Looking for the perfect cool and creamy topping for all of your favorite Mexican recipes? Give our lime crema with Greek yogurt a try! Swapping sour cream for Greek yogurt boosts the nutrition without sacrificing flavor or texture.
Must-Know Culinary Skills
For recipe success, learn how to:
Culinary Tips for the Tastiest Lime Crema
If your lime is fairly hard, use the heel of your hand to apply pressure and roll it on the counter to get the juices flowing. But don’t press too hard or it will spray juice everywhere! Alternatively, microwave it for 20-30 seconds.
Be careful with the amount of garlic you add to this recipe. Fresh garlic is much more pungent than cooked or dried, so a little goes a long way! It’s better to start with less and then add more to taste.
If you don’t have a ⅛ teaspoon measure, use a ¼ teaspoon and just eyeball half the amount. We encourage cooking to your taste anyway, so exact quantities aren’t essential.
If you want to drizzle the lime crema on recipes like restaurants do, all you need is a simple squirt bottle. If it is a little too thick, add a Tablespoon of milk or milk alternative. Impress your family and friends with your culinary creativity!
Ingredient Substitutions
- Greek Yogurt: use any fat percentage that fits within your diet. You can also substitute plain yogurt or sour cream. If using sour cream, look for one with minimal ingredients: cream, milk, and cultures.
- Lime: you can substitute lime juice in a bottle, but the flavor won’t be as bright and fresh!
- Garlic: substitute a dash of garlic powder.
- Paprika: substitute taco seasoning or chili powder.
We love buying our spices from The Spice House. Click on the picture below to view & try out hundreds of flavorful spices and herbs!
Recipe Variations
Add 1-2 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro to create a lime cilantro crema.
Place all the ingredients in a blender with 1 small avocado to make avocado lime crema.
Want more lime flavor? Zest the lime with a microplane before juicing.
Equipment Recommendations
You just need few kitchen tools to put this recipe together:
Check out our essential equipment guide to stock your kitchen with ALL the tools you need to prepare anything!
Health Benefits of Greek Yogurt Lime Crema
The main nutritional star of this recipe is the Greek yogurt, but the lime juice and spices provide benefits as well.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is a great source of B vitamins, calcium, protein, and probiotics. Select a fat content that works with your overall diet. If you tend to consume a lot of foods high in saturated fat, a low-fat or fat-free variety is your best choice. If you limit saturated fat in your diet, full-fat varieties are okay.
Lime Juice
Limes are high in vitamin C and antioxidants which support a healthy immune system. While using only the juice may leave the fiber behind, it can still help fight inflammation and prevent chronic diseases.
Spices
Paprika adds flavor and nutrition to this recipe. Using spices decreases the need for salt, which may help reduce hypertension risk and therefore promote heart health. (1) Additionally, spices contain powerful antioxidants which may help reduce inflammation in the body. (2)
Serving Suggestions
This Greek yogurt lime crema is the perfect condiment for all of your favorite Mexican dishes. Serve drizzled over a taco salad or bowl, on top of baked tostadas or tacos, as a dip for quesadillas, or as a Greek yogurt sauce for fish tacos.
Learn how to build a healthy balanced meal with our Whole Life Plate, meal plan, and book!
Storage Tips for Leftover Crema
Store leftover lime crema in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Looking for recipes to dollop this lime crema on?
Try out these tried and true favorites!
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Vegetarian Tostadas with Summer Veggies
Lime Crema with Greek Yogurt
Ingredients
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon minced garlic
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika
- Pinch of sugar
Instructions
- Combine Greek yogurt, lime juice, salt, minced garlic, paprika, and a pinch of sugar in a bowl.
- Use as a topping or dip with your favorite Mexican-inspired foods. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
FAQ Questions:
Can I use Greek yogurt for Mexican crema?
What does lemon do to Greek yogurt?
How much Greek yogurt replaces heavy cream?
You can usually replace heavy cream with an equal amount of Greek yogurt in sauces and creamy toppings. For a smoother consistency, mix the Greek yogurt with a little milk or water before using it as a substitute. Example:
1 cup heavy cream → 1 cup Greek yogurt For lime crema, Greek yogurt works especially well because it adds creaminess with a lighter texture.
Can Greek yogurt be substituted for heavy whipping cream?
Yes, Greek yogurt can substitute for heavy whipping cream in many savory recipes, dips, and sauces. While it will not whip like heavy cream, it provides a rich and creamy texture with fewer calories and more protein. It works particularly well in lime crema, taco sauces, and dressings.
This Post Has 8 Comments
Thank you very much for this recipe for crema. I’m making it to serve with Mr beef barbacoa.
That will pair great! Glad we could help 🙂
The perfect dip for any season! So so good! 😋
We are glad to hear it! We also love it any season!
Love it as dressing for taco salads!
It adds great flavor, creaminess, and nutrition to a salad. Thank you for sharing!
Perfect sauce for so many dishes! Love!!!!
Yes! We think so too! Thanks 🙂