Avocado lime crema is a cool, tangy sauce that instantly upgrades almost any dish. Blended with ripe avocado, lime juice, cilantro and Mexican crema, it's creamy, zesty, and perfectly balanced. Spoon it over tacos, grilled meat and veggies, and grain bowls for a quick and easy burst of flavor.
Like the chipotle lime vinaigrette used in southwestern Cobb salads or the bright cilantro chimichurri that spices up grilled meats, avocado lime crema is a versatile sauce that can be used as a sauce or dressing on almost anything! Maybe you have a favorite taco recipe that needs a new life? Or a salad that you make over and over? Changing up the sauce/dressing is such an easy way to add a burst of fresh flavor to a dish without changing the core of what you love about the dish.
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Ingredients
- Mexican crema
- Large avocado
- Lime
- Cilantro
- Salt
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions
- Gluten free - avocado lime crema is naturally gluten free, so no adjustments are necessary.
- Vegan - for a vegan version, substitute a vegan sour cream for the crema or make an avocado aioli instead (recipe coming soon!).
- Mexican Crema - you can substitute greek yogurt, regular sour cream or a combination of sour cream and mayo for the Mexican crema. Sour cream is typically thicker though, so you may need to thin it out with water one tablespoon at a time until you get the desired consistency.
Avocado Jalapeño Crema
My favorite variation is to add jalapeños for an avocado jalapeño crema. Spice levels can be a personal preference though. How spicy do you want the avocado jalapeño crema? For a mild version, add 1 seeded jalapeño. Add one entire jalapeño with the seeds for a medium version. For spicy, add two entire jalapeños with the seeds. And for super spicy, you're on your own! Just kidding, for super spicy, add a habanero pepper. Please only add a habanero if you're already familiar with cooking with habaneros though. But if you are a habanero fan, I give instructions on making salsa spicy by using habaneros in my restaurant style blender salsa recipe.
Equipment
A food processor or blender is needed to make avocado lime crema.
Tostadas
Tostadas are an easy dinner and taste even better when topped with avocado lime crema. But what are Tostadas? Tostadas are basically flat, open-faced tacos that are typically made with corn tortillas, have a base of refried beans and then are topped with your favorite taco toppings. Maybe that's taco meat, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and salsa. My favorite tacos are street tacos. So, the tostadas in the photos are toasted corn tortillas topped with refried beans (canned, don't judge), carne asada, dice red onions and cilantro. Avocado lime crema is the perfect finishing touch when you're making a simple meal.
Storage
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The top layer may turn brownish or darker green especially if you skip the lime juice. This is normal oxidation just like when apples turn brown. You can scrape it off or mix it in.
Next Level Tips
- Mexican crema is thinner than sour cream, so this sauce also has a thinner consistency. On the day it's made, the texture is perfect for drizzling. For a thicker consistency, make it the day before or allow it to chill in the refrigerator. Or, if want to thin out refrigerated avocado sauce, stir in water a tablespoon at a time until you get the desired consistency.
- If you are one who thinks cilantro tastes like soap (so sorry!), you can leave the cilantro out. Cilantro adds flavor and color, but it's not a required ingredient.
- You can add a clove of garlic or ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder. However, if you like a garlicky cream sauce, I recommend making an avocado aioli.
FAQ
Mexican crema is a Mexican sour cream. It is thinner and a bit less tangy than American sour cream. It's definitely worth trying if you've never had it! But you probably have. Maybe you've tried avocado sauce at a Mexican restaurant or food truck and thought it was delicious but you couldn't quite place the flavor? It was probably made with Mexican crema! It's typically sold in grocery stores by the shredded and chunk cheeses, ricottas and other Mexican cheeses. It's not usually by the American sour cream.
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with avocado lime crema:
Avocado Lime Crema
Equipment
- 1 food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 1 large avocado
- ½ cup Mexican crema
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoons cilantro
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Taste and add additional salt if so desired.
- Serve or refrigerate. Enjoy!
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