Every household in the world contains sour cream. It is a ferment dairy product that is utilized in a variety of manners. Mostly the people prefer having it as a condiment over different dishes but it can also be used as an ingredient in sweet and main dishes.
The sour cream is made with fresh cream obtained from raw milk. The cream is combined with lactic acid bacteria. The bacteria feed on the sugar inside the cream producing a byproduct known as Lactic acid. The acid thus gives a tangy sour taste to the cream.
Although a wide variety of people love having it, some people cannot consume it. There can be several reasons behind it like allergies or food intolerance etc.
In this article, you will learn about Sour cream substitute along with a guide regarding using them
Contents
What is the reason behind finding a substitute for sour cream?
Following are some of the reasons why you may need sour cream substitute
- Switching to a vegan diet
- Health-related reason
- Lactose intolerance
- Allergy
- Low-fat diet
- Taste
Non-dairy Substitutes of Sour cream
Here are some sour cream substitute vegan that work best as dressing and also for baking
1. Soy
Soy is one of the most popular alternatives when it comes to sour cream. This alternative is the best for people who have recently turned vegan and finds it hard to leave behind the temptation of having sour cream. The amount of calories that soy-based sour cream contains is the same as the regular sour cream. You can find this substitute easily in the market but the main problem is that it contains a high amount of sugar and preservatives which can harm health. Luckily you can make it at home by blending in tofu with vinegar, sugar, and salt. The soy-based sour cream can be used in baking as well
2. Milk of coconut
What else is better than this dairy-free sour cream substitute? One must not confuse coconut water with coconut milk which comes out of the pulp of freshly grated coconuts inside. Coconut milk is perfect for people who are lactose intolerant or have dietary restrictions because it doesn’t contain lactose.
The cream appearing on coconut is taken off and very well blended with lemon juice, vinegar, and salt. The sour cream that is made out of coconut milk works perfectly both as a condiment and as an ingredient in baked goods.
3. Cashew nut sour cream
It might be surprising for many but cashew nuts can be used for making non-dairy sour cream. Cashews are known to possess a sweet taste with a buttery texture. It is high in fats and that’s what makes cashews a considerable alternative for sour cream.
For every 28 grams of Cashews nut, a person gets 5 grams of protein and 12 grams of fat along with other vitamins and minerals. The cashew nut sour cream can easily be prepared at home all you have to do is to blend over-night soaked cashews with lemon juice, sea salt, and apple cider vinegar. This alterative of sour cream might not work the best as an ingredient but can work the best as toppings or condiments. It also works the best as alternative to crème fraiche
Dairy substitute of Sour cream
Here is some alternative to sour cream that is considered as dairy products.
1. Buttermilk sour cream
Buttermilk is the leftover liquid we obtain during the process of making butter. Butter is made when full-fat milk is left outside overnight and the cream of it is extracted and used for the process. Fermentation occurs in the milk when it is rested overnight giving it a tangy taste.
Although buttermilk contains tangy taste and a potential alternative of sour cream, it is still not a good option as toping but can be used as sour cream substitute for cooking. The main reason behind it is that buttermilk has a runny texture which makes it hard to be used as a dressing.
2. Greek Yoghurt
It is a widely known sour cream substitute yogurt. Greek yogurt is formed when the whey of regular yogurt is extracted. The result is tangier and heavier Greek yogurt which works the best in place of sour cream. It can be used as ingredients in different recipes and also as a dressing
3. Cottage Cheese
The term cottage cheese was given back in the 18th century. The Americans back in the day used to make soft cheese from buttermilk at their home. Cottage cheese is a curd product. Milk contains two parts one is curd and the other is whey. Do during the making cottage cheese curd is separated from the whey. It can be used as sour cream substitute for cheesecake
This type of cheese has a mild taste with a soft creamy texture. If you are weight conscious than this alternative will work the best for you as it contains a high percentage of protein and less amount of fats. To replace the sour cream with cottage cheese, blend one cup of cheese with milk, salt, and vinegar.
4. Fresh cream
This alternative is very closely related to sour cream that is made when bacteria are introduced in heavy cream. Comparing to the sour cream, fresh cream turns out to be less tangy and has a cheese-like texture. It can be used as topping on soups and other foods but doesn’t work as an ingredient because of its less tangy nature
Final Words
Sour cream is a tangy condiment without which so many dishes are incomplete. Even though it is widely used there are people who cannot use sour cream for one or the other reason. There is a wide variety of substitutes for sour creams both in the dairy and non-dairy fields. If you are in search of an alternative to sour cream without compromising the taste, go through the list of aforementioned sour cream substitutes and you won’t regret it!
