Chipotle-Lime Crema Sauce
A spoonful of chipotle can change an entire sauce. Here, its smoky heat is folded into sour cream and mayonnaise with fresh lime juice, creating a cool, creamy sauce with enough chile to make itself known.
Chipotle peppers begin as ripe jalapeños that are dried and smoked, a preservation method with a long history in Mexico. The word chipotle comes from Nahuatl, and historical accounts document smoked chiles in Mexico centuries ago. In American kitchens, chipotle became increasingly familiar during the rise of Southwestern cooking in the late twentieth century, when cooks and restaurants began using the chile well beyond traditional Mexican preparations.
For this sauce, I use canned chipotle peppers packed in adobo. They bring several flavors at once: chile heat, smoke, acidity, and the seasoned tomato-based character of the adobo. Canned chipotles are also easy to find in most supermarkets and considerably easier to work into a creamy sauce than whole dried chiles.
The sour cream provides tang and body while mayonnaise gives the sauce a smoother, richer consistency. Fresh lime juice cuts through both and sharpens the flavor of the chipotle. Garlic powder and kosher salt finish the seasoning without crowding the chile.
The balance matters. Chipotle should be noticeable, but you still want to taste the lime and cream beneath it. Start with the measured amount of chipotle puree, taste the finished sauce, and add more if you prefer stronger heat. Canned chipotles can vary in intensity, so tasting is more useful than automatically adding another spoonful.
I originally made this Chipotle-Lime Crema Sauce to go with my Shrimp Tacos with Chipotle-Lime Slaw and Chipotle-Lime Shrimp Veggie Bowls, but it has plenty of uses beyond those two recipes. Spoon it over grilled shrimp, chicken, fish, roasted vegetables, tacos, or grain bowls. Spread it inside a chicken or turkey sandwich, or serve it alongside roasted potatoes and fresh vegetables.
If you have leftover chipotles after making the sauce, puree the peppers together with some of their adobo and refrigerate or freeze the puree in small portions. A teaspoon or two can season chili, beans, marinades, salad dressings, or another batch of crema without opening a new can.
The sauce benefits from a little time in the refrigerator before serving. Even thirty minutes gives the chipotle, lime, garlic, and dairy time to come together. Give it another stir before bringing it to the table, then taste once more for lime and salt.
Until next time, thank you for spending a little time with me. I hope you find a recipe to make, a story to enjoy, and something new to take into the kitchen. ♥️
Recipe: Shrimp Tacos With Chipotle Lime Slaw Recipe
Recipe: CHIPOTLE LIME SHRIMP VEGGIE BOWLS
Chipotle-Lime Crema Sauce
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Yield: About 1 cup
Ingredients
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons pureed chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Instructions:
- Place the chipotle peppers and a little of their adobo sauce in a mini food processor or blender. Puree until smooth.
- In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons chipotle puree, 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, garlic powder, and kosher salt.
- Whisk until completely combined and smooth.
- Taste and adjust with additional chipotle puree for more heat, lime juice for acidity, or kosher salt as needed.
- For the best flavor, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
- Store leftover sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Stir well before serving.
about the AUTHOr
Stasia Boschetti is an American culinary writer and the founder of American Country Living. With more than thirty years of experience in the kitchen, a background in catering, extensive travel, and a strong knowledge of regional food traditions, she writes about the recipes, histories, and customs that have shaped the way America cooks. She lives in the United States with her husband, family, and rescue animals.
