This cilantro dressing has parmesan and is always a team favorite on our studio lunch days. This dressing is a huge part of what makes our salad bar special. After tossing this on our favorite spinach avocado salad, it’s always a winner that everyone asks for again and again. It’s always about the amazing cilantro parmesan dressing!

Spinach Avocado Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing in a bowl

Best Creamy Cilantro Dressing Recipe

We always get requests from all the creative teams we work with for our creamy cilantro dressing. Previously it was all about our homemade caesar salad dressing and to fulfill another big request, today is about our creamy cilantro dressing. Seriously guys, we’re obsessed with homemade dressings because our team lunches usually always has a big salad. Our salad bars always have all the trimmings, especially with jars of homemade dressings. It’s one of the easiest things to make and folks sometimes are daunted by it but seriously it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself. Homemade dressings can be customized to your own tastes and flavors. Besides, so many store bought dressings have so much sugar so when it’s homemade, you can literally eliminate so much of the sugar and make it your own.

Spinach Avocado Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing Recipe | @whiteonrice
Spinach Avocado Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing in a bowl
Spinach Avocado Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing on a plate

Video of Our Spinach Avocado Salad Recipe

Tips for Making Spinach Avocado Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing:

  • The texture of the dressing will vary depending on the size of your avocado and how powerful your blender is. So if your dressing is a little too thick, add some milk in until it reaches your desired texture.
  • Even if this dressing is a little thick, you can use this as a dip! So if you’re not going to use all the dressing, divide it in half and keep the thick version for a dip. Then dilute the other half down for the dressing. You get two recipes in one.
  • There’s so many different lettuce greens to serve instead of spinach. Green leaf lettuce, chopped romaine, massaged kale salad and even sliced cabbage slaw are great options for greens.
  • Add some shredded carrots, thin slices of celery or radish slices for extra veggies and crunch.
  • We love adding a handful of black beans or soy beans. These are added proteins which really make the salad more full and satisfying.
  • All spinach avocado salad recipe details are in the recipe box below.

What other herb substitutes for Cilantro ?

Some folks are turned off by the smell and taste of cilantro, which is totally understandable! Yes, for some, cilantro makes people gag and leaves a really bad soapy taste in their mouths. Do you know of friends like this? If so, this dressing is totally adaptable to using parsley or another herb like basil. Make it a green goddess dressing by using your favorite fresh herbs! There’s so much to enjoy from this dressing because it’s savory, bright and beautiful. Any fresh herb you use will pair well with the lemon, garlic and parmesan. But it’s really the Parmigiano-Reggiano in our version that makes the flavors outstanding. Treat yourself to some fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano and you’ll be in love forever with this dressing or any homemade version you decide to create.

Spinach Avocado Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing Recipe on a plate

Folks love our spinach bacon salad with avocado vinaigrette! 

Bacon Vinaigrette | @whiteonrice

This creamy avocado dip recipe doubles as a dressing!

Dressing Recipe | @whiteonrice

Spinach Avocado Salad w/ Cilantro Parmesan Dressing

Yield: 8 Servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Some folks are turned off by the smell and taste of cilantro, which is totally understandable! Yes, for some, cilantro makes people gag and leaves a really bad soapy taste in their mouths. Do you know of friends like this? If so, this dressing is totally adaptable to using parsley or another herb like basil! Make it a green goddess dressing by using your favorite fresh herbs!
5 from 10 votes
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Ingredients

For the Dressing

  • 1/2 cup (30 ml) oil
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup (225 g) mayonnaise
  • Zest of 2 limes
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) fresh lime juice
  • 2 cups (30 g) chopped cilantro
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) kosher salt or sea salt, or to taste
  • 3/4 cup (75 g) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Parmesan
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) sugar

For the Salad:

  • 6 cups Spinach or Your favorite greens
  • Lots of chopped avocado (usually about 2 whole avocados)
  • 2 each Tomatoes , carrots, cucumbers, etc…
  • Optional Croutons
  • 1/2 cup parmesan shavings
  • black pepper , to taste
  • lime wedges (optional)

Instructions 

  • Make Dressing: Combine all the dressing ingredients in a blender (oil, water, mayonnaise, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, black pepper, salt, parmesan, and sugar) and blend until everything is smooth.
    Dressing ingredients in a blender
  • Assemble the salad: gently combine the spinach, avocado, and whatever other ingredients you like. Toss dressing into the salad when ready to serve. 
    Pouring dressing over salad

Video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 470kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 47g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 593mg, Potassium: 421mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 2599IU, Vitamin C: 15mg, Calcium: 215mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 470

Storing leftover cilantro dressing

If you have any leftovers, just store it in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Try to eat it right away so the cilantro dressing stays fresh and green. It doesn’t freeze well so try to enjoy it sooner than later.

Easy Salad Recipes to make: