This simple lime crema sauce provides a delicious, zesty flavor that perfectly complements a variety of dishes, including tacos, nachos, grilled vegetables, and meats.

Lime crema in a white bowel with a silver spoon, and a slice of lime next to the bowl.

Why You'll Love This Lime Crema

Lime crema is a delicious, versatile sauce that adds a creamy, zesty flavor to dishes like fish tacos, grilled meats, and seafood. It's the perfect pairing, whether you're enjoying our blackened mahi mahi fish tacos with mango salsa in the summer or topping our beef and sweet potato chili with it in the fall. Here are some more reasons why you will love my lime creama recipe:

It's quick and easy to make. This versatile condiment comes together in minutes with minimal effort.
It's made with just a handful of simple ingredients. The zesty, bright flavor of fresh lime juice creates a vibrant taste that elevates Mexican cuisine and so much more!

Lime Crema Ingredients

You’ll need the following handful of ingredients to make this easy lime crema recipe:

Ingredients to make homemade lime cream. Sour cream, lime, and salt.

Ingredient Notes

Sour Cream: Plain sour cream is the creamy base and provides a tangy flavor. You can also use crème fraiche, plain Greek yogurt, or traditional Mexican crema as an alternative.
Lime: Use the zest (outer green skin) and the freshly squeezed juice from one lime.
Salt: Used to bring out and intensify the other flavors in the crema.

Find the printable recipe card with full instructions and measurements below.

How To Make Lime Crema

The following steps will guide you in making this delicious homemade crema with a zesty twist:

A bowl of lime juice, lime zest, sour cream, and salt being stirred with a spoon.

Step 1: Combine the ingredients. Zest the lime and squeeze the juice into a small bowl. Add the sour cream and salt.

Large mixture of lime crema being stirred together.

Step 2. Whisk together and serve. Stir until everything is thoroughly combined and the crema reaches a smooth, creamy consistency.

Variations

Here are some delicious variations you can try with this lime crema recipe:

Fresh Cilantro Lime Crema: Blend ½ cup of freshly chopped cilantro into the base recipe for a vibrant, fresh taste and herbaceous flavor. For an ultra-smooth texture, I recommend blending everything with a food processor.
Garlic Lime Crema: For a savory twist, incorporate 1 minced garlic clove into this creamy sauce.
Chili Lime Crema: For a spicy kick, stir in ¼ teaspoon of chili paste or sriracha. Adjust the amount to your preferred level of heat.

Expert Tips

Use Fresh Lime: The citrus flavor of freshly squeezed lime juice is significantly brighter and more vibrant than bottled juice. It makes a big difference!
Zest First: Always zest the lime before juicing it. It's much easier to zest a whole lime.
Taste and Adjust: After making the crema, taste it and adjust the lime juice, salt, or any other additions to your preference. You might want it more or less tangy.
Adjust Consistency: If your crema is too thick, you can thin it out with a tiny splash of water or heavy cream. Add liquid gradually until you reach your desired consistency.

Storage Instructions

Storage: Enjoy this sauce immediately, or for future use, store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

Side view of lime crema in a white bowl.

Ways To Use Lime Crema

Once you try this lime crema recipe, you'll find it quickly becomes a kitchen staple. This creamy, zesty condiment is incredibly versatile! Here are just a few of my favorite ways to enjoy it:

Drizzled over Mexican food. Its zesty creamy texture and flavors pair well with a variety of Mexican dishes, from burrito bowls, taco salads, shrimp tacos, salmon tacos, and beef tacos. We love adding a thick layer of crema to our blackened mahi mahi fish tacos with mango salsa.
The perfect topping on a warm bowl of chili. The creamy, zesty crema provides a wonderful contrast to the richness of our beef and sweet potato chili.
As a dipping sauce for savory dishes. This lime crema makes a fantastic dip for our crispy roasted sweet potatoes, especially when they're seasoned with chili powder and cumin for a savory kick.

More Dip Recipes You'll Love

Creamy Horseradish Sauce: This tangy sauce is perfect for steak and potatoes.
Lemon Dill Crème Fraîche Dip: The perfect sauce to pair with our gluten-free salmon cakes.
Healthy Tzatziki Sauce: Adding a dollop of this Tzatziki sauce to our Greek spinach a feta turkey burgers is the only way to enjoy them.

I hope you love this lime crema recipe as much as I do! If you make it, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your review will help other readers in the community.

Recipe