Five Great Substitutions for Buttermilk

Introduction

Buttermilk is a by-product of making butter, and it is a slightly sour liquid. The most common use for buttermilk is in baking. However, it can also be used to soak grains, drink, make salad dressing, as a beauty product, and it can be given to animals as a probiotic. Unfortunately, you may find that you are missing buttermilk when you find a recipe you want to prepare. This should not cause panic, as there are buttermilk substitutes that can work equally well. Here are 5 great substitutes for buttermilk:

1. Milk and Lemon Juice

This is one of the easiest ways to make a buttermilk substitute. The lemon adds a tangy flavor to the buttermilk.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of 2% or heavy cream milk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Equipment

• Measuring spoon
• Measuring cup
• Stirring spoon

Instructions

• Mix the milk and lemon juice – Measure 1 cup of milk and add stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
• Let the mixture stand 5-10 minutes at room temperature. When it is ready, you will see small-curdled bits and the milk is slightly thick.
• Use the buttermilk substitute- Use this substitute as buttermilk as you would buttermilk in the recipe.

2. Milk and White Vinegar

Vinegar is a great chemical to use when making buttermilk because it adds acidity without making great changes in the buttermilk taste. It is also readily available.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of milk
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar

Equipment

• Stirring spoon
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoon

Instructions

•  Mix the milk and vinegar and stir
•  Let the mixture stand 5-10 minutes at room temperature and when it is ready and curdled, stir it again
•  Use the substitute as buttermilk in the recipe

3. Cream of Tartar

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ tablespoons of cream of tartar
• 1 cup of milk

Equipment

• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoon
• Whisking spoon

Instructions

•  Whisk the mixture to combine the milk with the cream of tartar. To avoid the mixture getting lumpy, first mix the cream of tartar with only 2 teaspoons of the milk. Once that is mixed well, add the rest of the milk and mix.
•  Leave the mixture to stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes until it is curdled, then stir it again.
•  You can now use the mixture as buttermilk as your recipe dictates. 

4. Yogurt and Milk

Ingredients

• ¾ cup of plain yogurt
• ¼ cup of milk

Equipment

• Measuring cup
• Stirring spoon

Instructions

•  Mix the yogurt and milk together and stir the mixture well

Use it as a buttermilk substitute according to your recipe requirement. 

 5. Sour Milk

Ingredients

• ¾ cup of sour milk
• ¼ cup of milk

Equipment

• Measuring cup
• Stirring spoon

Instructions

•  Mix the sour milk with the regular milk
•  Use the mixture as a buttermilk substitute as with the recipe requirements 

Additional Buttermilk Substitutes

1.  Kefir – make sure the Kefir is unflavored and unsweetened
2.  Canned coconut milk

2 Reasons Why Buttermilk Substitutes Work

1.  The substitutes add more flavor as compared to the buttermilk
2.  The substitutes act as an acid in the recipe. When the acid reacts with the baking soda, it leavens the dough. This allows the dough to rise without any yeast which makes the baked products light and fluffy. 

4 Culinary Applications of Buttermilk

1.  To make moist cornbread
2.  To tenderize meat
3.  To add flavor to poultry and some types of seafood
4.  To make light, succulent biscuits, waffles, and pancakes

Health Benefits of Buttermilk

Buttermilk substitutes are great, but you cannot ignore the health benefits associated with buttermilk. They include:

• Weightloss – Buttermilk contains enzymes and nutrients needed by the body without adding the fat and calories found in other dairy products such as milk. Drinking it ensures your body remains hydrated which satisfies hunger and helps in weight loss.
• Probiotics – Probiotics help the gastrointestinal tract. Probiotic bacteria help in the breakdown of food for easy absorption of nutrients.
• Strengthening – Buttermilk is a rich source of calcium, helping in the building of strong bones and skeletal systems. It makes the teeth strong.
• Cholesterol – Helps in lowering cholesterol-Buttermilk contents offer a natural remedy to lower and control cholesterol.
• Constipation – Buttermilk comforts the stomach ballooning, preventing constipation and other stomach disorders.
• Detoxification – Buttermilk contains riboflavin that aids liver function assisting in the detoxification of the body. Riboflavin has anti-oxidation properties and helps in the conversion of food to energy.
• Vitamins – Buttermilk is rich in vitamins B and D. It helps the body fight anaemia and body weaknesses caused by insufficient vitamins. Vitamin D helps the body boost its immunity.

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