Crema is the Spanish word for cream. In the
United States, or in the
English language, it is sometimes referred to as crema espesa (
English: "thick cream"),
also referred to as crema fresca (English: "fresh cream") in
Mexico.
Crema fresca or crema espesa is a Mexican
dairy product
Dairy products or milk products, also known as lacticinia, are food products made from (or containing) milk. The most common dairy animals are cow, water buffalo, nanny goat, and ewe. Dairy products include common grocery store food items in th ...
prepared with two ingredients,
heavy cream
Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process ...
and
buttermilk.
Salt and lime juice may also be used in its preparation.
Crema's fat content can range between 18 and 36 percent.
In
Mexico, it is sold directly to consumers through ranches outside large cities, as well as being available in
Mexican
Mexican may refer to:
Mexico and its culture
*Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America
** People
*** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants
*** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
and
Latin American grocery stores in the
United States. Crema is used as a food topping, a
condiment and as an ingredient in sauces. It is similar in texture and flavor to
France's crème fraîche and
sour cream.
Production
Outside of the larger cities in Mexico, crema is sold directly to consumers by ranches that prepare the product.
In the United States, commercial preparations of crema are typically
pasteurized, packaged in glass jars, and sold in the refrigerated section of Mexican and Hispanic grocery stores.
Uses
Crema is used as a topping for foods and as an ingredient in sauces.
It can be spooned or drizzled atop various foods and dishes.
For example, crema is added as a condiment atop soups, tacos, roasted corn, beans and various
Mexican street foods, referred to as ''antojitos''.
Its use can impart added richness to the flavor of foods and dishes.
It may have a mildly salty flavor.
In
Mexican cuisine
Mexican cuisine consists of the cooking cuisines and traditions of the modern country of Mexico. Its earliest roots lie in Mesoamerican cuisine. Its ingredients and methods begin with the first agricultural communities such as the Olmec and M ...
, ''rajas'' are roasted chili peppers that are traditionally served with crema.
The creaminess of crema can serve to counterbalance the spiciness of dishes prepared with roasted chili peppers, such as
chipotle
A chipotle (, ; ), or ''chilpotle'', is a smoking (food), smoke-dried ripe jalapeño chili pepper used for seasoning. It is a chili used primarily in Mexican cuisine, Mexican and Mexican-inspired cuisines, such as Tex-Mex cuisine, Tex-Mex and So ...
.
Similar foods
Crema is similar to the
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
crème fraîche in flavor and consistency.
Compared with
sour cream, crema has a softer and tangier flavor, and has a thinner texture.
Some recipes that call for the use of crema state that sour cream or crème fraîche can be used as a viable substitute.
See also
*
Clotted cream
Clotted cream ( kw, dehen molys, sometimes called scalded, clouted, Devonshire or Cornish cream) is a thick cream made by heating full-cream cow's milk using steam or a water bath and then leaving it in shallow pans to cool slowly. During this t ...
*
List of dairy products
*
Smetana
Notes
References
{{Condiments
Condiments
Dairy products
Guatemalan cuisine
Honduran cuisine
Mexican cuisine
Salvadoran cuisine