Can you replace crème fraîche with yogurt?
by Karine Lemoine
The crème fraîche is missing at the bottom of the fridge, but a jar of yogurt waits quietly on the shelf. Can you really make this substitution without compromising the recipe?
In reality, everything depends on the recipe and especially on the cooking that it involves. Yogurt and crème fraîche don't have the same fat content or heat stability, which changes how they behave in the pot.
Table of Contents
Here are the dishes in which yogurt is a good substitute for crème fraîche, where it shows its limits, and how to use it to obtain a result close to the original.
In which recipes does yogurt work well
Natural yogurt, especiallyGreek yogurt or whole yogurt, provides a creaminess and a slight acidity quite similar to those of crème fraîche. It easily replaces cream in cold or lightly cooked preparations: vegetable sauces, creamy dressings, marinades, potato or celery salads, tzatziki and cucumber sauces.
It also works well in soft and short cooking, such as quiche, savory cake or thin gratin, as long as you do not continue cooking at a very high temperature.
The limits: hot cooking and the risk of slicing
Crème fraîche contains at least 30% fat in France, which makes it heat stable. Yogurt, which is lower in fat and richer in whey protein, reacts differently: when heated strongly or added to an already boiling and acidic sauce (tomato, wine, lemon), these proteins denature and yogurt denature“slice”, that is, it separates into small lumps and whey.
This is why yogurt is not suitable for sauces that need to simmer or reduce for a long time, such as bourguignon, a blanquette at the end of cooking or a pasta cream sauce that is left to thicken on the stove.
How to incorporate it without slicing
A few precautions can limit the risk. The first is to always remove the pot from the heat before adding the yogurt and then stir away from the heat source. The second is toTemper the yoghurt: first relax a spoonful of hot sauce in the cold yogurt before adding it to the rest, to avoid too sudden thermal shock.
The choice of yogurt also counts: Greek yogurt, which is richer and thicker, is more resistant than regular or low-fat plain yogurt, whose texture is more fragile.
Our tips
►Choose Greek or whole yogurt
Richer in fat than regular plain yogurt, it is more similar to the texture of crème fraîche and better withstands moderate heat.
►Always add it off the stove
Remove the pot from the heat source before adding the yogurt, then return to the heat gently without ever bringing to a boil.
►Stabilize with a little starch
A teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with yogurt before adding it to the sauce limits the risk of separation, especially in a slightly acidic preparation.
Yogurt is an interesting substitute for crème fraîche for cold or lukewarm preparations, but it requires caution as soon as heat and acidity come into play.
You can also read:The best substitutes for powdered milkandHow do you thicken a spaghetti sauce.
Do not hesitate to leave a comment!
For more information and to receive our news, follow us on social networks!
Comments on Can you replace crème fraîche with yogurt?