What is Mexican Cream?
Mexican cream, also known as Crema Mexicana or Mexican Crema, is a dairy product that is popular in Mexico. It comes in two varieties, Mexican Table Cream, and Mexican Sour Cream. Both of these are a milky white color. These products are similar to standard American sour cream with variations in taste and texture.
Mexican Table Cream
This cream, unlike American sour cream, can be easily poured from the container into your dishes.
Mexican Sour Cream (Crema Agria)
This type of cream is very thick and needs to be taken out with a spoon. Compared to American sour cream, it is slightly thicker, due to its higher fat content.
What does Mexican Cream taste like?
Both of these creams are rich and creamy, with a slight tang. The flavor is a bit milder than standard sour cream and is similar to that of creme fraiche.
How do you use Mexican Cream?
These two creams can be used in a variety of different ways and can be used in place or regular sour cream in many recipes. You can use it to top a variety of foods, like tacos, burritos, enchiladas, soups, stews, nachos, and more. It can also be used in sweet desserts like cheesecakes. In cakes and other baked goods, the cream can add moistness and richness when used in place of butter or milk. You can also use it to make tasty dips for chips and vegetables, like spinach and artichoke or onion dip.
Where do you buy Mexican Cream?
Mexican cream can be purchased at most grocery stores. You can find it in the refrigerated dairy section, near American sour cream.
How do you store Mexican Crema?
Both varieties of cream should be kept in its container in the refrigerator. Once open, it should stay fresh for about 2 weeks and will continue to thicken as it ages.
Fun Fact
Unlike sour cream, Mexican Cream does not curdle when used in hot dishes, making it the perfect addition to chili beans or tomato soup.
Did you know?
Another common Latin American cream is Crema Salvadoreña or Salvadorian cream. This cream is very thick and much tangier than American sour cream.
Kids Are Great Cooks Recipes Using Mexican Cream
In our Baked Potato video cooking lesson, we use sour cream as a topping.
Baked Potato Cooking Video Lesson For Kids
In our Creamy Cheesecake video cooking lesson we use Mexican cream which is similar to the traditional American Sour Cream.
Cheesecake Video Cooking Lesson For Kids
In our strawberries and cream video cooking lesson we use sour cream to make a creamy, delicious dessert.
How To Make Strawberries and Cream
In our homemade lasagna cooking video, we use Mexican sour cream between the layers.
Lasagna Video Cooking Lesson
In our green cheese enchiladas (enchiladas suiza), we top off the enchiladas with Mexican cream
Green Cheese Enchiladas Cooking Video Lesson For Kids
Recipes Using Mexican Cream
Strawberries and Cream
This dessert is very easy to make and can be whipped up in less than five minutes. In a bowl, combine Mexican table cream with your favorite sweetener… honey or maple syrup work great! Use it as a topping for strawberries or sliced fruit! Feel free to get creative with this by adding your own toppings like chopped walnuts or granola.
Creamy Tomato Pasta
In this recipe, Mexican Sour Cream adds a creamy richness to this dish, which is similar in taste to Pasta with Vodka Sauce. In a saucepan, combine your favorite tomato sauce with sour cream until a pink sauce forms. Add in cooked pasta, and mozzarella cheese and stir until melted. Eat it as is or place it in a baking dish topped with more cheese and bake until bubbly and golden brown.
Easy Mexican Flan
Make this delicious custard recipe using homemade caramel sauce for a delicious dessert. To make it, make the caramel sauce by heating sugar in a medium saucepan until it liquifies. In a blender or using a hand blender, combine eggs, table cream, cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and evaporated milk until smooth. Place the caramel sauce in a glass baking dish and pour the flan mixture over top. Bake and let cool before flipping the flan onto a plate and enjoying.
