by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Sour cream is something I enjoy from time to time, although RancherMan’s never been a fan.

So instead of buying it I use my own homemade yogurt and lemon juice to make a healthy substitute for sour cream. 

Jump to Recipe

I prefer sour cream on my baked potatoes instead of butter. And I enjoy sour cream topping quesadillas too. There are actually lots of ways I enjoy it.

But since it’s not consumed regularly it seems a waste to buy a tub of it just to throw most of it away. And c’mon, sour cream’s a little less than healthy #amiright?

Uses For Homemade Yogurt

I already use my homemade yogurt for many different products in our home. It’s healthy and it’s delicious and oh-so-cheap when you make it yourself.

Chocolate Fudgesicle recipe uses yogurt as the base, wsweetened with all-natural honey.

Creamy Salad Dressing recipes uses healthy yogurt as a creamy base in only about 1 minute.

But today I’m going to use some of that homemade yogurt to make a healthier sour cream substitute. And like the other things above, it’s easy to make!

How To Thicken Yogurt

Sour cream needs to be nice & thick. If you have Greek yogurt you can use that to make this sour cream super fast! But I always use my own homemade yogurt.

Because, you know, #UseWhatchaGot.

My homemade yogurt is not quite as thick as Greek yogurt. No worries, I can easily fix that!

I first measure out about ½ cup yogurt. Then I place it in a cotton cloth and tie it onto my kitchen faucet with a rubber band and let it hang. This allows the whey to slowly drain away from the yogurt.

The resulting texture of my yogurt is much thicker. Some people may want to capture and reuse the whey that’s drained away. But this is such a small amount that I typically just allow it to drip into the sink.

After about 30  minutes I’ll remove the cloth and open it up to inspect my yogurt. If it’s as thick as I want it, I commence to the next step. If not I’ll hang it for a few minutes more.

Mixing Up Homemade Sour Cream Ingredients

When the yogurt is as thick as I want, I’ll add a small amount of lemon juice. and stir it in to incorporate it. (full recipe below)

On this day since I’m making Southwest quesadillas I also stir in a sprinkling of garlic powder and onion powder. It just adds a little extra flavor. And why not?? Customizing the flavors is a great benefit of making these things yourself!

Then everything is placed in the refrigerator until I’m ready to use it.

Homemade Sour Cream As Garnish

This healthier sour cream substitute worked perfectly as garnish for:

Southwest Quesadillas. 

Sheet Pan Beef Quesadillas

Spinach Quesadillas

Baked Potatoes

Chicken Fajitas

Carnitas Tacos

…and MORE! I’ve not had to purchase sour cream in years. I always have homemade yogurt available for my own homemade (and healthier) version of sour cream.

I feel good finding yet another way to make for myself products that I used to have to buy. You too? Here’s the recipe:

Did you make this Healthy Sour Cream Substitute? Please rate the recipe in your comment below!

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Healthier Sour Cream Substitute Recipe

This simple recipe makes a sour cream substitute with about 1/2 cup yogurt, lemon juice & seasonings. And it's healthier too! #TexasHomesteader

Course Condiments

Cuisine American

Keyword lemon juice, sour cream, Yogurt

Prep Time 2 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Unflavored Greek Yogurt (or drain 1/2 cup regular yogurt in cheesecloth to make thicker)
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice
• salt to taste

Instructions

1. If using regular unflavored yogurt, tie about 1/2 cup of yogurt into a square of cheesecloth and hang for about 30 minutes to allow whey to drain away. If using thicker Greek yogurt continue on to directions.

   Stir all ingredients together and store in the refrigerator.

Recipe Notes

Seasoning options:

1/4 tsp garlic and/or onion powder.

If making a Mexican dish you can also season with chopped fresh cilantro or chives

~TxH~

Other Favorite Condiments

Sauces/Dressings

• Homemade Mayonnaise
• Baconnaise – Bacon-Flavored Mayonnaise
• Fast Food: Basic Mix-n-Pour BBQ Sauce
• Honey-Sweetened, Smoky BBQ Sauce
• BBQ Rub & Beer-Based Mop Sauce Recipe
• Thousand Island Salad Dressing
• 1-Minute Creamy Salad Dressing Filled With Probiotics
• Creamy Hatch Chile Sauce
• Quick Garlic/Herb Sauce Using Fresh Herbs

Relishes/Dairy

• Sweet/Savory Pear Relish
• Fresh Pico de Gallo
• Quick Salsa Substitute Using Canned Tomatoes
• Homemade Cottage Cheese
• MYO Healthier Sour Cream Substitute

Flavorings/Seasonings

• Fresh Herb & Olive Oil HERB BOMBS
• MYO Pinto Bean Seasoning Mix
• Taco Seasoning Mix
• Breakfast Sausage Seasoning Blend
• Beef Stew Dry Seasoning Mix

Kitchen Shortcuts & Misc

• Instant Pot Boiled Eggs WITHOUT The Shells
• Oats Can Substitute Easily For Bread Crumbs
• How to Make Self-Rising Flour Using All-Purpose
• Make Gluten-Free Oat Flour Using Whole Oats
• Free Vegetable Broth In Minutes
• List Of Quick Ingredient Substitutions

…and MUCH more

See ALL Our Delicious Recipes!

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