Sour cream or natural yogurt
Description
Sour cream or natural yogurt is a thick, creamy product with a snowy white color and a pleasantly sour, slightly milky taste; sour cream is usually richer and smoother, while yogurt can be creamier or slightly grainy depending on the strain of bacteria. Both wonderfully enhance the flavor of dishes, mellow spicy additions, and give a velvety texture to sauces, soups, dips, dressings, baked goods, and desserts, as well as work well as an ingredient in marinades and cold salads. Nutritionally, they provide protein, calcium, B vitamins, and phosphorus; natural yogurt typically contains probiotic cultures beneficial for gut flora, while sour cream has a higher fat and energy content. Store in the refrigerator in a closed container, use within a few days of opening, keep below 5°C, and avoid multiple contaminations with a spoon; freezing changes the texture, so it is not recommended.