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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Lime Crema (Perfect with Tacos)

    Vegan Lime Crema (Perfect with Tacos)

    Jun 19, 2023 by The Pesky Vegan | This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission on any purchases made through those links. | 4 Comments

    152 shares
    Jump to Recipe >
    Vegan Cashew Crema Taco Sauce Pin

    Fancy taking your tacos or other meals to the next level with a drizzle of zesty vegan lime crema? This dairy-free recipe uses soaked cashews to create a sauce that's rich, creamy, tangy, vibrant, and oil-free.

    Vegan Lime Crema in Jar with Spoon

    There's no need to save this just for tacos – it ends up on pretty much every meal whenever I make a batch. If you don't like coriander (a.k.a. cilantro), simply leave it out and you'll still have yourself a delicious plant-based twist on the popular Mexican condiment.

    Also in the market for meat-free taco ideas? Look no further than these Cajun shredded tofu tacos, kidney bean tacos, or jackfruit tacos.

    I create new content every single week. Subscribe to keep in touch and get a free download of The Vegan Kitchen – My Top 10 Tips.

    Jump to:

    • Why I love it 💚
    • What is it? 🥣
    • Veganise 🌿
    • Nutrition 🌱
    • Ingredients 📋
    • Step by step 📷
    • Where to use 🍽️
    • FAQ ❓
    • Variations 🔀
    • Recipe 👨‍🍳

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • There are just six ingredients
    • It's ready in just a few minutes
    • You can easily tweak the flavours
    • It's deliciously creamy without the need for any animal products
    • It goes well with so many things beyond tacos (see ideas for where to use it)
    Dairy-Free Cashew Crema in Jar Overhead

    What is Mexican crema?

    Crema is a dairy product popular in Mexican cuisine as a condiment, topping, and ingredient in sauces. Sometimes referred to as crema fresca or crema espesa, it's similar to crème fraîche and sour cream.

    How do I make it vegan?

    You could create a dairy-free crema using ingredients such as silken tofu or vegan sour cream, but I love to use cashews that have been soaked and blended with lime and Dijon mustard to create a subtle tangy flavour.

    Cashews have a long shelf life and creamy texture, making them ideal for many vegan dairy alternatives such as vegan cream, vegan cranachan, vegan fish pie, creamy mushroom pasta, and dauphinoise potatoes.

    Vegan Lime Crema in Jar

    Is it healthy?

    Since traditional crema has high levels of saturated fat, this vegan recipe offers up a healthier alternative with the cashews delivering more unsaturated fats along with nutrients like iron, fibre, and plant-based protein.

    Looking for more healthy ways to use cashews in your cooking? Check out these recipes for vegan cheesy pasta and 4-ingredient cashew parmesan.

    What you'll need

    For this simple recipe, you'll need:

    • Raw cashews that have been soaked until soft
    • Lime for its juice and some of the zest
    • Fresh coriander for fragrance
    • Garlic and salt for added flavour
    • Dijon mustard for extra zing (optional)
    List of Ingredients to Make Vegan Cashew Crema

    How to make vegan lime crema

    For the best results, it's important to soak the cashews for a few hours until soft. Simply add to a bowl of water and leave at room temperature. If you're in a hurry, you can soak them in a bowl of kettle-boiled water for around 10 minutes.

    Once the cashews have been soaked and drained, add these to a high-powered blender along with the water, garlic, lime zest and juice, coriander, Dijon mustard, and salt.

    Recipe Process – Vegan Crema Ingredients in Blender

    Blend until very smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides if necessary.

    It may take a minute or two depending on your blender.

    Recipe Process – Blended Cashew Crema

    Adjust the seasoning to taste, adding any extra lime juice, lime zest, Dijon mustard, and salt.

    If you'd like a thinner sauce, add small amounts of water and blend until you have the desired consistency.

    Where to use cashew crema

    Needless to say, this condiment is right at home when drizzled over the likes of Cajun shredded tofu tacos, kidney bean tacos, or jackfruit tacos. Why not throw in some pico de gallo and guacamole while you're at it?

    And don't limit yourself to just tacos – this stuff finds its way onto almost every dish whenever I blend up a batch. Think vegan jambalaya, easy vegan chilli, sweet potato chilli, smoky jackfruit chilli, pinto bean soup, grilled tofu skewers, grilled asparagus, or even goulash, chickpea stew, pumpkin couscous, lentil dal, or chickpea biryani.

    You can even add it to regular mash or sweet potato mash or thin it out slightly to use as a salad dressing.

    Where to Use Vegan Crema – Tacos, Chilli, Biryani

    Recipe FAQ

    Can I use any type of cashews?

    You'll want to use raw cashews for this recipe, i.e. not roasted, salted, or flavoured in any other way. Raw cashews are sometimes sold slightly cheaper if they're broken into smaller pieces, which would be fine here.

    How long do the cashews need to soak for?

    You'll want to soak the cashews in water at room temperature for several hours or even overnight.

    Can I skip the soaking step?

    If you're in a hurry, you can soak the cashews in a bowl of kettle-boiled water for around 10 minutes.

    Can I swap the cashews for another type of nut?

    You could try this recipe using a similar amount of sunflower seeds in place of the cashews.

    How long will this keep for?

    The crema should keep well for up to a week in the fridge in a jar or airtight container.

    Can I freeze it?

    Yep, you can freeze this in an airtight container for several months.

    Variations and tips for vegan lime crema

    • Lime: If you don't have this, you could use lemon or try adding a small dash of apple cider vinegar and adjusting to taste.
    • Dijon mustard: This may not always be strictly vegan depending on the white wine used, however I've noticed that several brands in the UK label theirs as vegan.
    • Nut-free: I haven't yet tried it myself, but there are plenty of recipes out there to make vegan crema with the likes of silken tofu, vegan sour cream, or yoghurt.

    Hey you – let me know what you think

    If you made this recipe and enjoyed it – or did anything differently – I'd love to hear from you down below in the comments 👇

    You can also find me and let me know on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook @thepeskyvegan 🌿

    Keep in touch

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    More vegan recipe ideas

    If you liked this recipe, you might also enjoy:

    • Pouring Whisky Sauce over Vegan Haggis
      Ultimate Vegan Whisky Cream Sauce
    • Tofu Cream Cheese Feature
      Tofu Cream Cheese (Oil-Free)
    • Easy Cashew Parmesan Recipe Feature
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    • Vegan Cream Drizzling off Spoon
      Vegan Cream Recipe (Single & Double Replacement)

    You can also check out my full list of vegan dairy alternative recipes.

    Full recipe

    Vegan Lime Crema in Jar with Spoon

    Vegan Lime Crema (Perfect with Tacos)

    The Pesky Vegan
    Indulge in the flavors of this zingy vegan lime crema, where soaked cashews come together to create a creamy, tangy, and vibrant taco sauce that's both dairy-free and oil-free.
    5 from 2 votes
    Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Dip, Sauce
    Cuisine Gluten-free, Mexican, Vegan
    Servings 16 servings
    Calories 46 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 cup (150 g) raw cashews, soaked in water for a few hours or overnight (see notes)
    • ¾ cup (180 ml) water
    • 1 garlic clove
    • 1 lime, half zest and all juice
    • Handful fresh coriander (a.k.a. cilantro)
    • ½ teaspoon vegan Dijon mustard (optional)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Once the cashews have been soaked and drained, add these to a high-powered blender along with the water, garlic, lime zest and juice, coriander, Dijon mustard, and salt.
    • Blend until very smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides if necessary. It may take a minute or two depending on your blender.
    • Adjust the seasoning to taste, adding any extra lime juice, lime zest, Dijon mustard, and salt. If you'd like a thinner sauce, add small amounts of water and blend until you have the desired consistency.
    • Drizzle over tacos or any other dish you choose (Cajun shredded tofu tacos are a personal favourite). Store in the fridge in a jar or airtight container for up to a week.
      🌱 Ideas for using crema >
      📸 See recipe steps >
      📖 Table of contents >
    Rate this recipe 👇

    Notes

    Cashews: You'll want to use raw cashews for this recipe, i.e. not roasted, salted, or flavoured.
    Soaking cashews: For the best results, it's important to soak the cashews for plenty of time until soft. Simply add to a bowl of water and leave at room temperature for a few hours or, if you're in a hurry, you can soak them in a bowl of kettle-boiled water for around 10 minutes.
    Dijon mustard: This may not always be strictly vegan depending on the white wine used, however I've noticed that several brands in the UK label theirs as vegan.
    Coriander: If you can't stand the taste of coriander (a.k.a. cilantro), simply leave it out.
    Storage: You can store the cashew crema in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week or freezer for up to several months.
     
    * The nutrition info below is for one serving, based on a total of 16 servings. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 46kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 40mgPotassium: 63mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 65IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg
    Nutrition Facts
    Vegan Lime Crema (Perfect with Tacos)
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 46 Calories from Fat 36
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 4g6%
    Saturated Fat 0.5g3%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 2g
    Sodium 40mg2%
    Potassium 63mg2%
    Carbohydrates 3g1%
    Fiber 0.4g2%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 2g4%
    Vitamin A 65IU1%
    Vitamin C 2mg2%
    Calcium 6mg1%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword cashew crema recipe, crema vegana, vegan Mexican crema, vegan taco sauce
    Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment down below or tag me on Instagram @thepeskyvegan along with the hashtag #thepeskyvegan
    Get ingredientsBrowse ingredients for this recipe and more at Zero Waste Bulk Foods! UK only. Free delivery on orders over £60. I may earn a small commission on purchases made through the link above.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jo Duffy

      March 24, 2024 at 3:30 pm

      5 stars
      Easy to make and so delicious, silky and a light fresh flavour.
      I drizzle this sauce over everything!
      Thank you

      Reply
      • The Pesky Vegan

        March 25, 2024 at 12:11 pm

        Cheers Jo, I agree it can go on just about everything!

        Reply
    2. jill hummel

      August 27, 2023 at 3:20 am

      5 stars
      This is a fabulous recipe. I’ve now made it 4 times and have used it as an accompaniment to my plant based burritos, tacos and tofu scramble. It gets rave reviews and it’s so simple to make.

      Reply
      • The Pesky Vegan

        September 03, 2023 at 8:57 am

        That's great to hear, glad you've been enjoying the crema recipe and thanks for the review!

        Reply

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