There’s nothing like the bold and creamy kick of Chipotle Crema Made with smoky adobo sauce, sour cream, garlic and fresh lime juice. You can make this rich and creamy chipotle crema (crema de chipotle) recipe in just 5 minutes with just 4 ingredients.
Chile Crema pairs well with all of your favorite Mexican recipes, such as Pollo Asado and Carne Asada recipes.
What is Chipotle Crema?
“Mexican Crema” is a thick cream used in Mexican cuisine, similar to US sour cream. It adds a cooling effect to burritos, tacos, Mexican green verde, etc. When mixed with chipotle peppers, it creates chipotle crema.
Traditionally, this flavorful sauce is made with Mexican crema, but it’s not easy to find, so we use sour cream, mayonnaise, crème fraîche, or a mix of these options.
Ingredients
Here are the must-have ingredients for this chipotle adobo sauce recipe. See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list.
Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce
Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce are smoked and dried red jalapeños, rehydrated and sautéed in a flavorful, slightly sweet tomato sauce. The peppers provide a rich, smoky flavor and moderate heat, while the adobo sauce adds depth with its complex blend of flavors, including notes of vinegar, garlic and various spices.
They are commonly used in Mexican and Southwestern cuisine to add a smoky spiciness to dishes such as chili, stews, marinades, and sauces.
variations
While this chipotle and sour cream mixture is perfect as is, it can be customized to suit your tastes. Here are some common changes to consider:
Spicy cream
Add more peppers to the mixture for added flavor. Start with half a pepper and work your way up.
Mild cream
Looking for a milder crema? Skip adding the peppers and just use the adobo sauce.
Traditional cream
Instead of sour cream, substitute equal parts Mexican crema.
Chipotle powder
If you don’t have chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, you can use dried chipotle powder. Start with 1/2 tsp and work your way up.
recipe tips
- lime juice – Do not substitute bottled lime juice for fresh lime juice. Because the ingredient list is minimal, you can’t mask the “bottle flavor.”
- Extra Smooth – For an extra smooth end product, use a blender, food processor, or hand blender.
- taste test – Add other ingredients according to taste. We love adding extra peppers and garlic.
- Refrigerate – The longer the chipotle crema sits, the more the flavors blend. This can also thicken the sauce a bit, so this is an important step if you’re using it as a dip or sauce. We recommend refrigerating for at least an hour before serving.
- dilute sauce – The sauce will thicken as it stands. Therefore, stir in half a tablespoon of water at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
Used
Dipping Sauce – Use it as a dip for Mexican potatoes, carne asada fries, or chili cheese fries.
Sauce – Perfect for serving quesadilla with steak, cheese quesadilla or mulitas.
Taco Recipes – This condiment drizzled onto a taco is divine. Think carne asada tacos or street tacos.
storage
To ensure your Chipotle Crema stays fresh, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh and tasty for up to a week.
Calories: 485kcal
Costs: $2.00
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In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, chipotle peppers, lime juice, garlic, and salt. Try and adjust all the ingredients.
Note 2 – Add more paprika to the mixture to make it extra spicy. To make it milder, use only the adobo sauce, no chopped peppers.
Note 3 – Do not use bottled lime juice.
Calories: 485kcal | Carbohydrates: 19G | Protein: 6G | Fat: 45G | Saturated Fatty Acids: 23G | Polyunsaturated fat: 2G | Monounsaturated fatty acids: 11G | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 72mg | Potassium: 322mg | Fiber: 4G | Sugar: 10G | Vitamin A: 1451IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 243mg | Iron: 1mg