Lime Crema
51 Comments
Updated May 07, 2020
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Lime crema is a zesty, tangy cream that will add a punch of flavor to your meal. Just whisk together 4 simple ingredients until it’s smooth and creamy. Then drizzle or dollop over tacos, soups, enchiladas, and so much more. You’re gonna love it!
What Is Crema?
Between sour cream, crème fraîche, and crema – there’s so many variations of a simple cream. But crema is a thick cream that’s rich, tangy, and a staple in Mexican cuisine. You’ll typically find it drizzled over tacos, enchiladas, chicken, or anything you want to add a hint of richness to.
For the most part, traditional Mexican crema is most similar to sour cream. But you can easily use crème fraîche or even yogurt in this recipe.
Lime Crema Ingredients
While traditional crema uses heavy cream and buttermilk, I’m using it’s close relative: sour cream. Here’s a few other ingredients you’ll need to complete this recipe.
- Sour Cream: 8 ounces
- Lime: 1 lime zested and juiced
- Garlic: 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt: 1/4 teaspoon
How To Make Lime Crema
First, you’ll want to zest the lime and squeeze the juice into a small bowl. Then add the sour cream, garlic, and salt. Whisk everything together until it’s combined and creamy.
You can use this sauce immediately or store it in the fridge for about one week. Just make sure to store it covered or in an airtight container.
Tip: If you’d like a slightly thicker consistency, let it sit in the fridge overnight. And by the time you’re ready to serve, it’ll be beautifully thick and creamy.
Ways To Use Lime Crema
My favorite way to use this lime crema is to drizzle it over my shrimp tacos. But, your options don’t end there. You can drizzle over enchiladas, dollop onto grilled chicken, swirl it into soups, or use it as a salad dressing. Here’s a few recipes to try.
- Carnitas Burrito Bowl
- Taco Soup
- Carne Asada Tacos
- Carnitas Tacos
- Chicken Fajitas
- Steak Fajitas
- Mexican Chicken Zucchini Noodles
- Black Bean Mexican Pizza
More Easy Sauces
It goes to show that sauces can make all the difference when it comes to adding richness and layers of flavor. So spruce up your meals with a few of these sauces. Trust me, they’ll work wonders.
Easy Lime Crema Recipe
Description
Ingredients
- 8 oz sour cream
- 1 lime, juiced and zested
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Zest the lime and squeeze the lime juice into a small bowl.
- Add the sour cream, garlic and salt to the bowl and stir everything together until it's combined and creamy.
- Use immediately or store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Lisa's Tips
- Each serving is about 2 tablespoons.
- To easily squeeze the lime crema in tacos or on salads, I transfer it to these plastic squeeze bottles.
Nutrition
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Swap the sour cream for heavy whipping cream. Stir well when ingredients have been added. Cover loosely with a paper towel leave it sit on the counter overnight. Next day, stir, place in the refrigerator. The absolute best homemade sour cream, crème fraîche, or whatever you wanna call it.
Thanks for sharing your take on this, Jackie!
I love these quick prep recipes such as this Lime Crema and the Quick Pickled Red Onions. I made the Lime Crema for the second time today and just love how it can be put together quick and stored in the refrigerator prior to use reducing “stress”. I used the Lime Crema on black bean enchiladas and as a side for beef tacos.
It really is a great (and tasty!) little sauce to have on hand. And sounds perfect dolloped onto black bean enchiladas!
Simply “AWESOME”!
I’m so glad you love this lime crema, Richard!
Made this yesterday and put it on my chicken fajitas with your pico de Gallo it was amazing had left overs today 😀
Hi Linda – I’m so glad you enjoyed this lime crema! Sounds delicious served with chicken fajitas.
Thank you, Soooo good. Love it!! This will be my 3rd time making it
Hi Brenda – I’m so glad you love this lime crema!
Incredible yet simple sauce!! We paired this with Lisa’s shrimp tacos and WOW they were incredible! This sauce is light and delicious! My husband is lactose intolerant so I used lactose free products! Worked great!
So happy you enjoyed the lime crema with the shrimp tacos – that’s a perfect combo!
This will be my second time using your lime crema recipe. Excellent top of the toppings with crunchy fish tacos, mango salsa, chimichurri! Delicious and not too heavy! Thanks Lisa!
Hi Jewell – Happy to hear you’re loving this lime crema recipe!
This was absolutely delicious and sooo easy. Thank you!
Happy to hear you’re loving this lime crema!
Can I use the cashew sour cream in this recipe?
Yes, no problem!
OMG… made this with some homemade sour cream and it was DIVINE! I may or may not have hid the bit that was left over so that I could enjoy it all by myself the following day with some salmon! So incredibly simple but took our meal to the next level!
Yes, leftovers would be great on salmon. I would have hidden those leftovers myself as well. ;)
Do you use all the zest from the lime?
Yes!
How do you feel about adding roasted green chiles to this recipe? We’re having a taco bar for 4th of July and I’m bringing crema, thought I might spice it up. Food processor or just whip in?
Love that idea! I would add it into the food processor.
Great receipe! Thank you. Perfect balance of zesty lime and garlic. Made it with burritos, salad and guacamole.
I had a little left over and kept it for a leftover burrito for lunch the following day.
WOW!!! The flavours had infused and more intense the next day. I would definitely recommend make this in advance as it is so wonderful the day!
So much flavour with so few ingredients. I made it wth Greek yogurt and put it over my grilled chicken and black bean quesadilla. Delish!
Glad this lime crema was a winner with your quesadilla :)
The lime zest makes all the difference! Thanks for this recipe.
It sure does Swetha! :)
All I have to say about this dressing is YES, YES, YES!!. Very simple to make, but tonsss of flavour!! That lime zest makes all the difference.
Glad you love this crema Daniela!
This one took me by surprise – such a simple but potent recipe! Very refreshing and perfect on tacos, burrito bowls. A real stand out for my Cinco De Mayo spread!
So glad you loved this lime crema! It really is the cherry on top for so many recipes :)
Hi, Thanks for posting this recipe i found it easy and amazing. Keep it up keep posting.
Hi Veronika – So happy to hear you loved this lime crema!
One dollup and I was addicted. I added chopped jalapeños to my second batch. Then I added Mayo Sirachi to a third batch. The family agrees it is now a necessary addition to all our Mexican meals. Try it atop hot tortilla soup!
Hi Sue- This crema definitely adds a boost in fresh flavor to any Mexican meal :)
Loved it! I used it as a base in my burritos and it was super tasty. Thanks Lisa!
Hi Verena- It’s the best to use over tacos, burritos, or a plate! Glad you enjoyed this sauce.
This Lime Crema looks so creamy and amazing! I definitely would love this on some tacos!
Hi Shanika – It’s the cherry on top for tacos :)
This is such a simple way to dress up plain sour cream. It worked great with our tacos. :)
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed this crema over your tacos!
This sounds like such a thick, zesty and delicious cream! Certainly going to be making this.
Wonderful! You’re going to love the flavors in this crema :)
I love the light, tangy flavor of this sauce! It’s great on my fish tacos!
It really is the cherry on top to any fish taco :)
I don’t have sour cream, but I do have plain yogurt, would that work?
Hi Rebecca – Yes! You can use yogurt for this recipe as well :)
Looks fun! Can we sub Greek yogurt for sour cream?
Hi Swati – Yes! You can use greek yogurt :)