One useful staple in the cruising galley is “Media Crema”, or canned table cream. The most common version of this dairy product is made by Nestle and is available in Latin American countries, in many larger U.S. supermarkets, and elsewhere throughout the world. I was so excited when I first encountered it, thinking that I’d found a substitute for refrigerated half and half! Unfortunately, the texture of Media Crema just isn’t right for stirring into your coffee, but it is still a great base for dips, sauces, and other recipes. Many cruisers use it as a substitute for sour cream.
To use Media Crema as a sour cream substitute, you may want to keep a can in your refrigerator as it thickens when chilled. Straight from the can, Media Crema lacks the tang of sour cream, but stirring in a little lime or lemon juice gives it some zing. For this blog, I focused on some quick and easy dips that you can make using Media Crema. You can make dip by stirring almost anything into Media Crema, but below are some of my favorite recipes and suggestions.
Chopped ingredients await the addition of Media Crema
Chili Sour Cream Dip
- 1 can Media Crema, chilled
- 1 small jalapeno, minced
- 2 tablespoons minced cilantro
- 2 tablespoons minced onion
- 1 small tomato, seeded and finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced or made into paste
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoons chili powder, to taste
- 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
- Lime juice, salt, and bottled hot sauce to taste
Combine all ingredients, season to taste, and chill before serving with tortilla chips.
Adding lime to Media Crema gives it a sour cream-like tang
Parmesan Sour Cream Dip
- 1 can Media Crema, chilled
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- Lime juice, salt, and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients, season to taste, and chill before serving with tortilla chips
Add any of the following combinations to one can of Media Crema for interesting dips:
Stirring pesto into Media Crema
Pesto Dip: Add leftover pesto or other jarred condiment to Media Crema, then season to taste with lime juice, salt, and pepper.
Cilantro Dip: Add 1 tablespoon minced cilantro, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and salt to taste.
Scallion Dip: Mix equal parts Media Crema and mayonnaise then stir in a little lime juice, minced scallions (both white and green parts), and garlic powder (or minced garlic paste).
Bacon-Sour Cream Dip: Cook and crumbled 3/4 pound bacon. Drain and combine with one can Media Crema, 2 minced green onions, 1 clove minced garlic, and bottled hot sauce and salt to taste.
With Media Crema aboard and a few ingredients in your galley, you can be ready for company any time!
Fair winds and following seas,
Heather, The Cruising Cook