Yield: Yields about 1 cup.
Crema is the Mexican version of French crème fraîche. Both are slightly soured and thickened cream, milder and less thick than American sour cream, with crema being the thinnest. The recipe for Lime Chicken with Poblano Sour Cream will have a more authentic touch if made with crema. You can buy crema in Mexican markets or even in some supermarkets, but it’s easy to make it yourself, and the result has a smoother flavor than that of the commercially prepared version.
Use crema as you would sour cream, dolloping or drizzling it on soups, tacos, potatoes, or anything else that needs a little tang. Start with pasteurized cream if you can find it—it makes a richer, thicker crema than ultrapasteurized cream does.
Make Ahead Tips
Crema will keep for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator, continuing to thicken as it ages.
The Mexican Crema recipe is missing a couple of key ingredients that make it Crema Fresca...after it has set for 24 hours add 1 tablespoon of lime juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt, stir it in and refrigerate. This is what differentiates it from Creme Fraiche.
You can split the recipe after the 24 hours and enjoy both Mexican & French!
Aahh...Creme fraiche by any other name...and just as good! Well, as good as the "homemade" version that I have been making for twenty years or so. At any rate, crema is vastly superior to most commercial varieties labelled sour cream. I have found, over the years, that you get a better outcome if you use relatively fresh buttermilk (been in your fridge less than 1 week) and cream that is pasteurized, but not ultra-pasteurized.
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