Cilantro Lime Crema – Easy Mexican Crema Sauce

Cilantro lime crema is a creamy Mexican-inspired sauce made with crema or sour cream, fresh cilantro, lime juice, and garlic. This easy cilantro lime crema recipe comes together in minutes and adds bright, tangy flavor to tacos, burrito bowls, grilled meats, and vegetables. These simple ingredients come together for a sauce that is creamy, tangy, and herbaceous!

Jump to:

• What is Mexican Crema?
• What Is Cilantro Lime Crema?
• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients
• Step-by-step photos
• Tips for the Best Cilantro Lime Crema
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• What to Serve With Cilantro Lime Crema
• Related
• Pairing
• Frequently Asked Questions
• 📖 Recipe

What is Mexican Crema?

Mexican crema, also known simply as crema or crema Mexicana, is a type of dairy product commonly used in Mexican cuisine. It's similar in texture to sour cream but has a milder flavor and a thinner consistency. Mexican crema is made by fermenting cream with lactic acid bacteria, similar to the process used to make sour cream, but it's typically made with cream that has a higher fat content. Traditional Mexican crema is sometimes hard to find so you can substitute sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. Both of these work nicely, and you can add a little heavy cream to thin the consistency for a creamy sauce.

What Is Cilantro Lime Crema?

Cilantro lime crema is a creamy sauce commonly served with Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes. It's typically made with Mexican crema or sour cream blended with cilantro, lime juice, garlic, and seasonings to create a tangy, herbaceous topping or dipping sauce.

This cilantro lime crema is the perfect sauce for tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, enchiladas, tamales, grilled meats, and more. Its creamy texture and bright lime flavor make it an ideal taco topping and a delicious Mexican-style dipping sauce for tortilla chips, fries, or tostones. I especially love it drizzled over pork chile verde and spicy pork tacos, where the cool, tangy crema balances the rich and spicy flavors beautifully. It also works wonderfully as a burrito sauce, salad dressing, or an easy sauce for rice bowls and roasted vegetables.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Bright, fresh cilantro and lime flavor
• Ready in just 5 minutes
• Perfect for tacos, burrito bowls, and grilled meats
• Easy to customize with heat or avocado
• Creamy texture with simple ingredients
• Better than store-bought sauces

Ingredients

You only need a handful of ingredients to make cilantro lime crema. Feel free to try the optional flavors listed below.

• Sour cream or Mexican crema: This will serve as the base of the crema. You'll typically need about 1 cup, but you can adjust the quantity based on how much crema you want to make.
• Fresh cilantro: About ¼ to ½ cup of chopped cilantro leaves. Adjust the amount based on your preference for cilantro crema flavor.
• Lime juice: The juice of 1 to 2 limes, depending on how tangy you want the crema to be. Start with one lime and add more to taste. Only use fresh lime juice for a really bright flavor.
• Garlic: 1 to 2 cloves of minced garlic for added flavor. You can adjust the amount based on your preference. Fresh ingredients make a difference, so avoid the minced garlic sold in jars.
• Salt: About ½ teaspoon of salt, or to taste.

See recipe card for quantities.

Step-by-step photos

Here are the steps to make the sauce. This process is simple and only takes about 5 minutes.

• Step 1: Add the Mexican crema or sour cream to a bowl. Add the fresh lime juice, minced garlic, salt, minced cilantro, and onion powder.
• Step 2: Whisk these ingredients together until well combined. You can also use an immersion blender. Whisking is my preferred method. Serve in a small bowl.

Hint: If you use Greek yogurt or plain sour cream, then add a little heavy cream before adding in the other ingredients to get a pourable consistency. This will be very similar to Mexican crema.

Tips for the Best Cilantro Lime Crema

• Use fresh lime juice for the brightest flavor
• Fresh cilantro works much better than dried
• Blend briefly to keep the sauce vibrant green
• Add heavy cream if using Greek yogurt for a smoother texture
• Let the sauce chill for 15-30 minutes before serving
• Adjust thickness with milk or crema as needed

Variations

Here are some interesting flavor variations for your sauce that can add more heat or some body.

• Jalapeño or serrano pepper: For a bit of heat, you can add a finely chopped jalapeño or serrano pepper. Remove the seeds for less heat, if desired.
• Avocado: To give the sauce an extra creamy texture, you can add half of a ripe avocado. This will also give the crema a light green color to your cilantro lime sauce.
• Cumin: A pinch of ground cumin can add a subtle earthy flavor to the crema.
• Green onions: These add a little pop of color and flavor if you sprinkle some on the top when serving with your favorite tacos.

Equipment

To make cilantro lime crema, you don't need any specialized equipment. However, having the following basic kitchen tools will make the process easier and more efficient:

1. Blender or food processor: A blender or food processor is ideal for combining the ingredients and achieving a smooth consistency for the crema. If you don't have a blender or food processor, you can finely chop the cilantro and whisk the ingredients together by hand, but the texture may not be as smooth. I like a color and texture of the crema using the hand-mixed version.
2. Cutting board and knife: Use a cutting board and a sharp knife to chop the fresh cilantro leaves and mince any garlic cloves. A sharp knife will make the chopping process quicker and easier.
3. Measuring cups and spoons: Use measuring cups and spoons to accurately measure the ingredients, such as sour cream or Mexican crema, lime juice, garlic, and salt. This ensures that you achieve the right balance of flavors in the crema.
4. Mixing bowl: You'll need a mixing bowl to combine the ingredients if you are going to manually whisk the ingredients. A whisk works nicely but you can also a large spoon or spatula.
5. Spatula or spoon: Use a spatula or spoon to scrape down the sides of the blender or the bowl of a food processor as needed to ensure that all the ingredients are evenly mixed.
6. Airtight container: Once the crema is made, you'll need an airtight container to store it in the refrigerator. Choose a container with a tight-fitting lid to help preserve the freshness of your creamy cilantro sauce.

Storage

1. Transfer the crema to an airtight container: Once you've made the cilantro lime crema, transfer it to a clean container with a tight-fitting lid. Glass or plastic containers with lids work well for storing crema.
2. Seal the container tightly: Make sure the lid is securely fastened to prevent air from entering the container. This helps maintain the freshness of the crema and prevents it from absorbing any odors from the refrigerator.
3. Refrigerate promptly: Place the sealed container of cilantro lime crema in the refrigerator as soon as possible after making it. Refrigeration slows down the growth of bacteria and helps preserve the quality of the crema.
4. Store in the refrigerator: Cilantro lime crema should be stored in the refrigerator at all times when not in use. It's best to store it on a shelf near the front or in the upper part of the refrigerator where the temperature is most consistent.
5. Use within a few days: Cilantro lime crema is best when consumed within 3 to 5 days of making it. As time passes, the flavor and texture may start to degrade, so it's best to use it while it's fresh.
6. Check for signs of spoilage: Before using the crema, check for any signs of spoilage, such as an off smell, mold, or separation. If the crema appears or smells unusual, it's best to discard it to avoid foodborne illness.

By following these steps, you can store cilantro lime crema properly and enjoy its fresh flavor for several days.

What to Serve With Cilantro Lime Crema

This creamy sauce pairs beautifully with tacos, grilled meats, rice bowls, and appetizers. Drizzle it over pork carnitas tacos, spoon it onto Mexican street corn, spicy black bean enchiladas, or serve it alongside pico de gallo and tomatillo avocado salsa verde for a full Mexican-inspired spread. It's also delicious as a dipping sauce for tostones or roasted vegetables.

Related

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

This recipe pairs well and is the perfect condiment to serve with many Mexican cuisine dishes. Here are some of my favorites:

Frequently Asked Questions

📖 Recipe