Substitution for Creme Fraiche?

[chorizon]

I know this is definitely "off-topic". I've been seeing more and more recipes call for creme fraiche , but have yet to use it. I'm pretty sure our neighborhood store doesn't carry it, and I don't feel like driving across town to go to central market or whole foods. We got a pretty tasty looking potato-leek soup recipe we'd like to try off of Ina Garten's show on foodnetwork.

Will sour cream work as a substitute?
Your help would be greatly appreciated!

[Steve_Cox]

You are in luck living in Austin.


Check the local Mexican market for crema mexicana. It's a tarter thicker version of sour cream. It cooks well, unlike the sour cream which separates when heated.

[Gaelen]

Steve's right about crema mexicana...but if you're careful to stir it into a small cup of the soup first and then stir that mixture into the whole pot (tempering), both sour cream and greek or regular plain yogurt will also work.

I *love* that soup from Ina Garten; it's one of my favorites. I use greek yogurt or sour cream.

[Micro469]

Check this out....

Creme Fraiche

and this...

:lol: (Click the smiley)

[Miriam C.]

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-creme-fraiche

Make it yourself!

[chorizon]

You are in luck living in Austin.
Check the local Mexican market for crema mexicana. It's a tarter thicker version of sour cream. It cooks well, unlike the sour cream which separates when heated.

Thanks Steve, we definitely do have Mexican markets, and I'll be trying the crema mexicana on my first go-round.

Steve's right about crema mexicana...but if you're careful to stir it into a small cup of the soup first and then stir that mixture into the whole pot (tempering), both sour cream and greek or regular plain yogurt will also work.
I *love* that soup from Ina Garten; it's one of my favorites. I use greek yogurt or sour cream.

Gaelen, thanks for the X2 on the crema Mexicana. I love greek yogurt. I was a little dubious as to the difference between it and regular yogurt, but when I first made tzaziki, it was a knock-out! Good stuff!

Micro, the smiley link did make me lol. It seems we sometimes colloquialize "ethnic" dishes and lose the original identity in the process!

Miriam, thanks for the link to the video! I read a few recipes on the internet and was a little nervous about letting a dairy product sit out overnight (let's just say I take a lact-aid whenever possible), but the video answered many questions. I didn't know what the recipes meant by "cover". I was thinking saran-wrap may starve the little enzymes of oxygen, but the tea-towel answered that question straight-out. I'll give that recipe a shot soon!