The Perfect Creamy Sauce for Any Mexican-Inspired Meal!
I love a good easy sauce recipe, and this particular Avocado Crema is one of PWWB’s most popular. You might recognize it from our viral Black Bean Tostadas with Charred Corn or our fan-favorite Chicken Fajita Bowls, but there’s simply nothing not to love about it! It’s so creamy-dreamy with the best cooling flavor, so it pairs perfectly with any Mexican-inspired dish, all with the most picture-perfect pop of green color.
The inspiration for this sauce is crema Mexicana, a Mexican staple traditionally made with heavy cream, buttermilk, and lime juice. Similar to sour cream, Mexican crema’s creamy consistency and slightly tangy flavor is the perfect complement to rich and spicy foods.
This avocado crema recipe kicks the creamy factor up a few notches with the use of ripe avocado! 🥑 Of course, it’s not a traditional add-in, but I love that avocado’s natural fats create an extra rich and creamy texture without relying on a ton of dairy.
Just whip it up in your food processor with a little sour cream or Greek yogurt, cilantro, jalapeño, and fresh lime juice until it’s super smooth and beautifully green – easy!
The result is a dreamy avocado cream sauce that pairs wonderfully with any of your favorite Tex-Mex and Mexican-inspired dishes – tacos and burritos to enchiladas, and everything in between! It’s also great all on its own, served as a dip with tortilla chips or grilled veggies. Seriously, you can’t go wrong!
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My favorite thing about this creamy avocado sauce is that it’s so simple to make! It comes together in 5 minutes with the help of a food processor, so it’s a really easy add-on for any dinner recipe.
Avocado Prep Tip! ⇢ Pit and peel the avocado before preparing the avocado crema. To safely pit and peel your avocado, let it rest on the countertop, rather than in your hand, to avoid any mishaps.
Make it Dairy-Free/Vegan ⇢ For an easy swap, replace the sour cream with your favorite dairy-free sour cream or Greek yogurt. If you prefer not to use dairy-free products, try our Vegan Cashew Crema instead.
Avocado Crema Storage
This avocado crema will keep, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for 3-4 days.
Unlike guacamole, the dairy in this avocado crema recipe will help prevent the sauce from oxidizing and turning brown. But just to be safe, lay a piece of plastic wrap over the top before sealing the crema in a container to help preserve its beautiful green color.
What to Serve With Avocado Lime Crema Sauce
Perhaps the better question is what not to eat with avocado crema?! Here at the PWWB House, we’re so obsessed with this creamy-dreamy sauce that we’ll put it on practically everything!
Given its Mexican-inspired flavor, this avocado crema is a great pairing for any of your favorite Tex-Mex or Mexican dinners. Its creamy consistency and cool flavor is the perfect complement to rich and spicy foods.
Some serving ideas to get you started…
- Taco Night ⇢ Boldly spiced tacos beg for a creamy and cooling sauce! Try our Baked Chicken Tacos, Crispy Fish Tacos, or our plant-based Black Bean Quinoa Tacos.
- Burrito Night ⇢ Layer avocado crema into an epic Chicken Burrito or swoop it across the base of your favorite veggie burrito bowls for a bit of creaminess in every single bite!
- Beyond the tortilla… ⇢ Spread it over a Southwest Turkey Burger, dollop on a bowl of Sweet Potato Chili, or toss it into an epic Taco Salad. You really can’t go wrong with avocado crema!
I can’t wait for you to try this Avocado Crema recipe! Its smooth, creamy texture is simply heavenly and a big spreadable swoop easily elevates any Mexican-inspired dish. We’re totally obsessed! 🥑
If you do give it a try, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡ Happy cooking!
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Creamy 5-Minute Avocado Crema Sauce (Easily Vegan)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 ½ cups 1x
- Category: Sauces & Condiments
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican & Tex-Mex, American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Avocado Crema is one of PWWB’s most well-loved easy sauce recipes! It’s made with 7 simple ingredients in 5 minutes or less thanks to the help of a food processor or blender, and it pairs beautifully with any of your favorite Tex-Mex and Mexican-inspired dishes. Nothing not to love!
The inspiration for this sauce is crema Mexicana, a Mexican condiment traditionally made with heavy cream, buttermilk, and lime juice. Its tangy, cooling quality makes it the perfect complement to rich and spicy foods.
Of course, avocado is not a traditional add-in, but you’ll love the way it helps create an extra creamy sauce without relying on a ton of dairy. Plus, it creates the most picture-perfect pop of green!
Be sure to check the Recipe Notes, below, for vegan and dairy-free recipe variations, and read through the blog post, above, for plenty of serving suggestions. Avocado crema is a staple in our kitchen and I think you’re going to love it too! ♡ Happy cooking!
Ingredients
- 1 large avocado, pitted and peeled
- 1 large jalapeño, deseeded as desired
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 limes, juiced (approx. scant ¼ cup juice)
- ⅓ cup packed cilantro leaves and tender stems
- ⅓ cup sour cream or full-fat yogurt
- 2–3 tablespoons water
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season
Instructions
- Blend the avocado crema: Add all listed ingredients (minus the water) to a food processor, seasoning with a heaping ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ground black pepper as desired. Pulse to break up the avocado and cilantro, then blend until smooth and creamy. If necessary, add a couple tablespoons water to smooth out texture.
- Serve: Enjoy your avocado crema immediately. It’s, of course, great served with tacos, burritos, bowls, and tostadas (we especially love them with our Chicken Fajitas Bowls, Black Bean Tostadas, and Grilled Fish Tacos), but it’s also wonderful drizzled on a platter of nachos, served alongside your favorite salsas and dips, or even spread into an impressive 7-Layer Dip. Get creative and have fun with it – sky’s the limit!
Notes
- Jess’ Notes and Tips:
- Easy Recipe Variations: If you prefer not to use sour cream, feel free to swap it out with full-fat yogurt. If you avoid dairy or would like to make vegan avocado crema, replace sour cream with your favorite dairy-free substitute.
- Storage: Avocado crema will keep, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for 3-4 days. Given the amount of dairy and lime juice it contains, browning should not be an issue – if you’re concerned, you can always press a piece of plastic wrap directly over the surface of the avocado crema to prevent oxidation.
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