Fret Not if You Don’t Have Sour Cream, We Provide Substitutes

Sour cream is an extremely versatile dairy product that is used in dips, sauces, salad dressing, cookies, cakes, biscuits, etc. Here is a brief overview about some substitutes of sour cream.

Sour cream is rich in fats and is obtained by fermenting regular cream. It is widely used in European and North American cuisines. Sour cream is popular as a condiment, which is also used as a traditional topping for baked potatoes and for thickening sauces. It is used as an ingredient in cakes, cookies, biscuits, donuts, and scones.

In Mexican cuisine, sour cream is used in nachos, burritos, tacos, and guacamole. It is also a key ingredient in the traditional beef stroganoff. Though sour cream is easily available, its substitutes may prove handy if you run out of this dairy product. In that case, the easiest way is to use a sour cream substitute, if you are in a hurry to prepare something using this ingredient.

When it comes to substitutes for sour cream, there are several options. You can make these substitutes with some easily available items, like milk, butter, cream cheese, lemon juice, vinegar, etc. However, you must choose the substitute that is best suited for your requirements.

A cup of whole milk mixed with a tablespoon of lemon juice is excellent to replace sour cream in baking. You may also use evaporated milk for this purpose. This substitute is also ideal for cooking sauces. In that case, let the milk sit for at least 20 minutes before use. In order to substitute a cup of sour cream, mix ⅔ cup milk powder in ¾ cup of water, and blend it with a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar.

Plain or Greek yogurt can be used in place of sour cream, in a ratio of 1:1. Take a cup of yogurt, and mix a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Yogurt can be used for baking too. In that case, you may add a teaspoon of baking soda for each cup of yogurt. You may make the yogurt thicker by placing it in a sieve lined with cheesecloth for at least 30 minutes. Make sure that you keep the yogurt in the refrigerator. This yogurt with a thicker texture is ideal for dips. For cooking sauces, you may add a tablespoon of flour mixed in two teaspoons of water to a cup of yogurt.

Mix a tablespoon of lemon juice with a cup of heavy whipping cream, and your sour cream substitute is ready. Blend a cup of heavy cream with a cup each of yogurt and mayonnaise. This is one of the best substitutes for sour cream.

If you need a cup of sour cream, you can prepare an easy substitute by blending ⅓ cup of soft butter with ¾ cup of buttermilk. Instead of buttermilk, sour milk can also be used. This substitute is ideal for baking. For dips, blend ¼ cup of buttermilk with a cup of cottage cheese.

For a cup of sour cream substitute, blend a cup of cottage cheese with a tablespoon of lemon juice and two tablespoons of skim milk. Instead of skim milk, you may use milk powder mixed with cold water. Another method is to blend a cup of cottage cheese with ¼ cup of low-fat yogurt and a teaspoon of lemon juice.

Ingredients

• Water – 1 cup
• Sunflower seeds – ½ cup
• Pine nuts – ½ cup
• Fresh lemon juice – ⅓ cup
• Garlic – 1 clove (or a dash of garlic powder)
• Sea salt – 1 tsp.
• Onion powder – 1 tsp.

Method: Toss all the ingredients in a mixer, and blend for a minute or two on high speed. Make sure that you scrape the sides in between. If you want to use this sour cream substitute in sweet dishes, avoid onion powder and garlic.

Ingredients

• Milk – 1 cup
• Unflavored gelatin – ½ cup
• Plain low fat yogurt – ½ cup
• Buttermilk powder – 4 tsp.

Method: Combine milk and buttermilk powder in a medium-sized heavy saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin on top and cook over low heat until it dissolves. Remove from heat, and add yogurt. Transfer the mixture to a medium-sized bowl, and chill in the refrigerator for an hour, or until it thickens. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to five days. This is a great sour cream substitute for health conscious people.

Those who like soy products can go for this substitute. All you need to do is to blend a cup of firm silken tofu with three teaspoons lemon juice, one tablespoon apple cider and a pinch of salt. Vegans may also use cashew nuts for making a sour cream substitute. For this purpose, soak a cup of raw cashew nuts overnight. Blend them with a tablespoon of lemon juice and ½ teaspoon of apple cider.

Mentioned above are some sour cream substitutes that can be prepared easily. You may use any of them according to your choice and the requirements of the recipe. Though these substitutes may impart a similar flavor, nothing can replace the taste and flavor of original sour cream. So go for sour cream substitutes only when you need it in a hurry.

Like it? Share it!