Don't just slop sour cream on the top and be done with it.
Delicious on its own with a variety of dishes like nachos or baked potatoes, sour cream takes on an added dimension when combined with choice ingredients to complement a range of sauces and dips. Most are easy to prepare; some require more astute kitchen skills. You be the judge of the final product.
Meat Sauces
Sour cream makes an apt addition to a variety of sauces you can add to meat dishes. Mix 3/4 cup of sour cream, 2 tbsp. of horseradish, 1 tbsp. of balsamic vinegar and 1/2 tsp. of sugar for a palate-pleasing dipping sauce for peppercorn rib eye. Or cook mushrooms until tender over medium heat in 2 tbsp. of butter, then stir in a 10 1/2 oz. can of cream of chicken soup, 1/2 cup of chicken broth and 1 cup of sour cream. Pour this over seared pork and bake it for an hour for a creamy, protein-packed feast.
Exotic Alternative
It's a common sight: sour cream heaped onto a plate of chips, nacho cheese and other ingredients. But it doesn't have to be plain sour cream, and you don't have to buy it in a tub. According to Sailu's Kitchen, specializing in Indian cuisine, sour cream can be made from scratch then amped up with the addition of tasty herbs. Mix 1 cup of Amul cream or malai (traditional sour cream alternatives) with about 5 tbsp. of lime juice, 1 tbsp. of dried parsley, 1/2 tbsp. of red chili flakes and 1 tbsp. of fresh chopped parsley for a homespun version of sour cream with an Indian flair.
Other Dips
Cheese sauce for vegetables or baked potatoes can be made to soar with the addition of sour cream. For instance, blend about 12 oz. of cheddar with 10 oz. of sour cream, 6 oz. of butter, 2 tbsp. of chopped green onions and salt to taste to spruce up an ordinary side dish. Substitute the type of cheese you use to experiment with different flavors. Add a touch of white wine for a delectable fondue.
Desserts
Sour cream is often used to spruce up dessert dishes. For instance, you can beat 8 oz. of sour cream with 3 tbsp. of sugar until fully blended, then add 2 tbsp. of lemon juice until that's blended fully. This cream sauce can be poured over baked fruits like peaches, pears or apples or used to top a tort or slice of lemon meringue pie. Sour cream can also form the foundation for a complex pound cake prepared for a party or some private time with yourself.
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