The Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad dressing is a cilantro based salad dressing used in the Santa Fe Chicken Salad, you can recreate this famous salad dressing at home.
One of my favorite things to get at the Cheesecake Factory is the Santa Fe Salad. I just love the cilantro-lime dressing that adds a perfect refreshing zest to this Tex-Mex inspired dish.
So, if you’ve had the Santa Fe Salad at the Cheesecake Factory and wished you could make the dressing at home, this copycat salad dressing recipe is for you.
This is another homemade, fresh-tasting, salad dressing to add to your salad dressing repertoire. Ginger, lots of cilantro, lime juice, and a hint of cumin makes for a zesty dressing for southwest-style salads.
Garlic gives the dressing an extra bite, which is mellowed by the sweetness of the honey. This dressing will definitely be a new favorite of yours.
Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need:
- Garlic
- Fresh ginger
- Fresh cilantro
- Fresh lime juice
- Wine vinegar
- Ground cumin
- Salt
- Fresh ground pepper
- Honey
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Canola oil
- Olive oil
How to Peel and Mince Fresh Ginger
Fresh ginger has a wonderful taste and can enhance many savory and sweet dishes. Its versatility means that it can be found in a variety of recipes.
Ginger is also widely believed to have many health benefits, so a cup of hot ginger tea with lemon and honey might be the perfect pick-me-up if you’re under the weather.
There are several methods for peeling and mincing fresh ginger – click on this link to read about them.
How to Make Santa Fe Salad Dressing
- Drop garlic cloves and ginger through the feed tube of a food processor while the motor is on. Continue processing until garlic and ginger are minced well.
- Add the cilantro and process until finely chopped.
- Add spices, lime juice, vinegar, honey, and parmesan cheese. Process until well mixed.
- With the motor running, slowly pour the oil through the feed tube. Let process one more minute.
To make the Sante Fe salad, you will need mixed greens, shredded grilled chicken breast, corn kernels, rinsed black beans, bell pepper, chopped tomato, shredded cheese, and toasted tortilla strips.
Did you love the Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad dressing or maybe you only go to the Cheesecake Factory for their irresistible cheesecake?
Or, maybe you are hungry for more copycat Cheesecake Factory recipes? If so, let me know which ones.
And, I would love to hear what your favorite Cheesecake Factory recipe is – drop me a line in the comments section below.
Can’t get enough of the Cheesecake Factory? Try these copycat recipes!
- Cheesecake Factory Chicken Piccata
- Chicken Madeira
- Chicken Romano Recipe
- Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake Recipe
- Red Velvet Cheesecake
- Best Oreo Cheesecake Recipe
Favorite Salad Dressing Recipes
- Blue Cheese Salad Dressing
- Pesto Dressing
- Homemade French Dressing
- Russian Dressing Recipe
- Italian Salad Dressing Recipe
- Oriental Salad Dressing
- Japanese Dressing
Be sure to check out more of my homemade salad dressing recipes and the best copycat restaurant recipes.
Thanks to dsign4you for sharing this salad recipe.
Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons garlic
- 1 tablespoon packed minced fresh ginger (see instructions)
- 2 bunches cilantro , (rinsed well, most of stalk ends trimmed off) finely chopped (see Instructions) (about 1 cup loosely packed)
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
- 1-1/2 teaspoons wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Instructions
- I use a food processor. If you do not have one you will need to mince the garlic, ginger and cilantro before adding in the spices, lemon juice, honey, vinegar and cheese. Whisk in the oil so it is emulsified into the dressing. Food processor instructions: Drop garlic cloves and ginger through the feed tube while motor is on. Mince well. Add the cilantro and process until finely chopped. Add spices, lime juice, vinegar, honey, and parmesan cheese. Process until well mixed. With motor running slowly pour the oil through the feed tube. Let process one more minute. Enjoy! To make the salad you will need slivered mixed greens, shredded grilled chicken breast, corn kernels, rinsed black beans, bell pepper, chopped tomato, shredded cheese and toasted tortilla strips.
Chezron
Isn’t there a peanut sauce component for this salad?
Cecelia Stewart
Yes. This recipe seems to be missing it. It’s what makes it so special!
Lori
Using this recipe as a starting point I made an oil-free vegan version *with* peanut butter and OMG it is DELISH! I’m thrilled to be able to enjoy my former fave dressing while maintaining my plant-based lifestyle choices. Yay!!
Joyce. Boerman
We were at your Tucson restaurant Thurs night and shared the Sante Fe chicken salad, My husband said it was the best salad he ever had. I agree. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Kelly
I made this recipe tonight and it was very delicious. I used only one bunch of cilantro and it was enough for me. I used EVOO for the oil. Will definitely make it again.
Stephanie
I am glad you enjoyed the salad dressing.
Andre
Thanks for all the effort and hard work you put into this website! When you say 2 bunches of cilantro, the one I buy at the grocery store are pretty big, I would say the size of a soft ball, should I use 2??? I am afraid it will overpower! Thanks! Andre
Tappy
I eyeball everything, I don’t measure because you can taste the ingredients once they are mixed together.
This by far the best copykat. 🙂
Sadaf Salimi
hi ,
can you tell me what is the spicy peanut sauce dressing is ?
Thx
Sandra
Delish! My cilantro bunches were pretty large, so I only used one. I was out of ginger so I used 2 tbs of crystallized ginger instead. Thanks for the recipe
Rniccraith
How long does this dressing last in the refrigerator?
Alicia R Santos
This recipe is awesome but if you add two table spoons of peanut butter its even better 🙂
Rhonda
I have looked on here but cant find the recipe for the spicy peanut dressing form The Cheesecake Factory can anyone help me??
Stephanie
I do not have that recipe at CopyKat.com, you may want to join the message board at http://www.copykatchat.com and put a request under recipe requests.
Stephanie
Sarah
I tried it and it came out super good but my only question is what is meant by 2 2 bunches cilantro, I used about 1 cup but it was ok, can u give me the exact amout of cilantro plz!!
Elizabeth
Does anyone know the recipe for the Caesar Salad dressing from Cheesecake Factory? I love it! It’s super garlicky and spicy…