Mexican Avocado Crema [5 Minute]

This 5-minute avocado crema is silky smooth, creamy, tangy, slightly spicy, and the perfect avocado topping, dip, or sauce for all your favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex foods. Our vegan avocado crema is dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, keto, and whole30, too!

This avocado crema recipe is like the light, fluffy, and silky-smooth cousin to traditional chunky guacamole, and we are loving it! This versatile condiment comes together in minutes with just a handful of simple, inexpensive ingredients and a food processor. Even better, it’s a truly all-purpose avocado sauce for tacos, burritos, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and more!

What Is Avocado Crema?

Let’s start with crema first. Traditional Mexican crema is a tangy, creamy condiment similar to sour cream (but thicker and richer—often made with buttermilk and heavy cream), served with spicy Mexican dishes to help tame the heat.

Avocado crema adds avocados to the mix (often mixed with sour cream rather than crema) for a thicker, creamier textured condiment. However, for this vegan avocado crema recipe, we’ve created a version that is 100% dairy-free and can be made with or without (for a lower-budget option) dairy-free sour cream/yogurt.

With ingredients including garlic, cilantro, lemon juice, and optional jalapeño, the result is a creamy, slightly tangy condiment similar to guacamole but super smooth, luscious, and fluffy, perfect for dolloping or drizzling over… well, everything!

Plus, if you love this avocado cilantro crema, you might also like our tomatillo avocado salsa verde, creamy avocado sauce, green goddess dressing, or avocado pesto!

The Ingredients

Rely on 6 simple and inexpensive ingredients to prepare this flavor-packed Mexican avocado cream sauce.

• Avocado: Use good-quality, ripe Hass avocados if possible. When squeezed, the avocado should have some give without feeling mushy.  
• Onion: (optional but highly recommended) Use red or yellow onion for sharpness.
• Garlic: Adjust the amount to taste and use garlic powder in a pinch.   
• Lemon or lime juice: Use fresh lemon juice (or lime juice) for the best flavor. You could add a little of the zest for a ‘zestier’ flavored avocado lime crema, too.  
• Cilantro: Use fresh cilantro and adjust the amount to taste.  
• Salt: Use Kosher salt/ sea salt. Season this Mexican avocado sauce to taste.
• Jalapeño: (optional—serrano works too) For a spicy avocado crema sauce, stir in some finely chopped chili (de-seeded for milder heat). Alternatively, add heat with cayenne pepper or some red pepper flakes.

For a smokier flavor in the avocado jalapeño crema, grill or broil the jalapeño until lightly charred first.

What Else Could I Add?

• Vegan sour cream or yogurt: To provide more of the tanginess in a traditional avocado crema recipe. Add about ¼ cup and increase to taste.
• Smoky chipotle powder/smoked paprika: Just a pinch for smoky flavor depth.
• Cumin: Just a little will add earthy, savory flavor to this avocado sauce.

How to Make Vegan Avocado Crema?

• 1) First, prepare the ingredients by peeling the garlic and onion (and roughly chopping the latter and de-seeding and removing the stem of the jalapeño (if using). Then, transfer those 3 ingredients to a food processor to process until fine and crumb-like.

• 2) Cut open the avocados, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh into the food processor along with all the remaining ingredients (for any ingredient we recommend an amount range—like cilantro, garlic, and salt – use the lower amount). Process until the avocado cream is super smooth and creamy.

• 3) Taste the avocado lime crema and adjust any of the flavors (cilantro, garlic, lemon, salt, jalapeno) to your liking. Then leave it to marinate for at least 20 minutes and enjoy!

FAQs

Recipe Notes

• Avoid avocados with brown spots: These may have a more bitter flavor, so cut away any large brown parts before processing the flesh.
• To thin the vegan crema: Add a little plant-based milk (or water), just a spoonful at a time, blending or stirring in between until you reach your desired consistency.
• Allow it to marinate: Leaving the avocado lime crema to sit for at least 15 minutes (or even longer) can help the flavors meld.
• Tweak to taste: Because of this avocado cream recipe’s simplicity, many ingredients are added ‘to taste.’ Though we’ve recommended an amount range, always start with the lower amount, then taste and adjust.

Storage Instructions

Like any avocado-based recipe, the biggest issue with this vegan avocado crema is the avocados browning prematurely. However, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

To make the most of its shelf life, add an extra layer of either lemon/lime juice or water/olive oil over the top of the avocado cream (or press a piece of plastic wrap directly over the top) before storing.

You can also freeze it for up to 3 months, though you may need to top up some ingredients upon thawing, as the flavor can mellow.

How To Use Avocado Lime Crema?

Like guacamole, this avocado cilantro lime crema is a versatile avocado topping (to dollop, drizzle, or as a sauce) for practically any Mexican or Tex-Mex/Southwestern dish. However, it’s also a perfect addition to your next potluck or game day!

• It’s the best avocado crema for vegan tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, tostadas, etc.
• To dip—crudites, pita/ tortilla chips, sweet potato fries, roasted vegetables, etc.
• In a vegan burrito bowl, rice bowl, or Mexican salad (like Texas caviar)
• Over a spicy bean burger and other vegan burgers and sandwiches
• Dolloped on a baked potato
• Stuffed peppers or zucchini boats
• Black bean chili
• With pasta salads and potato salads
• Tofu scramble

More Vegan Dip Recipes

• Rainbow avocado coleslaw
• Tofu spring rolls
• Tanzanian quinoa salad with grapefruit and avocado
• Eggless benedict with hollandaise sauce
• Avocado shakes (Sinh to Bo)
• Chocolate avocado pudding

Photos by Alfonso Revilla