

• viral tiktok trend Spicy Carrot Salad
• Spicy Carrot Lentil Soup
• Gochujang Glazed Carrots
• Pickled Carrots and Daikon
• Carrot Cake

CUCUMBERS

• Cucumber Avocado Salad
• Spicy Cucumbers, Din Tai Fung Dupe
• Korean Spicy Cucumbers, Oi Muchim

FIGS

Fresh figs are usually considered a summer fruit because they are officially in season May to November. But technically, figs have two very short "seasons" on either end of summer. The first season can start as early as May, depending on the variety of fig and where you are located. Then, fresh figs sort of disappear during the height of the summer season and come back for their second season which starts in late August and can go as late as November.

• Arugula Fig Salad
• Fresh Fig Ice Cream
• Fresh Fig Ricotta Toast
• Fig and Walnut Olive Oil Cake

MELONS

• Sparkling Melon Sangria
• Watermelon Agua Fresca
• Charentais Melon (Cantaloupe) Sorbet

MUSHROOMS

• Mushrooms Lentil Salad
• Mushroom Barley Soup
• Shiitake Mushroom Bacon
• How to Cook Lion's Mane Mushrooms
• Mushroom Stock

PEACHES

• Peach Salad with Hot Honey Balsamic

PEAS and SNAP PEAS

• Green Goddess Crudités Board

RADISHES

• Pickled Carrots and Daikon Radishes
• Korean Pickled Radishes, Chicken Mu
• Spicy Korean Radish Salad, Mu-saeng-chae
• Radish Kimchi aka Kkak-du-gi

SUMMERY SQUASH like Zucchini and Yellow Squash

• Viral Thomas Keller's Roasted Zucchini
• Zucchini Ghanoush, aka Baba Ghanoush with Zucchini
• Healthy Zucchini Bread
• Easiest One Bowl Zucchini Bread

TOMATOES and TOMATILLOS

• Shakshuka Tomato-Poached Eggs
• Tomato Soup

Fruit and Vegetables in Season Right Now and Always

These fruits and vegetables are considered "always in season!" At least here in California!

Vegetables in Season Year Round

• Artichokes, you wouldn't believe it because they're so closely associated with spring, but California grows artichokes year-round!
• Beets
  • Beet hummus
  • Tzatziki with roasted beets
• Broccoli, cauliflower and fam, except brussels
  • Best Burnt Broccoli
  • Cauliflower Parm
  • Cauliflower Gratin
  • Whole Roasted Cauliflower
  • Roasted Curried Cauliflower
  • How to Cut Cauliflower Steaks
  • Pull Apart Garlic Cheese Whole Cauliflower "Loaf"
• Cabbage
  • Cabbage Apple Salad with Miso Mustard Dressing
• Carrots
  • Spicy Carrot Salad
  • Gochujang Roasted Carrots
  • Spicy Carrot Lentil Soup
  • Pickled Carrots and Daikon
  • Carrot Cake
  • Spring Rolls with Flowers
  • Carrot Cake topped with Nasturtiums
• Garlic
  • Asian Garlic Noodles
  • Thomas Keller's Garlic Confit
  • Caramelized Garlic Cauliflower Soup
• Herbs
  • cilantro: Peruvian Green Sauce Aji Verde
  • cilantro: Cilantro Lime Dressing
  • dill: Dill Pickled Chopped Salad
  • parsley: Olive Salsa Verde
  • parsley: Italian Salsa Verde
  • rosemary: Rosemary Olive Oil Cake
  • rosemary: Rosemary White Bean Dip
  • thyme: Meyer Lemon Thyme Olive Oil Cake
• Lettuces and leafy greens
• Mushrooms
  • Roasted Shiitake Mushroom "Bacon"
  • How to Cook Lion's Mane Mushrooms
  • California Sushi Rolls with Mushrooms
  • Summer Rolls with Mushrooms
• Onions
  • Perfect Pickled Onions
  • Salsa Criolla Lime Pickled Onions
  • French Onion Soup
  • Pissaladiere with Caramelized Onions
• Potatoes
  • Korean Potato Salad
  • Roasted Garlic Potato Salad
  • Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Feta and Honey
  • Salt and Vinegar Crispy Smashed Potatoes
• Radishes
  • Pickled Radish
  • Vietnamese Pickled Carrots and Radish Do Chua
  • Soy Sauce Pickled Radish and Onions
  • Spicy Radish Salad, aka musaengchae
  • Radish Kimchi, aka "kkadugi"
• Sweet potatoes
  • Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Feta and Pomegranate

Fruits in Season Year Round

• Lemons and Limes
  • Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
  • Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
  • Lemon Olive Oil Cake
  • Marcella Hazan's Roast Chicken with Lemons

• Mandarins and Tangerines
  • Avocado Citrus Salad
  • Baked Salmon with Citrus
  • Mandarin Chicken Salad
• Oranges
  • Orange Olive Oil Cake
  • for your Cheese and Charcuterie Boards: Candied Oranges
  • for your cocktail garnishes: Dried Oranges
• Strawberries
  • Strawberry Salad
  • Strawberry Mochi Cake
  • Strawberry Chia Jam
  • How to Keep Strawberries Fresh
• Edible flowers
  • Spring Rolls with Flowers
  • Carrot Cake topped with Nasturtiums
• Dried Fruit
  • Pickled Prunes
  • Brownie Baked Oatmeal with Prunes
  • Pinot Prune Jam
  • Healthy Chocolate Spread aka "No-tella"
  • Chocolate Salami for Dessert Platters
  • Homemade Hoisin Sauce
  • Cauliflower Sicilian-style with Raisins and Pistachios

What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season, by Month

Planning ahead? Here's what fruits and vegetables are in season for the months coming up:

• What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season in January
• What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season in February
• What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season in March
• What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season in April
• What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season in May
• What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season in June-we're here!
• What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season in July
• What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season in August
• What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season in September
• What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season in October
• What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season in November
• What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season in December

The post What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season Right Now? Produce Guide June 2026 appeared first on The Delicious Life.

The big "Holidays" that give us a reason to get together and eat might be toward the end of the year, but in the summer, we have actual FOOD holidays to celebrate! National Donut Day on June 2 and National Jelly-filled Doughnut on June 8? We'll take both, no matter how you spell "d-o-u-g-h-n-u-t."

Check out the "holidays" below, list format first, downloadable google calendar after. Some fun recipes included to help you celebr-eat!

Happy June!

And when you're ready and set, go plan ahead with the July Food Holidays calendar!

Month-long Celebrations in June

• California Avocado Month
• National Candy Month
• National Cucumber Month
• National Dairy Month
• National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month
• National Grilling Month
• National Horseradish Month
• National Hot Dog Month
• National Iced Tea Month
• National Mango Month
• National Okra Month
• National Papaya Month
• National Seafood Month
• National Steakhouse Month
• National Turkey Lover's Month

June Food Holidays, Day-by-Day

Father's Day in the United States is the third Sunday of June. This year, Father's Day is Sunday, June 21, 2026.

• First Friday: National Doughnut Day
• First Friday: National Fish & Chips Day
• Second week in June: Negroni Week
• Second Saturday: World Gin Day
• Second Sunday: National Rosé Day
• Third Thursday: World Tapas Day
• Third Sunday: National Turkey Day

Here is the list of June Food and food-adjacent Holidays, listed by date:

• June 1: National Hazelnut Cake Day
  June 1: National Olive Day, make Salmon with Olive Salsa Verde
  June 1: World Milk Day
• June 2: National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day
  June 2: National Rotisserie Chicken Day
• June 3: National Chocolate Macaroon Day
  June 3: National Egg Day
• June 4: National Cheese Day
  June 4: National Frozen Yogurt Day
  June 4: National Cognac Day
• June 5: National Donut Day (1st Friday in June)
  June 5: National Fish & Chips Day (1st Friday in June)
  June 5: National Gingerbread Day
  June 5: National Ketchup Day
  June 5: National Veggie Burger Day
• June 6: National Applesauce Cake Day
  June 6: National Churro Day
  June 6: National Fruit Salad Day
• June 7: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
• June 8: Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day
• June 9: National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day
  June 9: International Dark n Stormy Cocktail Day
• June 10: Herbs & Spice Day
  June 10: National Iced Tea Day
  June 10: National Black Cow Day
  June 10: National Pumpkin Spice Day
• June 11: National Elote Day
  June 11: National German Chocolate Cake Day
  June 11: National Pizza Margherita Day
• June 12: National Jerky Day
  National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
  International Cachaça Day
  International Falafel Day
• June 13: Cupcake Lovers' Day
  June 13: Kitchen Klutzes of America Day
• June 14: National Cucumber Day, make:
  • Cucumber Avocado Salad
  • Spicy Cucumbers, Din Tai Fung dupe
  • Oi Muchim, Korean Cucumber Salad
• June 14: National Feta Day, make Whipped Feta!
  June 14: National Strawberry Shortcake Day
• June 15: National Cannoli Day
  June 15: National Lobster Day
  June 15: National Prune Day
  • Pinot Prune Jam for Cheese Boards
  • Chocolate Prune Spread aka "No-tella"
  • No-bake Chocolate Salami made with prunes
  • Supernatual Homemade Hoisin Sauce
• June 16: National Fresh Veggies Day
  June 16: National Fudge Day
  June 16: National Tortilla Day
• June 17: Eat All Your Veggies Day
  June 17: National Apple Strudel Day
• June 18: National Cherry Tart Day
  June 18: National Sushi Day, make Hand Roll Sushi, Spicy Tuna Rolls
  June 18: International Picnic Day
• June 19: Juneteenth
  June 19: National Dry Martini Day
• June 20: Drink Chenin Blanc Day
  June 20: National Ice Cream Soda Day
  June 20: National Vanilla Milkshake Day
• June 21: 3rd Sunday of June Father's Day
  June 21: National Lambrusco Day
  June 21: National Peaches and Cream Day
  June 21: National Smoothie Day
  June 21: National Wagyu Day
• June 22: National Chocolate Eclair Day
  June 22: National Onion Ring Day
• June 23: National Detriot-style Pizza Day
  June 23: National Pecan Sandy Day
  June 23: National Porridge Day
• June 24: National Cream Tea Day
  June 24: National Pralines Day
• June 25: National Strawberry Parfait Day
  June 25: National Catfish Day
• June 26: National Chocolate Pudding Day
  June 26: National Coconut Day
• June 27: National Ice Cream Cake Day
  June 27: National Indian Pudding Day
  June 27: National Onion Day
  June 27: National Orange Blossom Day
  June 27: National Pineapple Day
• June 28: National Ceviche Day
  June 28: National Tapioca Day
• June 29: National Almond ButterCrunch Day
  June 29: National Waffle Iron Day
• June 30: National Ice Cream Soda Day
  June 30: National Mai Tai Day

June Food Holidays Google Calendar

This is a PUBLIC calendar, so you can add it to your own google calendar!

Use the blue arrows < > on the calendar to click month-to-month for more.

Food Holiday Calendars for the Entire Year

• January Food Holidays
• February Food Holidays
• March Food Holidays
• April Food Holidays
• May Food Holidays
• June Food Holidays - you're here!
• July Food Holidays
• August Food Holidays
• September Food Holidays
• October Food Holidays
• November Food Holidays
• December Food Holidays

The post JUNE FOOD HOLIDAYS the Most Complete Calendar for 2026! appeared first on The Delicious Life.