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Crème Fraîche

By , About.com Guide

Definition: Crème Fraîche is a version of sour cream with a mildly tart flavor. Crème fraîche has a thinner consistency than sour cream.

Compared with ordinary cream, crème fraîche is less prone to curdling when simmered, making it good for cooking. Crème fraîche is an ideal thickener for soups and sauces.

Crème fraîche can be spooned over fresh fruits or cooked vegetables and is often used as a garnish with soups. Crème fraîche can be used anywhere you might use sour cream. For example, crème fraîche is delicious spooned over a baked potato.

Crème fraîche is available in many specialty food stores, but you can make your own crème fraîche very easily. Here's a simple crème fraîche recipe:

Crème Fraîche Recipe:
  1. Stir 1 Tbsp buttermilk into 1 cup heavy cream in a saucepan.
  2. Gently heat until it is slightly warm, and then transfer it to a glass bowl.
  3. Cover the bowl with a clean dishcloth and let stand at room temperature for 24 hours.
  4. Stir and refrigerate until chilled.
For a crème fraîche substitute, you can use ordinary sour cream or Crema Mexicana.
Pronunciation: krem fresh
Common Misspellings: Creme fresh
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