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    Home > Recipes > Sauces and Dressings

    Avocado Crema

    Published: Dec 19, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 3 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    easy avocado crema graphic

    Creamy, tangy, Avocado Crema can be made in just a few minutes in a food processor or blender. While it’s great in Mexican meals like tacos or enchiladas, try it as a topping for burgers, dip for vegetables, or dressing for salads!

    avocado crema in a food processor

    Today here in food-land, I'm sharing one of my favorite, super versatile sauces. Avocado crema! Once we get on an avocado crema kick at our house, it starts showing up everywhere. Virtually every meal at our house lately seems like it would be improved with a drizzle of avocado crema. Veggie burgers? Yes! Salmon? Yes! Turkey sandwiches? Obviously yes!

    Once you add this easy, creamy, addictive sauce to your kitchen rotation, you’ll find endless uses for it as well. It takes just a few ingredients and virtually no time at all.

    avocado, cilantro, and sour cream in a food processor

    Ingredients for Avocado Crema

    • Avocados - Look for avocados for this that are just the right amount of ripe - not super soft, but not super firm either. Those will have the best flavor. Remove the seeds and peels of the avocado before using them.
    • Cilantro - The measurement provided in the recipe is for “sprigs” of cilantro which can feel a bit inexact, but there’s no need to be super precise with the cilantro measurement here. You’ll want a good dose of cilantro and you can include both the stems and leaves in the recipe. If you prefer a more exact measurement, you can also tear the leaves off the stems and use about 1 cup of lightly packed cilantro leaves.
    • Sour Cream - For rich, creamy flavor, sour cream is great here. See below for my favorite, lighter substitute.
    • Lime Juice - Start the crema with the juice from 1 lime, but it’s a good idea to grab a couple extra limes so that you can add more lime juice after tasting it. 
    • Salt and Water - To flavor and thin out the sauce.

    Making Avocado Crema Ahead

    Avocado crema can be made a few hours ahead. Just cover it tightly with plastic wrap to minimize contact with air. It won’t change the flavor, but the crema will lose its bright green color and turn slightly brown in places where it is in contact with air. Just give it a good stir before serving.

    tacos with avocado crema on a white tray

    Sour Cream vs. Greek Yogurt

    Sour cream is usually the creamy element for most classic versions of avocado crema, but for a lighter version, it’s also great with plain Greek yogurt. I frequently make my crema with nonfat Greek yogurt (love this Kirkland brand from Costco!).

    a container of greek yogurt on a white table
    • Roasted Cauliflower Tacos
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    • Black Bean and Quinoa Veggie Burgers
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    Favorite Tools

    • Food Processor - I've had this tool for 10+ years and it's still going strong. Perfect for chopping and creating smooth sauces.
    • Silicone Spatula
    avocado crema in a food processor
    Print Recipe
    3.54 from 26 votes

    Avocado Crema Recipe

    This creamy, tart, avocado-based sauce can be made in just a few minutes in a food processor. While it’s great in Mexican meals like on tacos or enchiladas, try it as a topping for burgers, dip for vegetables, or dressing for salads!
    Want to adjust the servings in this recipe to make more or less? Just click on the number next to “servings” and you can easily scale the recipe.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: Mexican, Tex Mex
    Keyword: taco topping, tex mex
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 87kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $3.50

    Equipment

    • Food Processor

    Ingredients

    • 2 Avocados, peels and seeds removed
    • 6 sprigs Fresh Cilantro (you can include the stems; if you just want to use cilantro leaves, you’ll need about 1 cup of lightly packed leaves)
    • ½ cup Sour Cream (see note)
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ cup Water
    • Juice from 1 Lime
    • Cayenne Pepper or Hot Sauce (optional, only if you want this to be spicy)

    Instructions

    • Combine avocados, cilantro, sour cream, salt, water, and lime juice in a food processor.
    • Blend until smooth. Add more water, if needed, until the crema is still thick but pours easily off a spoon.
    • Taste the crema and add some more lime juice or salt, if needed. If you’d like some spice add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some hot sauce.

    Notes

    Sour cream is classic, but for a lighter version, try this with nonfat Greek yogurt. The flavor is slightly more tart and less rich, but still great. 
    Avocado crema can be made a few hours ahead. Place it in a bowl or jar and cover tightly with plastic wrap, pressing down to form a tight seal over the crema. (The crema may turn brown anywhere that it comes in contact with air as it sits. Just stir it well before serving.)

    Nutrition

    Calories: 87kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 129mg | Potassium: 218mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 220IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

     

    Related

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    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lauren

      March 19, 2020 at 10:22 am

      4 stars
      Thank You So Much for such astounding recipe

      Reply
    2. Nancy

      February 14, 2021 at 1:36 pm

      I don't like cilantro, do you think it would be good with parsley? Or do you have another suggestion?

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        February 15, 2021 at 9:51 am

        Try just making it without any herbs at all - you may want to add some extra ground cumin for a bit more flavor, but it's great even without the herbs!

        Reply

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