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A few years ago, my friend Tina introduced me to a delicious topping for our Mexican meal—Cilantro Crema. It brought a perfect balance of heat and the savory, herbaceous flavors of cilantro. Surprisingly, Tina rarely follows a recipe. So, when she shared  Amy’s Cilantro Cream Sauce, I was pleasantly surprised. Cilantro crema has become a must-have for any Mexican dish.

A jar of cilantro crema

Recipe Steps

When I prepare this Cilantro Crema recipe, I opt for Frontera Tomatillo Salsa, using a little less than half of the 16 oz jar. The leftover salsa comes in handy for making Chilaquiles and Eggs

This Cilantro Crema recipe is a breeze to make. The only change I make is adding extra cumin. On one occasion, I went slightly overboard with cilantro, so I had to balance it with more Tomatillo salsa. Roughly half to 3/4 cup of loosely packed chopped cilantro is ideal (depending on your tastes). Once the cilantro is ready, this recipe blends quickly in the blender.

I start by blending together the salsa, lime, and spices with the cream cheese. Then I add the cilantro to blend it all together.

Cilantro Crema
Making cilantro crema in the blender

If you encounter difficulties blending the mixture due to its thickness, just add a bit more salsa for better consistency. I prefer storing my cilantro crema in a glass mason jar, where it stays fresh in the fridge for up to a week.

While I primarily use the cilantro crema as an addition to any Mexican dishes, the recipe author suggests eating it like a dip or using it with fish.

When I’m ready to incorporate the cream sauce into a dish, I transfer it into a squeeze bottle. This allows me to easily add it to any dish and also lets me add decorative touches to the plate. Below is a plate of some Chimichanga and Mexican-style rice where I added the Cilantro Crema but with a spoon instead of a squeeze bottle. 😆

Plated Chimichanga with Cilantro Crema on top

Victoria Cook

Hi! I’m Victoria, a home cook turned host and cook for 100+ episodes of a private cooking show. My love for ethnic cuisines inspires me to use a variety of spices and fresh ingredients to make flavorful healthyish meals for my husband and son. I enjoy challenging myself with new recipes and am happiest when I can make them in an electric pressure cooker.

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