Craving the sweet and creamy red pepper crema you had in your favorite Mexican restaurant? Now you can make that at home with our quick and easy red pepper crema recipe. It is made from smoky roasted red peppers, sour cream, and smoked paprika. Our spicy red pepper crema is a tung-pleasing combination of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors.
Drizzle it over tacos, or use it as a sandwich spread. It’s delicious on so many things. You can easily make it vegan and gluten-free. Plus it is flexible to customization. Tag along for bonus tips and tricks.
Ingredients Needed for Red Pepper Crema:
Do you love recreating your favorites? Our creamy roasted pepper dip recipe is rich and velvety like the restaurant-made, but better in taste. It is versatile enough to fit into so many dishes. I used simple ingredients to make the recipe beginner-friendly.
The natural sweetness of peppers complements the smokiness of paprika. Sour cream gives the necessary tanginess. And it takes only 15 minutes to whip it up. Let’s know the ingredients in detail.
Roasted Red Pepper:
Roasted red pepper is the main ingredient in our creamy red pepper sauce. It is easily found in grocery stores. Wondering how to roast red peppers for sauce? Pat dry, spray a little olive oil, and roast in the oven. 2 roasted red peppers will give our easy red pepper crema some sweetness, smokiness, and bright red color.
Sour Cream:
Do you love the creaminess of red pepper crema? Credit goes to the full-fat sour cream. ½ cup sour cream would make our red pepper crema for tacos all tangy, velvety, and smooth. Greek yogurt can be a substitute.
Lime Juice:
Freshly squeezed lime juice adds a citrusy punch to this pepper crema sauce. It complements the smokiness of roasted red pepper. Use 1 teaspoon in the recipe.
Smoked Paprika:
Want to add some more smokiness? Smoked paprika adds sweetness and an intense smokiness to the red pepper crema. It’s not as spicy as hot paprika. ½ teaspoon would be enough for our recipe.
Garlic & Onion Powder:
Adding garlic and onion powder is a convenient way to add delicious flavors to our creamy pepper-based sauce. Use ¼ teaspoon of both.
Sea Salt:
Salt balances all the flavors in this Mediterranean-inspired sauce. Use ½ teaspoon or more if needed.
Cayenne Pepper:
Want to make your red pepper crema spicy? Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to it.
Cheddar Cheese:
To make it creamier, add ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese.
Essential Tools For Making Red Pepper Crema:
The following pieces of equipment will make your red pepper crema journey smoother.
Food Processor:
A branded food processor saves real-time. It helps with a smoother texture in the sauce. Regular or immersion blenders will also work.
Colnder:
A colander is like a strainer. Using it will make the straining of the peppers simpler.
Automatic Pan Stirrer:
An automatic pan stirred is equipment with long nylon legs specially made to save you from all the manual stirring. It has several speed options making it more convenient.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Red Pepper Crema:
Looking for simple yet delicious meal prep ideas? Our savory red pepper sauce is great for weekday meal prep. Red pepper crema is a Mexican condiment with roasted red bell peppers, smoked paprika, lime juice, and sour cream. It’s commonly used as a drizzle in Tex-Mex meals or as a dipping sauce for fries.
It has a perfect combination of sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors. What a dreamy creamy red pepper sauce without any added preservatives. Wanna know how to make red pepper crema? Let’s make this party hit together in simple steps.
Step 1:
Drain your smoked red peppers using a colander.
Place the smoked and peeled red peppers in a small food processor. Pulse until you get a smooth consistency.
Pro Tip:
Use a Colander to drain your smoked peppers in a hassle-free way. A branded Food processor can make the blending fast and smooth.
Step 2:
Next, add the sour cream, lemon juice, and blended red pepper to a pan. Stir well until combined.
Step 3:
Sprinkle in smoked paprika and the rest of the dry spices. Stir very well until there are no lumps.
Pro Tip:
Overwhelmed with all the stirring? Use an Automatic pan stirrer.
Step 4:
Turn on the flame. Add shredded cheddar cheese and stir for another minute on low flame. Taste the crema and adjust the salt and paprika as needed. Store it in an airtight jar when room temperature is reached, or serve it hot instantly.
Recipe Tips & Notes:
- In a hurry? Use jarred smoked red peppers. In that case, dry the peppers properly before blending them. Without drying, it’ll ruin the texture of your spice dip.
- Want a thicker crema? Use more sour cream. Maybe ½ cup more. Put it directly in the blender or with the cheese in the pan.
- Adding 1 teaspoon of hot sauce, sriracha, or chili sauce, you can make the crema spicier and more delectable.
- Wanna make it runny? Add ½ cup of milk, buttermilk, or water with sour cream.
- Let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. The flavors will marry together and the taste will be intensified.
- Freshly chopped cilantro can add a herby note to the flavors in our roasted vegetable sauce.
- Making it for kids? Skip paprika and cayenne pepper completely.
- Wondering about the storage options? Make it ahead and store it in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Stir well before serving.
- Freezing is not a good idea. The crema will lose texture when defrosted.
- Do you love the little chunks in your red pepper crema? Reduce the number of pulses in the food processor or chop the peppers by hand.
Nutritional Information:
| Nutrition Facts | |||
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
| 187 calories | 12 g | 4 g | 2 g |
Red Pepper Crema Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Roasted Red peppers
- ½ Cup Sour cream
- 1 Teaspoon Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
- ½ Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- ¼ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ Teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
- Cayenne Pepper A pinch
- ½ Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
- Place the smoked and peeled red peppers in a small food processor. Pulse until you get a smooth consistency
- Next, add the sour cream, lemon juice, and blended red pepper to a pan. Stir well until combined
- Sprinkle in smoked paprika and the rest of the dry spices. Stir very well until there are no lumps
- Add shredded cheddar cheese and stir for another minute on low flame. Taste the crema and adjust the salt and paprika as needed
- Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days
Nutrition
Final Words:
Why buy red pepper crema with added preservatives? Make a batch of our spicy red pepper crema to quickly add flavor to your favorite Mexican dishes. The ingredients are already available at home.
Try it once and you’ll make it again and again! Takes 10 minutes and is so worth the effort! Your friends and family will thank you for this. Enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Making a batch of this smoky red pepper crema? Here are some questions that might cross your mind.
1. How to Roast Red Peppers for the Perfect Crema?
Once your red peppers are perfectly roasted, you are just a step behind from making a restaurant-quality crema. Choose the roasting method that is convenient for you. First, apply olive oil to the washed and dried red peppers. Roast them in the oven, grill them on the net, or use the stovetop method.
2. What Dishes Pair Well with Red Pepper Crema?
The smoky roasted red pepper sauce is versatile. Here are some serving options for you:
- Drizzle it on fajitas, cheese Quesadillas, tacos, burrito bowls, roasted vegetables, breakfast eggs, and whatnot! Keep a jar in the fridge and you’ll end up putting it on everything.
- It’s a delicious dip for fried chicken, french fries, fish fingers, broccoli rots, and more.
- Try it with mashed potatoes. The taste is out of the world.
- Ever used it as a salad dressing? Enhance your salad bowls with this simple red pepper crema.
3. Can Red Pepper Crema Be Made Vegan?
Wanna make your red pepper crema vegan and dairy-free? Use a non-dairy yogurt or cream. It must be unsweetened to keep the savoriness of the crema intact.
