This easy lime crema is rich and tangy and only takes a few minutes to make. Drizzle it over tacos, nachos, grilled chicken and so much more for a refreshing blast of flavor. This recipe is a keeper!
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What Is Crema?
Crema is a creamy and tangy condiment that’s especially popular in Mexican cuisine. It’s cool and refreshing and it helps tone down spicy dishes. You can drizzle over fajitas or chimichangas, or add a dollop to a stew or soup.
The first time I made garlic lime crema was a typical Taco Tuesday at home. Tacos are a great weeknight meal because they cook up really fast and the whole family loves them. We usually just open up a container of sour cream to top our tacos, but I was in the mood for something a little different.
So I grabbed a lime and heavy cream from the fridge along with a couple cloves of garlic. I combined some sour cream with the lime juice and heavy cream and pressed the garlic into the mixture along with a healthy pinch of salt.
BAM! In less than five minutes I had upgraded those simple ingredients into a flavor-packed lime crema that the whole family loved.
Ingredients You'll Need
Here's all the ingredients you'll need for this recipe. Scroll down for the full recipe card with detailed measurements.
- Sour Cream - Either light or full fat
- Heavy Cream - Adds a rich creamy texture
- Lime - You'll use both the juice and the zest
- Fresh Garlic - You can omit the garlic if you want, but I don't recommend it
- Salt - Kosher salt is preferred
How To Make Lime Crema
Start by using a microplane to zest the lime and squeeze the juice into a small bowl.
Finely mince the garlic cloves or run it through a press and place into the bowl with juice and zest.
Add the sour cream, heavy cream, and salt. Mix until well blended and creamy. I like to sprinkle a little more zest on top to add a pop of color.
You can use the crema immediately or make it ahead and serve in the fridge until ready to serve.
Substitutions And Variations
This lime crema recipe is rich and tangy with strong notes of lime and garlic. But if you want something a little different here are some suggestions.
Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a lower calorie crema.
Swap out the heavy cream for some fresh avocado. You'll still get that creamy richness but a different flavor profile and a pretty green color.
Use buttermilk in place of the sour cream, or adjust the lime and garlic measurements to highlight one flavor over the other.
You can also chop up some fresh herbs and mix them in. Cilantro is a natural partner to any crema.
Where To Serve With Lime Crema
One of the things I love most about this lime crema recipe is that it pairs well with so many meals including:
- Fish tacos
- Steak fajitas
- Grilled chicken
- A bowl of chili
- Drizzled over grilled corn
- Enchiladas
- Quesadillas
- Nachos
- Rice bowls
- Chicken tortilla soup
- As a salad dressing
Tips And Tricks
Always use fresh ingredients whenever possible. You can buy pre-minced garlic in a jar of water but it's just not as good as using fresh cloves you press yourself. And that pre-bottled lime juice just tastes artificial compared to fresh squeezed.
You can make your lime crema ahead of time and store it in the fridge until ready to serve. It will keep for about a week if refrigerated in an airtight container.
You can serve lime crema in a bowl so guests can use a spoon to add a dollop to their meals, or transfer it to a squeeze bottle for ease and convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lime crema is made from dairy products so it needs to be refrigerated to avoid spoiling.
If stored in an airtight container, lime crema will keep in the fridge for about a week.
Technically you can freeze lime crema, but it's not a good idea. It will tend to separate when defrosted and the texture just isn't the same once thawed.
Since lime crema is made with sour cream and heavy whipping cream, it is considered a dairy item.
Easy Lime Crema Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 4 ounces heavy whipping cream
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
Instructions
- Add the sour cream, heavy cream, and salt to a small bowl
- Zest and juice a lime into the bowl
- Finely mince or press 2 cloves of garlic and add to the bowl.
- Whisk until well blended and creamy
- Use immediately or store in the fridge until ready to serve
Notes
- You can make this lime crema ahead of time and store in the fridge until ready to serve.
- Fresh ingredients are always best. Stay away from the squeeze bottle lime juice and pre-minced garlic in a jar of water.
- Serve your crema right in the bowl or transfer to a squeeze bottle for ease of use
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