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showing how to serve chipotle crema sauce by drizzling on a burrito
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Creamy Chipotle Sauce

This Chipotle Sauce is one of the simplest condiments to make, explosively flavorful and 100% addicting as a sauce, dip or spread. It transforms even the most ordinary dish to extraordinary with its creamy, smoky, zesty heat. Drizzle it on all your Mexican favorites from tacos to burritos, spread it on burgers, sandwiches, and wraps, and dunk in veggies, chips and fries; the possibilities are as endless as the deliciousness!  This Southwest Chipotle Sauce is easy to customize to make it more or less spicy, healthier, vegan or without even pulling out your food processor!
Course Condiment
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 12 servings (1 1/2 cups)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup packed cilantro
  • 2-4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (see notes)
  • 1 teaspoon adobo sauce from above can
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1/2 tsp EACH onion powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients to a food processor and process until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. Start with less chipotle peppers and you can add more to taste after it's blended.
  • Adjust to taste with additional chipotle peppers, lime or salt. For less spicy, add additional sour cream or may. For thinner, add milk or water 1 tablespoon at a time.
  • Looking for the burrito recipe in these photos? See it here!

Video

Notes

Spice Level

Just like jalapeños, chipotle peppers in adobo will vary in spiciness, so you may need to adjust the amount you use each time.  You can start with less chipotle peppers, blend the ingredients together, then add another pepper and blend again if it's not spicy enough.  Here's the general breakdown:
Mild: one chipotle pepper
Mild-medium: two chipotle peppers
Medium-spicy: three chipotle peppers
Spicy: four chipotle peppers
Hot: five or more chipotle peppers 

 Tips and Substitutions 

  • Chipotle peppers in adobo: Are sold in 7 or 12 oz. cans by the chopped green chilies and jarred salsas, in the international aisle or in the Latin aisle.  If you don’t see them, make sure to ask, or you can purchase them on Amazon HERE
  • Can I use Ground Chipotle Pepper? Yes, if you’re in a bind, but chipotle peppers in adobo are extra fabulous because they are marinated in the fiery adobo sauce, which makes them that much more flavorful - the powder just isn't the same. Start with ½ teaspoon and add more to taste, up to 2 teaspoons for super-hot.
  • To freeze chipotle peppers: Spread peppers on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and flash freeze for 1-2 hours until solid. Once solid, cut the parchment wrap apart, individually wrap each pepper, then store in a freezer safe bag for up to 3 months.  Freeze the adobo sauce separately. 
  • Sour cream substitute: Swap the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt or a dairy free or vegan substitute.  You can use nonfat or regular.   
  • Mayonnaise substitute:   Swap the mayonnaise for sour cream, Greek yogurt or a vegan substitute.
  • Make it dairy-free: Substitute the sour cream with cashew sour cream.
  • Make it vegan: Substitute the sour cream with cashew sour cream and the mayonnaise for vegan mayonnaise like Vegainase. 
  • Serving suggestions: See post for tons of ideas!
  • Storage: Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.  It can be frozen but will separate some so whisk or blend together with some extra mayo before using.