Serrano Crema

This serrano crema recipe is similar to a Peruvian green sauce called aji verde, the bright green sauce served with roasted chicken in restaurants. Creamy serrano sauce is a great way to boldly flavor roasted vegetables, salad, chicken, and grilled meat.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Fresh serrano peppers and simple ingredients combine to make a sauce you’ll want to pour on everything.
• The bright green sauce comes together in about 5 minutes!

What is Serrano Crema?

Serrano crema is a flavorful sauce or condiment crafted from fiery serrano peppers and ingredients like sour cream, mayonnaise, or Greek yogurt (and sometimes a combination of them all). The creamy sauce is the best way to add a spicy kick to all your favorite recipes.

Is Serrano Crema Spicy?

It think it has a perfect balance, but I may be biased since I’m a big fan of spicy sauces! However, I understand that not everyone can handle spicy food. Serrano peppers may be too hot for some people. If that’s the case for you, I recommend using deseeded jalapeño peppers for a milder sauce.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Serrano Peppers: Serrano peppers are a favorite of mine! I have a ton of serrano peppers growing in my backyard every summer, and this sauce is one of my favorite ways to use them.
• Cilantro: Include fresh cilantro leaves to balance the heat and give the sauce its bright green color.
• Garlic: I suggest using three fresh garlic cloves, but measure with your heart.
• Yogurt: Thicken the serrano crema with full-fat yogurt for the perfect consistency.  
• Sour Cream: Enhance the sauce with tangy sour cream for a smooth texture.
• Lime Juice: Use fresh lime juice from one whole lime.
• Spices: Taste and season serrano crema with salt and black pepper.
• Olive Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil works alongside the yogurt and sour cream to create the perfect texture for the sauce.

Additions and Substitutions

• Add water to the sauce to thin it out, so you can use the crema as a dressing for salad or protein bowls like my sesame salmon bowl.

Tools Used to Make This Recipe

You can use an immersion blender, food processor, or high-speed blender to make the creamy sauce. However, I highly recommend using an immersion blender when making salad dressings or sauces that require emulsification, because I always have the best results.

Use the tall cup provided with the immersion blender (or one of these meal prep containers) to ensure the blender works properly and to avoid a big mess.

How to Make Serrano Crema

The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Tips for Emulsification

What is Emulsification?

Emulsification is a cooking term used to describe combining ingredients that do not naturally mix, such as oil and water – making them stay together using an emulsifier.

What is an Emulsifier?

An emulsifier acts like a bridge between two opposing ingredients, holding them together in a smooth, stable mixture. The best emulsifiers contain water and oil-friendly properties to help the ingredients combine. The most common emulsifiers include egg yolks, mustard, mayonnaise, soybeans, honey, and xanthan gum. However, I use Greek yogurt and sour cream to emulsify the sauce.

How to Create a Stable Emulsification

If you want to learn how to make homemade vinaigrette, dressing, hollandaise sauce, aioli, or mayonnaise, then learning how to create a stable emulsification is key. Plus, it’s easier than you think!

1. Choose an Emulsifier: Select an emulsifying ingredient based on what you are making.
2. Combine the Ingredients: Mix the water-based ingredients, such as water or lemon juice, and an emulsifier.
3. Slowly Add Oil: Add a few drops, then pour the oil gradually in a slow, steady stream while whisking or blending the ingredients. The gradual addition helps to achieve a stable emulsion (so the two liquids combine instead of separate).
4. Adjust the Consistency: If the mixture gets too thick, add more water-based liquid to thin it out while continuing to mix.

If you enjoy the fiery sauce, try one of these salsa recipes!

Serving Suggestions

Serve serrano crema with Peruvian roasted chicken, blackened mahi mahi, carnitas, blackened fish tacos, or jerk shrimp tacos. Spoon the sauce over burgers, sandwiches, and sliders, or use it as a dressing to top my vegetable chopped salad and chickpea dishes, like chana masala or chaat masala.

While it’s slightly different from traditional Indian raita or chutney, the sauce pairs perfectly with grilled tandoori chicken and Instant Pot chicken biryani.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Crema Recipes:

• Avocado Lime Crema
• Chipotle Lime Sauce