Sour cream substitute: sophisticated vegan alternatives

Sour cream really completes many dishes. But what if you don't have any in stock or want to live a consistent vegan lifestyle? What if you have to pay attention to your diet because of lactose intolerance? Is there a substitute for sour cream made from plant-based products or can you even make vegan cream yourself? We want to answer these and other questions about cream substitutes here.

The most important thing first: Even as a vegan, you don't have to miss out on creamy enjoyment!

Sour cream, like whipped cream, is made from cream (i.e. the fatty part of fresh milk). The cream is made with lactic acid bacteria. These start a type of fermentation process called fermentation. In doing so, they convert the milk protein into lactic acid. This gives the cream a firmer consistency and a pleasantly sour taste.

The resulting sour milk product can be used in many ways. It refines salad dressings and dips, adds that certain something to soups and stews and is equally good in desserts, cakes and tarts. With a fat content of 10%, sour cream is comparatively low in calories and is particularly popular with figure-conscious connoisseurs.

Can other dairy products replace sour cream?

Whether sour cream, crème fraîche, yoghurt or cream cheese - in principle they can all be used as a substitute for sour cream. However, they differ in consistency, taste and fat content.

Sour cream and crème fraîche are most similar to sour cream, but contain significantly more fat at 20 and 30% respectively. If you like it leaner, you should probably use a yogurt substitute for salad dressings and dips. When cooking, however, the higher fat content can be an advantage, as sour cream and the like do not flocculate as quickly.

Cream cheese is also suitable for desserts as a delicious substitute for sour cream. To make its consistency a little creamier, simply add a little milk (also soy or oat milk).

The trend is towards a vegan lifestyle. This is also reflected on supermarket shelves, where you can find more and more plant-based foods and milk substitutes . Organic supermarkets now also offer vegan alternatives to sour cream. In the same way as vegan yogurt alternatives, you can also make such substitute products yourself. Instead of plant milk, simply use plant cream with a thick consistency and at least 10% fat.

Various products can be used as a basis for the cream substitute:

• Oat cream (1)
• Coconut cream
• soy cream
• Natural or silken tofu with a little vegetable oil
• Nut drinks or cashews soaked overnight
  
  

Depending on your taste, you can add spices such as salt, pepper or even a touch of mustard. A splash of lemon juice provides the typical sour aroma.

For a perfect result: fermentation with lactic acid bacteria

Just like milk cream, plant-based substitutes can also be fermented. Making vegan sour cream takes a little time, but you get a great result. You can buy the necessary probiotics or lactic acid bacteria in the form of capsules or powder.

The preparation takes place in three simple steps:

• First, process the selected ingredients in the mixer into a uniform, creamy mass.
• Now fill the mixture into jars, cover them and let them mature at 40 °C for about 24 hours. During this time it should develop a creamy consistency and the characteristic sour taste.
• Once the desired level of ripeness has been reached, you must stop the fermentation. To do this, simply put the glasses in the refrigerator. After a few hours, your vegan sour cream should be solid and ready to use.

You can store the product in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Alternatively, you can freeze it in portions (preferably in the form of ice cubes) so that you always have some on hand when you need it.

Do lactic acid bacteria fit into a vegan diet?

You might be wondering what lactic acid bacteria are doing in a vegan milk substitute product. But no fear! Lactic acid was first detected in sour milk and hence its name. Today, however, it is mostly made from plant-based raw materials and is therefore vegan. By the way, lactic acid fermentation also plays a role in the production of sauerkraut and other fermented foods.

Good to know: Lactic acid bacteria are healthy!

It is well known that lactic acid bacteria promote health and have a positive effect on the intestinal flora. Scientists at the University of Leipzig have now discovered why this is so. The microbes act directly on the human immune system via special receptors and can thus stimulate it.

If the sour cream replacement needs to be done quickly, you can skip fermentation. Instead of the bacteria, simply add some apple cider vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice to your vegetable cream. The acetic or citric acid provides the typical flavor. As an insider tip for an even more piquant aroma, we recommend a few nutritional yeast flakes .

Just like the original sour milk product, vegan sour cream can also be replaced with yogurt or cream cheese. Of course, you can use plant-based cream cheese alternatives such as those available in stores. Don't forget to add a little water to the cream cheese to give it the right consistency!

The statistics show that more and more people in Germany are consciously choosing a vegan diet . Most of them (70%) are female and young at heart. They primarily cite environmental and animal protection as their motivation, with health reasons or food intolerance coming in third place.

If you also want to support animal welfare and against factory farming, substitute products for whipped cream, sour cream etc. are just as important as vegan alternatives for cheese, eggs and meat. We'll explain what else speaks in favor of replacing sour cream in the following sections.

A current nutritional study with twins comes to the conclusion: those who eat a vegan diet grow older healthier and live longer! An improvement in long-term health would therefore become apparent after just two months. In fact, plant-based foods are high in fiber and contain less saturated fat. They can improve the intestinal flora, have a positive effect on the heart and circulation and tend to give you a slimmer figure.

Vegan substitute products are also interesting for people who suffer from food intolerance . For example, if you react to lactose, dairy products are taboo.

Without an appropriate replacement, this means a severe restriction. So it's good that there are plant-based alternatives! Milk substitute products such as vegan cream help you keep your diet varied despite a cow's milk allergy or lactose intolerance.

Are you wondering how you can contribute to climate protection with plant-based cream? That's easy!

Animal foods cause more climate-damaging gases when produced than comparable vegan substitute products. This has to do with the cultivation of feed, but also with the methane gases that cows release during digestion. However, the more consumers switch from dairy products to substitutes, the fewer dairy cattle will be needed in the future.

Agriculture will adapt and take new paths. Unused pasture land that is no longer needed can then be renatured. New forests can be created and many animal and plant species can regain their habitat. It may sound visionary, but you can help make it happen. The sour cream substitute is definitely a step in the right direction. We hope you have fun trying it out and enjoy your meal!