How To Make Cilantro Olive Oil

You can make cilantro olive oil at home by blending fresh cilantro with good-quality olive oil and straining the mixture.
 
This simple infused oil captures that bright, herby flavor of cilantro and transforms plain olive oil into something special you’ll want to drizzle on everything.
 
Whether you’re asking how to make cilantro olive oil for cooking, dipping, or drizzling, the process is easier than you think and takes just a few minutes of hands-on work.
 
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to make cilantro olive oil, plus a few tips to keep it fresh and flavorful for as long as possible.
 

Why Make Cilantro Olive Oil

Learning how to make cilantro olive oil is worth it for so many reasons.
 
For starters, it lets you preserve a big bunch of cilantro before it wilts in your fridge.
 
It also gives you a ready-to-use flavor bomb for salads, pasta, grilled veggies, and even popcorn.
 
And when you make cilantro olive oil yourself, you control every ingredient, so there are no mystery additives or preservatives.
 

1. It Preserves Fresh Cilantro

Fresh cilantro has a short shelf life, often just a few days before it turns slimy.
 
When you make cilantro olive oil, you essentially lock in that fresh flavor so it lasts much longer than the leaves would on their own.
 
This is one of the biggest reasons people learn how to make cilantro olive oil in the first place.
 

2. It’s Incredibly Versatile

Cilantro olive oil works in both hot and cold dishes.
 
You can drizzle it over tacos, mix it into salad dressings, or use it as a finishing oil for soups.
 
Once you know how to make cilantro olive oil, you’ll find yourself reaching for it constantly.
 

3. It’s Cheaper Than Store-Bought Infused Oils

Infused oils at the store can cost a small fortune.
 
When you make cilantro olive oil at home, you spend a fraction of that price and get a fresher product.
 
That alone makes learning how to make cilantro olive oil totally worth it.
 

How to Make Cilantro Olive Oil: Step by Step

Now let’s get into the actual process of how to make cilantro olive oil.
 
You only need three things: fresh cilantro, olive oil, and a bit of patience.
 

1. Gather Your Ingredients

To make cilantro olive oil, grab a large bunch of fresh cilantro, about two cups loosely packed.
 
You’ll also need one cup of good-quality olive oil.
 
Extra virgin olive oil works best because its flavor pairs beautifully with cilantro.
 

2. Wash and Dry the Cilantro

Rinse your cilantro thoroughly under cool water to remove dirt and grit.
 
Then pat it completely dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
 
Any water left on the leaves can shorten the shelf life of your cilantro olive oil, so don’t skip this step.
 

3. Blend the Cilantro and Oil

Add the dried cilantro and olive oil to a blender or food processor.
 
Blend on high for about 30 to 60 seconds until the mixture looks smooth and bright green.
 
This is the heart of how to make cilantro olive oil, and it’s where all that flavor gets released.
 

4. Strain the Mixture

Pour the blended cilantro olive oil through a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth.
 
Let it drain naturally for about 30 minutes, then gently press the solids to squeeze out every last drop.
 
The result is a beautifully green, fragrant cilantro olive oil ready to use.
 

5. Store It Properly

Transfer your cilantro olive oil into a clean glass bottle or jar with a tight-fitting lid.
 
Keep it in the fridge, where it will stay fresh for up to two weeks.
 
The oil may solidify slightly when cold, but that’s completely normal, so just let it sit at room temperature before using.
 

Tips for the Best Cilantro Olive Oil

A few small tweaks can make a big difference when you make cilantro olive oil.
 

1. Use Fresh, Vibrant Cilantro

The fresher your cilantro, the better your cilantro olive oil will taste.
 
Look for bright green leaves with no yellowing or wilting.
 

2. Don’t Skimp on the Olive Oil

Cheap olive oil can taste bitter or flat.
 
Since olive oil is the base of your cilantro olive oil, choose a bottle you’d actually enjoy on its own.
 

3. Add a Pinch of Salt (Optional)

A small pinch of salt can help brighten the flavors in your cilantro olive oil.
 
Just don’t overdo it, especially if you plan to use the oil in salted dishes.
 

4. Experiment with Add-Ins

Once you’ve mastered how to make cilantro olive oil, try adding garlic, lime zest, or a jalapeño for a fun twist.
 
These extras can take your cilantro olive oil to a whole new level.
 

So, How Do You Make Cilantro Olive Oil?

You make cilantro olive oil by blending fresh cilantro with olive oil, straining the mixture, and storing it in the fridge.
 
It’s a simple process that delivers a bright, herby oil you can use on just about anything.
 
Now that you know how to make cilantro olive oil, you can whip up a fresh batch anytime you have extra cilantro on hand.
 
Give it a try, and you might never go back to plain olive oil again.