Differences in creme fraiche recipe

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In all the recipes I see for making creme fraiche, the ingredient amounts--though all over the place--are something like 2 tablespoons of buttermilk to 1 cup of cream and many variations thereof. However, in 'Le Cordon Bleu Complete Cooking Techniques', they show 2 cups of buttermilk to 1 cup of cream.

I can't find any errata online so I'm wondering if there is a reason for that. Is this a French thing or possibly an uncaught typo (though the book is several years old)?



Best Answer

A quick search of the internets confirms your basic recipe of 2 tbs buttermilk to a cup of cream. This is likely a modern formula. Keep in mind that today's cultured buttermilk is not the same product as buttermilk (the liquid left over from churning butter...which could then be left to ferment) or "soured cream" (fermented cream) of years past. In fact, I did find this Julia Child recipe that more closely aligns with the recipe from Le Cordon Bleu, which you reference. Julia calls for 1 cup of "soured cream" to 2 cups of heavy cream. So, I don't think your reference has a typo. I think it is from a time when we didn't use modern "cultured buttermilk." The bottom line is that you need some type of starter to get a lactic fermentation going. While it might sound like too much liquid, remember that the fermentation process would thicken things up. I would say that you could probably reproduce the traditional recipe, but it's probably more convenient (and would likely result is a very similar product) to use the smaller amount of commonly available cultured buttermilk that can be found in many markets.




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Quick Answer about "Differences in creme fraiche recipe"

The Differences Between Sour Cream & Crème Fraîche Sour cream has a fat content of about 20% and may include ingredients like gelatin, rennin, and vegetable enzymes to stabilize it and make it thicker. Crème fraîche has a fat content of about 30% and does not contain any added thickeners.

What is the difference in creme fraiche?

Creme fraiche is thicker, richer (see: fat content), and less tangy than sour cream, and since it won't curdle if you boil it, it's great to use in soups and sauces.

What is the difference between creme fraiche and double cream?

Double cream has a higher fat content \u2013 around 48-50 per cent, and it's not commonly available here. Cr\xe8me fra\xeeche, on the other hand, is cream that's had a culture added, making it slightly sour in flavour. It's around 40 per cent fat. If you're trying to cook healthily, however, cream is not an everyday ingredient.

How can I substitute creme fraiche in a recipe?

Sour cream is the most common substitute for cr\xe8me fra\xeeche, since both have a slightly sour taste and are cultured. You can substitute an equal amount of sour cream for cr\xe8me fra\xeeche in just about any type of recipe.

Is creme fraiche the same as creme fresh?

Cr\xe8me fra\xeeche, French for \u201cfresh cream\u201d and anglicized simply as creme fraiche, is a thick cultured cream. Cultured cream is cream soured with a bacterial culture, similar to sour cream or Mexican crema.



Crème Fraîche




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