Isn't it aggravating when you realise an item you thought you had on hand isn't really in the fridge or pantry? One of those items that aren't always available when you need it is sour cream. That's where an excellent sour cream alternative comes in handy. Sour cream is a fridge staple for many people, including Ree Drummond—fantastic it's for dotting on chicken tacos, making a nice taco dip, and providing the ideal creamy basis for homemade ranch dressing. Ree's not-so-secret ingredient in her Bundt-shaped banana bread is sour cream. But, if you're short of sour cream, what's the greatest substitute? Good news: Whether you're making Ree's famous Sour Cream Noodle Bake, her sour cream pancakes (passed down through the Drummond family from her husband Ladd's grandmother Edna Mae), or just want to put a big scoop in—and on—her Sour Cream Enchiladas, there are a lot of things that can replace sour cream in a recipe.
Sour cream is simple to create from scratch at home with just three ingredients (instructions below), but there are many additional items that may be substituted for the creamy, tart flavour. So hold off on going to the shop just yet: keep reading to find out the best substitutes for sour cream alternative is best for your recipe—you probably already have one of these options on hand!
Healthiest Substitutes for Sour Cream
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1. DIY Sour Cream
You can create your own sour cream at home, did you know? It takes some time, so it's not ideal if you need sour cream right away, but if you're planning ahead and don't want to go to the store, it's a fun endeavour. Here's how to go about it: 1 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar, or 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, whisked together. Allow it to settle for 10 minutes before stirring in 14 cup whole milk until well blended. Cover and let aside for 1 or 2 days at room temperature before refrigerating until ready to use.
2. Yogurt
You're in luck if you prefer yoghurt for breakfast and have some on hand. Greek yoghurt is best used as a sour cream substitute since it's thick and tart, exactly like sour cream, and it works well in most recipes. Because regular yoghurt isn't as thick, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve coated with a coffee filter or a paper towel before using to remove some of the liquid.
3. Cream Cheese
Is there any cream cheese left over from your morning bagels in the fridge? It's great news—and it's an excellent sour cream substitute! Because cream cheese is thicker, you'll need to soften it a little before using it. Use 6 ounces cream cheese diluted with a tablespoon or two of milk, buttermilk, or water for every 1 cup of sour cream called for in a recipe. Allow the cream cheese to come to room temperature before mixing it with the liquid.
4. Buttermilk
Buttermilk, like sour cream, is creamy and acidic, making it ideal for dressings and dips. For every 1 cup of sour cream called for in a recipe, use 3/4 cup buttermilk. Unfortunately, if you want to pour anything over chilli or add acidity to your baked potato, buttermilk isn't the best option—too thin to dollop.
5. Kefir
Kefir is a fermented dairy product created from cow's or goat's milk that may be consumed. It's usually found in the dairy area of supermarkets. It's almost like a hybrid between buttermilk and yoghurt, and it's popular in smoothies because of its probiotics. In pancake batters, dips, and sauces, kefir may be used in lieu of sour cream. (For a sour cream-like taste, use unflavored, unsweetened kefir.) It's thin and watery, just like buttermilk, thus it's not suitable for dolloping.
6. Crème Fraîche
Crème fraîche is a sour cream made in France (although it is ever-so-slightly less sour). If you can't locate sour cream in the grocery, crème fraiche is a good alternative: It's really similar in consistency, and it's particularly rich and creamy—so go ahead and dollop!
7. Mexican Crema
Crema is a common ingredient in Mexican cuisine, and it goes well with hot meals. It's a bit thinner and less sour than sour cream, but it's an acceptable substitute in most recipes—drizzle some over tacos or use it in baked goods.
8. Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is an ingredient you almost certainly have on hand. Most recipes, including baked products, may use it as a cup-for-cup substitute for sour cream. (Because mayo is prepared with eggs and oil, it provides a lot of moisture to baked goods like cakes and muffins.) It may also be used as a salad dressing; dilute it with a dash of apple cider vinegar to add some sharpness.
9. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is a terrific alternative to sour cream if you're seeking for a healthier choice. Cottage cheese is higher in protein than sour cream (nearly five times more!) and has half the calories. To make a comparable consistency and taste to sour cream, combine 1 cup cottage cheese (small curd is closest in texture) with 14 cup milk and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
10. Coconut Milk
Try using canned full-fat coconut milk as a dairy-free or vegan substitutes for sour cream: Remove the thick coconut cream from the top (it will naturally rise) and place it in a mixing basin. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to give it a sour flavour. It has the consistency of sour cream and is ideal for dips and sauces. For baked items, you may alternatively use chilled full-fat coconut milk for sour cream: For every 1 cup of coconut milk, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar; use as a sour cream substitute.
11. Cashews
Surprising as it may sound but cashews are great substitutes for sour cream. Butter, sweet and high-fat content makes them the best dairy-free alternative to sour cream.
In 28gms of cashews, you will get approximately 155 calories and 12 grams of fat. Also, 5gms of protein increases the protein source of cashews. If you blend cashews with vinegar, salt, and lemon juice, the end product will be a very rich tangy sour cream. Cashews make a good addition to soups and a lot of side dishes. Cashews should be added to the diets of people suffering from type 2 diabetes. Cashews can be highly beneficial as it offers benefits from cholesterol and low blood pressure. Cashews can be eaten raw and even roasted, this makes it a portable snack and viable substitute for sour cream.
12. Soy
For all lactose intolerant and vegan people, there’s new soy-based sour cream in the markets. Most of these have similar calorie and fat content. For example, 1 ounce of soy-based sour cream has 57 calories and 5 grams of fat, on the other hand, sour cream consists of 54 calories and 6 grams of fat. So I don’t think it needs to be told, that one can easily use this as a replacement for sour cream in many recipes and baking, and making it a really viable option for all lactose intolerant people to add to their dietary plan. Also, the great fact is that by simply blending tofu with apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and salt, one can make homemade soy-based sour cream which is highly beneficial for vegans.
Commonly Asked Questions?
Can one leave out sour cream in a recipe?
Sandwich spreads, biscuits, and other baked goods, the main ingredient is sour cream. So how can one skip sour cream in a recipe? The best alternative is to mix one tablespoon and a cup of heavy whipping cream, and your alternative is good to go. Many confectionary and bakeries use this trick to avoid sour cream in their recipe. Now depending on your preference, you can also mix light mayonnaise and a cup of yogurt to make it smoother and taste much much better.
What is the substitute for sour cream in the stroganoff recipe?
The first question one might ask is, what is stroganoff? It is a dish where the main ingredient typically strips of beef, which is cooked in sauce and sour cream. This dish has been in family traditions for long generations. In different families, a new recipe for this stroganoff is cooked in yogurt sauce instead of sour cream. This version holds flavors of cream Cabot Greek Yogurt, smoky paprika, baby Bella mushrooms which makes the recipe much healthier. This dish is full of antioxidants and has an adequate calorie content. This is a perfect recipe for people who avoid sour cream and also go to sleep with an amazing and heavy stroganoff dinner.
How does one distinguish between Greek Yogurt and Sour Cream?
Some people ask this question a lot, as greek yogurt and sour cream have almost the same calorie content and almost the same health benefits, but of course, there are some differences that make Greek Yogurt an alternative to sour cream.
Sour cream consists of about 7.13 gms of protein in one serving, on the other hand, greek yogurt consists has a high protein content,17% protein in one cup. This adequate amount of protein creates a lot of benefits to the human body by providing energy and boost to the immune system. Greek yogurt is very low in lactose, on the other hand, sour cream has quite a high lactose content. Greek yogurt has a stronger flavor and is also popular in other flavors too, whereas sour cream is generally not flavored. The most important feature about greek yogurt which sour cream lacks is the presence of good bacteria called probiotics which helps in breaking down lactase efficiently. Lactose Intolerant people would always prefer greek yogurt to sour cream in their diet.
How is Sour cream manufactured?
Another name of Sour Cream is Cultured Cream because the production happens by fermenting high-pasteurized cream that has a 20% fat content. Then the fermented product is subjected to homogenization clusters where lactic acid is formed, making a highly viscous cream. Sometimes to increase the firmness a thickening can be introduced in the fermenting process.
Homemade Sour cream is an easier process. To make it you need a jar, milk, cream, and fresh lemon juice. Now mix it well and keep the contents in a jar covering it with a breathable cloth around, then refrigerate overnight. The acid in the lemon juice will react with the cream giving a viscous form to the cream. The final form of this homemade sour cream will be tangier and richer in proteins than store-bought sour cream.
