This cumin lime crema recipe is bright, tangy, and creamy, and comes together in just 5 minutes with four simple ingredients. Drizzle it on tacos and burrito bowls, use it as a dip for chips, or dollop it on anything that needs a hit of bright, fresh flavor. It’s endlessly versatile—you’re going to love it!
Recipe overview
There are a handful of sauces I make on autopilot nearly every week, and this lime crema is one of them. It was inspired by my favorite taco shop in San Francisco years ago — one I reverse-engineered and put my own spin on, and have been making ever since.
It’s everything you want in a lime crema recipe: creamy, bright, tangy, and quick. We love it on these TVP tacos (a regular in our dinner rotation) and as a creamy dip when we’re snacking on chips and guac.
Why you’ll love this
- Easy & endlessly versatile: All you need is five minutes and four ingredients. Drizzle it on tacos and bowls, use it as a dip for chips, or dollop it on soups and salads—it’s the only lime crema sauce you’ll ever need.
- Higher in protein: Greek yogurt gives this crema a nutrition upgrade without changing the flavor.
- Great for meal prep: Make a batch on Sunday and keep it in the fridge all week.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Plain Greek yogurt: For the richest, creamiest Greek yogurt lime crema, go full-fat—though 2% works well too.
- Lime: You’ll use both the juice and the zest. The zest is what gives this crema its bright, aromatic punch, so don’t skip it.
- Ground cumin: The ingredient that makes it taste like it came from a restaurant kitchen.
- Coarse kosher salt: It makes this crema sing, so don’t be shy. The sauce needs to be well-seasoned to hold up against bold taco fillings.
- Water: If you want to drizzle rather than dollop, add 1-2 teaspoons of water at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Substitutions & modifications
Here’s how to make this recipe work—whether you need to swap ingredients, adjust for dietary needs, or want to boost the nutrition even more.
- Greek yogurt: Sour cream works as a 1:1 substitute and gives a more traditional crema flavor. The texture will be slightly richer, and the protein will be lower.
- Ground cumin: Smoked cumin adds a subtle smoky note if you have it. You can also use a teaspoon of this homemade vegan taco seasoning in place of the cumin and salt for a slightly spicier take.
- Coarse kosher salt: If using fine table salt, start with half the amount and adjust to taste.
Tips for the best lime crema recipe
- Use full-fat Greek yogurt. It gives the creamiest texture and the most balanced flavor. Lower-fat versions can taste overly tangy and tend to thin out more.
- Zest the lime before you juice it. Trust me on this one, it’s much easier this way!
- Taste and adjust before serving. This crema is very easy to tweak. A little more lime juice for brightness, a pinch more salt if it needs a lift, or a touch more cumin for more depth. If you have time, let it sit in the fridge for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving. Even 10 minutes makes a difference.
Step-by-step instructions
Combine yogurt, cumin, lime, salt & stir
Thin with water to desired consistency
Lime crema serving ideas
- Drizzle it over this delicious TVP taco meat served in warm taco shells topped with shredded lettuce.
- Spoon it over burrito bowls with lettuce, rice, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and peppers.
- Serve it as a creamy dip alongside chips and guacamole
- Add a generous dollop onto a simple tortilla soup or black bean soup.
- Use as a lime crema dressing in a crunchy taco salad.
- Drizzle it over sheet pan fajita vegetables and wrap them up in a warm tortilla.
How to store lime crema
Refrigeration
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Give it a stir before serving.
Easy Cumin Lime Crema with Greek Yogurt
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This lime crema recipe uses just four simple ingredients and adds instant brightness to tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and even works as a dip with tortilla chips.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (225 g) plain Greek yogurt
- 1 lime, zested and juiced (about 4 teaspoons juice)
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- Water for thinning, if desired
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients: Add 1 cup (225 g) plain Greek yogurt, the juice and zest of 1 lime, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon ground cumin to a small bowl. Mix until fully combined.
- Thin to your desired consistency: Add water, 1–2 teaspoons at a time, and stir until the crema reaches a drizzleable consistency.
Notes
Salt: If using fine table salt, start with half the amount and adjust to taste.
Nutrition Notes
Nutrition information calculated using full-fat plain Greek yogurt and coarse kosher salt.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Sauces
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 30
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 6 mg
