The tangy flavor and creamy texture of sour cream enhance the flavor profile of many dishes. Sour cream is a popular dairy product thanks to its high-fat content and tanginess from its fermentation process.
However, for those following a plant-based diet, there is a way to make a vegan sour cream that’s as handy and delicious. Moreover, vegan sour cream can replace several dairy products in recipes. It’s great to serve drizzled on pizza or served with baked potatoes, nachos, tacos, or quesadillas. You can also use it on baked goods to add some rich flavor.
Learn how to make vegan sour cream – it’s easy and versatile!
Creamy Vegan Delight
You can use vegan sour cream in several ways. Besides serving it alongside meals and desserts like dairy-based sour cream, you can also use it to replace goat cheese, feta, ricotta, mozzarella, and other cheeses on pizza or in lasagnas.
Most vegan sour cream will dry out during cooking, so unless you incorporate it into a dish for baking, drizzle it on top after baking. For example, you can use it in a lasagne or enchilada before cooking, but not on pizza.
Learn how to make a creamy vegan sour cream with this recipe from Cookie + Kate. You will need cashews but only need to soak them if you don’t have a high-powered blender. The vegan sour cream gets its tanginess from lemon juice and vinegar, but including the Dijon mustard adds a layer of flavor complexity. Add some nutritional yeast if you prefer their sour cream to have a more cheesy flavor.
Simple Sour Cream Recipe
Most grocery stores keep vegan sour cream if you are rushed or don’t know how to make it. These taste quite good, so they will do for serving with meals. However, it’s so easy to learn how to make vegan sour cream that it’s worth making a delicious version at home.
You only need a few simple ingredients, a blender, and five minutes of your time.
Simple Sour Cream Recipe
Ingredients for 8 Servings
- 1 1/2 cups raw cashews, pre-soaked in boiling water for 5 minutes to an hour. The longer they soak, the easier they blend, especially if you don’t have a high-powered blender.
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons apple cider or white grape vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsweetened non-dairy yogurt
Instructions
Place the pre-soaked cashews into a blender with the rest of the ingredients, except the non-dairy yogurt. Blend until completely smooth. Once smooth, pour the cashew mixture into a bowl with the yogurt. The yogurt is the ingredient that improves the texture and taste, but you can omit it if you don’t have any but still want to make sour cream. You can serve it immediately, but refrigerate it before serving if you prefer a thicker texture. The vegan sour cream will be kept for up to a week in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Dairy-Free and Delicious
You can also learn how to make vegan sour cream with silken tofu. All you require is five ingredients and 5 minutes to make this version. Find the recipe for this rich Tofu Sour Cream on My Plentiful Cooking.
If you don’t have silken tofu, you can use regular tofu. However, the result may be a bit chunkier. The recipe’s author recommends adding a few tablespoons of water to mix if using regular tofu to thin it out.
Take note that the recipe uses garlic powder. If you use the sour cream in a sweet dish, omit the garlic powder. Other variations include:
- Add nutritional yeast if you prefer a cheesy vegan sour cream
- Add a bit of sweetener if you don’t like it too tangy
- Add herbs, spices, sriracha, or tobacco sauce to create different flavors.
Quick and Easy Vegan Hack
If you want to learn how to make a vegan sour cream quickly, there is a recipe that won’t disappoint you. It’s quick and easy, and you don’t need cashews, coconut oil, or tofu. You will need five products – unsweetened and unflavored soy milk for its emulsifying qualities, a neutral vegetable oil like sunflower or canola, a thick vegan yogurt, lemon juice, and vinegar.
The beauty of this recipe for Vegan Sour Cream from School Night Vegan is that it takes just one minute to prepare. Once it’s ready, you have a thick and delicious sour cream with tanginess.
Serve it alongside nachos, quesadillas, or burritos. You can also sweeten it slightly to serve with desserts or as a topping with jam for scones.
Plant-Based Creaminess
Most cooks know they can make regular sour cream by adding lemon or vinegar to a tub of dairy cream and stirring. Within seconds, the acidity turns the cream sour.
In all these ideas on making vegan sour cream, you will see that even though the ingredients may change a bit, lemon and vinegar are the two ingredients in all recipes.
Here’s a recipe for making sour cream at home with coconut cream:
Sour cream With Coconut Cream
Ingredients
- ½ cup of coconut cream taken from the top of a refrigerated can (for at least 8 hours) of full-fat coconut milk
- 1 ½ t. lemon juice
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Stir all the ingredients gently until combined, but don’t overmix.
- Microwave it briefly until soft, but don’t let it melt or overheat.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes in a covered container before serving.
Irresistibly Smooth Sour Cream
People on a vegan diet cannot eat regular sour cream. Their reasons for choosing a plant-based diet include animal welfare, environmental concerns, and health.
Regular sour cream has several substitutes, including Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, the less fatty crème fraiche, and buttermilk. Luckily, several non-dairy alternatives also ensure you can enjoy a vegan sour cream with your foods. Moreover, these have less saturated fats and are healthier than all the dairy-based options when you make them at home instead of buying commercial soy-based sour cream alternatives.
Therefore, when learning to make vegan sour cream, you can use coconut milk, coconut cream, cashews, or soy products like milk or tofu. Use vinegar, lemon, and a bit of salt and make a vegan sour cream that everyone can enjoy, whether they are eating only plant-based or want to avoid certain ingredients like dairy or nuts.
Vegan-friendly Sour Cream Substitute
It doesn’t mean you must quit eating sour cream because you are vegan. Thanks to many bold chefs and home cooks, you will find several recipes that show you how to make vegan sour cream at home. The beauty of making your own is that it’s easy, and you can use your preferred ingredients.
Here’s a recipe from the Natural Comfort Kitchen for those who don’t prefer cashews or find them very expensive, using tahini. The sesame seed butter is combined with water, oil, lime juice, and salt, making it the perfect vegan-friendly sour cream to accompany Mexican cuisine, baked potatoes, or as a salad dressing.
The nut and the gluten-free recipe yields eight servings, but don’t fret if you only want to serve four. It keeps well in the fridge and is easier to blend when making a bigger batch. Finally, add herbs or spices, including chopped cilantro, garlic, or ground cumin, for flavorings.
Wholesome and Tangy Delight
Vegan sour cream is a dairy-free alternative to traditional sour cream, suitable for those following a vegan diet or those with lactose intolerance. Typically, recipes call for plant-based ingredients such as cashews, coconut cream, tofu, or soy milk blended with lemon juice or vinegar to replicate the tangy flavor of sour cream.
Use vegan sour cream in several dishes, including dips, dressings, soups, and baked goods, for its creamy texture and tangy taste, similar to traditional sour cream.
Generally, vegan sour cream has lower saturated fat than traditional sour cream made from dairy cream. However, the fat content of vegan sour cream depends on the ingredients used in its preparation.
The plant-based ingredients have lower saturated fats than cream. Still, many commercial vegan sour cream manufacturers may reduce the fat content, making them even lower in fats. However, processed sour creams have preservatives, meaning making your own is best if you prefer to consume fewer additives.
If you want several options for making vegan sour cream at home, download these recipes from Family Dinners. They give you three choices for making non-dairy sour cream to use in baking or as a sauce with dinner.
Try their Coconut Cream Sour cream, which is ideal as a substitute for creams and sauces. If you want to create a vegan sour cream for toppings or dip, you will prefer the Cashew Sour Cream. Finally, the ideal vegan sour cream for baking is Non-Dairy Sour Cream made with dairy-free yogurt and lemon. It is perfect.
Embrace the Creaminess: Your Guide to Vegan Sour Cream
Welcome to the creamy, dreamy world of vegan sour cream! Whether you’re a long-time vegan or just dabbling in dairy-free alternatives, mastering the art of vegan sour cream will revolutionize your culinary creations. Here’s how to dive in with confidence and creativity.
Start with the Basics: Vegan sour cream is a blend of plant-based ingredients designed to mimic the tangy, rich texture of traditional sour cream without any dairy. Key players include cashews for silkiness, coconut milk for that luxurious thickness, and tofu for a protein-packed version. Each ingredient brings unique benefits to the table, not just in flavor but in health perks.
Choose Your Base Wisely: The base you pick is the foundation of your vegan sour cream. Here’s a quick snapshot to help you decide:
- Cashews: Creamy and smooth, perfect for a rich texture.
- Coconut Cream: Offers a subtle coconut flavor and lush consistency.
- Tofu: A lighter option, high in protein and versatile in texture.
Customize Your Cream: Why stick to the basics when you can truly make your vegan sour cream your own? Experiment with add-ins to find your perfect match. A dash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice for extra tang, a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for a cheesy undertone, or even some fresh herbs for a flavorful twist.
Mastering Consistency: The secret to perfect vegan sour cream is all in the blend. For silky smoothness, soak cashews beforehand if you’re using them. And remember, the longer you blend, the smoother it gets. Do you have a regular blender? No worries, patience is key, and a little water or plant milk can help achieve that ideal consistency.
Storage Solutions: Made too much? Vegan sour cream stores beautifully. An airtight container in the fridge will keep it fresh for up to a week. And yes, you can freeze it for more extended storage, though the texture might change a bit upon thawing. Just give it a good stir or a quick blend to restore its creamy glory.
Serving Suggestions: Now that you’ve crafted the perfect batch of vegan sour cream, it’s time to let it shine. Dollop it on spicy vegan chili, spread it over hearty baked potatoes, or swirl it into soups for creamy goodness. The possibilities are endless!
Let’s Get Whipping: Unleashing the Power of Plant-Based Cream
There you have it—a comprehensive guide to making and enjoying vegan sour cream. This is more than just a recipe; it’s a step towards embracing a lifestyle that’s kinder to our planet and ourselves. So, grab your blender, and let’s get whipping! Your taste buds (and the Earth) will thank you.
