Black Garlic Vegan Crema (dairy free)

Have you had the mouth watering experience of eating black garlic? Well here’s your chance! The sweet, complex, unique flavor of black garlic is an absolute pleasure all on it’s own, but pairing with a rich, creamy vegan crema and now you really have something to help make any dish top notch!

Black garlic vegan crema is made with cashews, tofu, citrus, a blend of spices, garlic and of course, the star of the show, black garlic. This vegan crema is thick, creamy, and has a unique, complex flavor profile. Black garlic vegan crema is absolutely perfect for topping off your tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. It also makes the perfect condiment to dip your yuca fries and plantains in!

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WHAT IS BLACK GARLIC

Black garlic is garlic that has been aged and cured. This process transforms strong, raw garlic into a completely different version of garlic that can be described as soft, yet slightly chewy, sweet, and of course…black. 

Black garlic has an incredible unique flavor and, when used thoughtfully, can transform a basic dish into an exciting, gourmet meal.

Adding black garlic to your crema can turn a basic crema into a sophisticated, complex condiment!

WHERE CAN I FIND BLACK GARLIC

Not too long ago, black garlic could typically only be found in Asian grocery stores. But in recent years, it has made its way onto store shelves in most major grocery stores and can often be spotted at your local farmers market.

You will typically find black garlic in the produce section hanging out with the other garlic or in the Asian isle. It comes in whole heads, peeled cloves, pureed, or as a paste. 

For this recipe, you will go with peeled cloves or a black garlic puree or paste.

WHAT IS CREMA?

Traditional crema is a smooth, creamy, tangy condiment that is very similar to sour cream. It is perfect for adding complexity and flavor to a dish or for cooling down a meal that is a bit too spicy. As delicious as crema is, if you are avoiding dairy, it will not be an option for you. 

Luckily this vegan, dairy free version of crema is equally as delicious as the traditional crema, but it skips all of the dairy!

HOW TO MAKE BLACK GARLIC VEGAN CREMA

Making this black garlic vegan crema is super simple, does not require any pots and pans. All you need is a blender!

Buttermilk, heavy cream, or sour cream is often the base of traditional crema. To make this vegan crema, you will be using a combination of raw cashews and silken tofu to create that thick and creamy texture.

You will begin by soaking your raw cashews in hot water. Cashews are a relatively soft nut as is. But when soak them in hot water you can really soften them, making them the perfect ingredient to create a thick, creamy, dairy free cream. You want to soak your cashews for a minimum of 15 minutes, but the longer the better!

Once your cashews have been properly soaked, you will simply place all of the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. That’s it! Delicious, creamy black garlic vegan crema with very little time and effort!

WHY CASHEWS AND TOFU

Many vegan crema recipes call for cashes OR tofu. But combining the two is my favorite way to make creamy vegan crema. Combining cashews with tofu makes your dairy free crema super thick and creamy. Adding tofu to the mix also adds a nice dose of plant based protein and nutrients! Because of this, I feel the combination of cashews AND tofu is idle.

WHAT SPICES DO I USE TO FLAVOR VEGAN CREMA

For this black garlic vegan crema recipe you will be removing the dairy and replacing it with plant based ingredients. Cashew and tofu can create the creamy texture of the missing dairy, but what about the flavor?

Creating a cream-like flavor with plant based ingredients is totally possible! You just have to use the right balance of ingredients.

ADD CITRUS TO YOUR VEGAN CREMA

Adding citrus to your black garlic vegan crema is very important when you are trying to create that tangy flavor that is in traditional crema. For this recipe you will add a combination of lemon and lime juice to do so. Feel free to add even more citrus juice to your crema than the recipe calls for if desired!

HOW TO CREATE A MORE COMPLEX FLAVOR FOR YOUR VEGAN CREMA

You can create a simple and delicious vegan crema using just salt, lime, and garlic…but why not add a couple of extra spices to really make this vegan crema something to talk about?! 

For this vegan crema recipe you will be adding fresh garlic, onion powder, cumin, salt, and nutritional yeast. The combination of the spices develop a delicious, well rounded flavor. 

Nutritional yeast is a vegan, nutrient dense, yeast that adds a cheese like flavor to a dish. Because of this, it is the perfect addition when creating a plant based recipe that traditionally calls for dairy.

HOW TO SERVE BLACK GARLIC VEGAN CREMA

This vegan chipotle crema recipe is very versatile and is the perfect addition to many dishes. I personally love this sweet and spicy vegan crema for tacos and as a dip for yuca fries. You can make a simple taco and make is an amazing taco with this flavorful condiment. You can also keep it simple and just serve it with tortilla chips, French fries, or yuca fries.