• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Frizzled Leek
  • Chef Services
  • Recipes
    • Whole30 Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Chef Services
  • Contact
  • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Chef Services
    • Contact
    • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    home » Recipes » Recipe

    Pumpkin Seed Crema

    Published: Feb 26, 2021 •Modified: Feb 26, 2021 by mikecleavenger • This post may contain affiliate links, which can earn us a commission •

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This dairy-free pumpkin seed Crema is versatile, creamy, and tastes just like sour cream! The pumpkin seeds add a toasty and nutty flavor, and it's a great topping to put on just about anything!

    bowl of pumpkin seed Crema this recipe

    This recipe is inspired by the cookbook Two Chefs, One Catch. I live in San Diego, and one of the best seafood restaurants is called the Marine Room. Chef Bernard Guillas tops his Tomatillo Shrimp Cazuela with a Pumpkin Seed Crema.

    To make this pumpkin seed crema dairy-free. I make cashew cream with an addition of apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. Adding the acidity to the cashew cream creates a nice sour cream alternative. To take this cashew sour cream one step further, I add toasted and ground pumpkin seeds.

    Guys, you have to try this sauce! I am telling you it's soo good! The next time you make any Mexican dinner, use this recipe to finish with style!

    Jump to:
    • What you'll need to make this recipe
    • How to make pumpkin seed crema
    • Pro tips
    • Frequently asked questions
    • 📖 Recipe

    What you'll need to make this recipe

    pumpkin seed crema ingredients
    • Cashews - Makes the sour cream nice and creamy!
    • Almond milk - Blend with the cashews to make a dairy-free sour cream.
    • Lemon juice and apple cider vinegar - Are what turns this into sour cream. Contributes a nice tangy flavor.
    • Dijon Mustard - Adds another layer of flavor and a nice bite!
    • Pumpkin seeds - By toasting the pumpkin seeds, adds a nice nutty and toasty flavor.
    • Salt - Brings everything together.
    • Pepper - The spiciness of the fresh peppercorns complements the nutty pumpkin seeds.

    How to make pumpkin seed crema

    • soaking cashews
    • cashews in a blender
    • toasted pumpkin seeds in grinder
    • grinding pumpkin seeds
    1. Soak cashews for 4 hours in cold water. (Or boil for 10 minutes).
    2. In a high-powered blender, place cashews, almond milk, lemon juice, vinegar, and mustard. Blend until creamy.
    3. Toast the pumpkin seeds in a pan for 5 minutes on medium heat. It should smell like toasted nuts. Grind in a spice grinder.
    4. Season with pumpkin seeds, salt, and pepper. Enjoy!
    pumpkin seed crema in a bowl

    Pro tips

    • Use almond milk instead of water for the Crema. Almond milk has a mild flavor and makes this sauce super creamy!
    • Make sure you toast the pumpkin seeds. The pumpkin seeds will release their oil and make your kitchen smelling amazing! Also, the only way you will get that nice nutty and toasty flavor is by toasting them.
    • Let the pumpkin seeds cool down to room temperature before grinding. It keeps the aromas from vanishing into thin air.
    • Be sure to grind the pumpkin seeds completely. You don't want a Crema with big chunks of seeds in it.

    Frequently asked questions

    WHAT IS SOUR CREAM?

    Exactly what it sounds like, sour cream. Traditionally you would take heavy cream and add lemon juice or vinegar to it. Then you would leave it out at room temperature for 24 hours. My recipe is a dairy-free alternative that is easy to make.

    WHAT TYPE OF MEALS CAN I USE THIS SOUR CREAM ON?

    Shrimp, pork, beef, or even grilled veggies. I like to use this on soups, tacos, and salads as well. Try this sauce on my butternut squash soup. It's delicious!

    DO I HAVE TO USE ALMOND MILK IN THIS RECIPE?

    No, you can use water instead. I like almond milk because it has a mild flavor and makes a creamier sour cream. I would stay away from coconut milk because of the strong flavor.

    📖 Recipe

    bowl of pumpkin seed Crema

    Pumpkin seed crema

    mikecleavenger
    This pumpkin seed crema is the perfect topping for many dishes!  Cashews, almond milk, lemon, vinegar, mustard, and pumpkin seeds are all you need to enjoy this dairy-free Crema. 
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Course sauce
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 1 cup

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup cashews soaked for 4 hours
    • 1 cup almond milk
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 2 tablespoon pumpkin seeds toasted and ground
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper cracked

    Instructions
     

    • Soak cashews for 4 hours in cold water. 
    • In a high-speed blender, place cashews, milk, lemon juice, vinegar, and mustard.  Blend until nice and creamy.
    • Season with ground pumpkin seeds, salt, and pepper. 

    Notes

    If you didn't soak the cashews in cold water, cover them with boiling water for 10 minutes. 
    Let the pumpkin seeds cool completely before grinding.  You will remove the nice nutty aroma if you do. 
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Leave a comment below and share a photo on instagram. Tag @thefrizzledleek and hashtag it #thefrizzledleek.
    « 5-Minute Homemade Paleo Mayo
    Healthy Creamy Butternut Squash Soup »

    Primary Sidebar

    profile picture

    I'm a chef, husband, and father of two beautiful girls. The Frizzled Leek is a blog about getting families back in the kitchen. Here you won't just follow recipes, you will be developing your cooking skills too!

    More about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • Insanely Delicious Candied Kumquats
    • Chocolate Espresso Energy Bites
    • Whole30 Sweet Potato Waffles (Breakfast Sandwich)
    • Pickled Red Onions Recipe
    • Pumpkin Seed Crema
    • Egg-Free Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
    • White Balsamic Dressing Recipe
    • Sloppy joe stuffed sweet potato {Whole30, Paleo}

    Find the ideal recipe

    • Vegetable
    • Seafood
    • Breakfast
    • Salad
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Info

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms Of Use
    • Website Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Statement

    Recipes

    • Whole30 Ranch
    • Cauliflower Shrimp Fried Rice
    • Buffalo Chicken Salad

    Lets connect!

    • Instagram
    • Pintrest

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 The Frizzled Leek

    Cookie Notice
    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Our Cookie Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT