What is Buttermilk and How Does it Taste?
Buttermilk is a beloved ingredient in many traditional recipes, from pancakes and waffles to Southern-style fried chicken. While the term “buttermilk” dates back centuries, it’s a bit of a misnomer today since the product we now call buttermilk does not actually contain any butter! It is created from a mix of cultured milk and other dairy or non-dairy products and is known for its slightly tart aftertaste. In this article, we’ll discuss what buttermilk is, explore how it tastes and determine how to make buttermilk with various dairy and non-dairy ingredients.
What is Buttermilk and How Does it Taste?
Buttermilk is a cultured dairy product that is made from a combination of bacterial cultures and either cows’ milk, cream, yoghurt, sour cream, coconut milk, cashew nut milk or almond milk. Its taste is slightly tart and acidic thanks to the lactic acid produced by the bacteria. It is slightly thicker than regular milk, with a slightly glossy and lumpy texture. It’s low in fat and calories, making it a healthier alternative to regular milk.
How to Make Buttermilk
Making your own buttermilk is surprisingly easy, and there are multiple ways you can do it. Here’s a look at how to make buttermilk with various dairy and non-dairy ingredients.
Using Dairy Milk
To make buttermilk from dairy milk, pour one cup of cultured buttermilk into a bowl. Add one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice and stir to combine. Then, slowly pour in one cup of regular milk while stirring vigorously. Allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes before using it in your recipe.
Using Dairy Cream
To make buttermilk from cream, pour one cup of buttermilk into a bowl and add one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Slowly stir in one cup of heavy cream or whipping cream. Allow the mixture to rest for five minutes before using it in your recipe.
Using Dairy Yoghurt
Buttermilk made from yoghurt is simple to make. Pour one cup of cultured buttermilk into a bowl, add one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice and stir to combine. Then slowly stir in one cup of regular yoghurt. Rest for five minutes before using the mixture in your recipes.
Using Dairy Sour Cream
Making buttermilk from sour cream is similar to the above methods. Simply pour one cup of buttermilk into a bowl and add one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Then slowly stir in one cup of sour cream. Allow the mixture to rest for five minutes before using it in your recipe.
Using Non-Dairy Milk
It’s also possible to make buttermilk with non-dairy milks, such as coconut milk, cashew nut milk or almond milk. For any of these non-dairy milks, simply pour one cup of cultured buttermilk into a bowl, add one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice and stir to combine. Then, slowly stir in one cup of the non-dairy milk of your choice. Allow the mixture to rest for five minutes before using it in your recipe.
Making a Vegan Buttermilk
Vegan buttermilk is easy to make, too. Simply pour one cup of cultured vegan yoghurt into a bowl and add one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Stir to combine and then rest for five minutes before using the mixture in your recipes.
Buttermilk is a beloved ingredient in many recipes, and making it at home is surprisingly simple. Whether you use regular dairy ingredients or non-dairy milks such as coconut milk and almond milk, you can easily make your own homemade buttermilk. Be sure to let the mixture rest for at least five minutes to ensure it thickens and acquires that distinct tart, acidic flavor.
