crema

noun

ˈkre-mə 

plural cremas

1

: cream or a preparation made with or resembling cream used in cooking : crème: such as

a

: any of various custards prepared as a dish, sauce, or filling

… a trio of Mediterranean desserts, including a Catalan-inspired, lavender crema presented in an edible almond ramekin.

—Julia Zaltzman

b

: heavy cream thickened and slightly soured usually with buttermilk and often served with spicy foods

Serve the flautas with the crema.

—Zanne Early Zakroff

Crema can be used to thicken or enrich a dish, but it is broadly thought of as a condiment.

—Alex Stupak and Jordana Rothman

Pour in the Mexican crema, stirring to make sure it coats all of the vegetables, and gently simmer for about 2 minutes.

—Mely Martínez

2

: a layer of golden-brown froth that forms on the top of freshly made espresso

To get the best aroma, flavor and crema, I needed fresh beans from great roasters.

—Jeremy Repanich

What the head is to the beer lover, the foam called crema is to the espresso aficionado. … The crema is produced as the water is pushed through and past the close-packed grains of coffee, although how that happens is not fully understood.

—Sidney Perkowitz

Examples of crema in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The potato’s natural creaminess blends with beans, guacamole, cheese sauce and cashew lime crema and pico de gallo, turning a simple tuber into something memorable and even more delicious than usual. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2024

By Chloe Sorvino, Forbes Staff Inside his modern home in the hills of Guadalajara, Mexico, Arturo Lomeli is eating one of his favorite foods—taquitos, piled high with crema, salsa and guacamole—as tequila is poured into crystal flutes around the table. —Chloe Sorvino, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

This season’s crema di marroni earned my personal stamp of approval—repeatedly. —Jenn Rice, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Pro tip: Get the elote ribs — roasted corn topped with chile crema. —Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024

Sake Tom Kha from Uchi Scottsdale Old Town sushi restaurant Uchi served a beautiful bite of raw salmon with a dollop of coconut, thai chili and orange crema that tasted for all the world like a bowl of Thai tom kha. —Felicia Campbell, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024

The Bambino Plus comes with double-walled filter baskets, so you’ll be guaranteed a beautiful layer of crema every time. —Noah Kaufman, Bon Appétit, 16 July 2024

They’re served in a warm, flavorful broth made from turkey, mirepoix, and a variety of aromatics, and then topped with thinly sliced cabbage, citrus crema, salsa verde, and avocado. —Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

The rich ahi was balanced by a dash of sour cream and guacamole crema and a sprinkle of sesame seeds added another layer of flavor and texture to the vinegary, crunchy delight. —Felicia Campbell, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) borrowed from Spanish, "cream," borrowed from French crème, going back to Old French craime; (sense 2) borrowed from Italian, "cream," borrowed from French crème — more at cream entry 1

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined at sense 2