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You can make cilantro paste at home with just a handful of fresh ingredients and a few minutes of your time.
It’s one of those simple kitchen tricks that saves you money and lets you pack serious flavor into tacos, curries, marinades, and soups whenever you need it.
If you’ve ever bought a bunch of cilantro only to watch it wilt in the fridge, learning how to make cilantro paste is a total game changer.
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how to make cilantro paste, the ingredients you’ll need, the best ways to store it, and a few tasty variations to try.
Let’s dive in so you can make cilantro paste like a pro.
How Do You Make Cilantro Paste?
Making cilantro paste is really about blending fresh cilantro with a little liquid and some aromatics until it turns into a smooth, scoopable green mixture.
The basic method is easy enough that anyone can make cilantro paste, even if you’ve never made a homemade herb paste before.
Here’s the core process you’ll follow when you make cilantro paste at home:
1. Gather Your Ingredients
To make cilantro paste, you’ll need two packed cups of fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems.
You’ll also want three to four cloves of garlic, a quarter cup of olive oil, two tablespoons of lime juice, and a pinch of salt.
If you like a little heat when you make cilantro paste, toss in half a jalapeño too.
2. Wash and Dry the Cilantro
Rinse your cilantro thoroughly to remove any grit or dirt clinging to the leaves.
After washing, pat the cilantro dry with a clean towel or spin it in a salad spinner.
Excess water can make your cilantro paste spoil faster, so this step matters more than you’d think.
3. Blend Everything Together
Add the cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and salt to a food processor or blender.
Pulse a few times, then stream in the olive oil while the machine runs.
Keep blending until the mixture looks like a thick, vibrant green paste.
If you want a thinner cilantro paste, add a splash more oil or a spoonful of water until it reaches the texture you like.
4. Scrape and Taste
Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula and blend once more.
Now taste your cilantro paste and adjust the salt or lime juice if needed.
A good cilantro paste should taste bright, herby, and a little zesty, not flat.
Tips for the Best Cilantro Paste
Once you know how to make cilantro paste, a few small tweaks can take it from good to great.
1. Use the Stems Too
Cilantro stems are full of flavor, so don’t toss them when you make cilantro paste.
As long as they’re tender and not woody, the stems blend up beautifully and add extra punch.
2. Add Acid to Keep It Green
Lime juice or lemon juice helps your cilantro paste stay bright green instead of turning brown.
The acid slows oxidation, which is what causes that dull color in older cilantro paste.
3. Don’t Over-Blend
Blending too long can warm up the cilantro paste and make it taste slightly bitter.
Short pulses until everything comes together give you a fresher-tasting cilantro paste.
4. Balance the Flavors
If your cilantro paste tastes too sharp, add a little more oil.
If it tastes bland, a pinch more salt or lime juice will wake it right up.
That balance is what makes a truly delicious cilantro paste.
How to Store Cilantro Paste
Knowing how to make cilantro paste also means knowing how to store it so it lasts.
1. Refrigerate in an Airtight Jar
Pour your cilantro paste into a small jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the cilantro paste before sealing the jar.
This keeps air away and helps the cilantro paste stay green for up to a week.
2. Freeze in Ice Cube Trays
Spoon your cilantro paste into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid.
Once frozen, pop the cubes out and transfer them to a freezer bag.
Each cube gives you a perfect portion of cilantro paste to drop into soups and stews whenever you need it.
3. Add a Little Oil on Top
A thin layer of olive oil poured over the top of your cilantro paste creates a seal that keeps air out.
This simple trick extends the shelf life of your cilantro paste by several days.
Tasty Variations to Try
The basic cilantro paste recipe is a great starting point, but you can easily switch things up.
1. Spicy Cilantro Paste
Add a serrano or jalapeño pepper when you make cilantro paste for a version with real kick.
This spicy cilantro paste is amazing on grilled meats and tacos.
2. Cilantro Mint Paste
Swap half the cilantro for fresh mint leaves to make a cilantro paste that’s perfect for chutneys and lamb dishes.
3. Cilantro Ginger Paste
Toss in a knob of fresh ginger for a cilantro paste that works beautifully in stir-fries and Asian-inspired marinades.
So, How Do You Make Cilantro Paste?
You make cilantro paste by blending fresh cilantro with garlic, lime juice, olive oil, and salt until smooth.
It’s quick, affordable, and far tastier than anything you’ll find in a store-bought jar.
Whether you keep it in the fridge or freeze it in cubes, your homemade cilantro paste will be ready to brighten up meals any day of the week.
Now that you know how to make cilantro paste, grab a bunch of cilantro and give it a try.