How to Make Creme Fraiche and Recipes

What is Crème Fraiche?

Crème fraiche is a fermented milk product that provides us with many beneficial bacteria and lactic acid. This acid is delivered right to the digestive tract. These friendly bacteria help to keep pathogens at bay and aid in the fullest digestion possible of the foods that we eat. The fermentation also increases the vitamin B and vitamin C content of the milk.

Some research indicates that eating cultured dairy products on a regular basis lowers cholesterol and helps to protect against bone loss. Fermenting milk products even restores many of the enzymes destroyed during pasteurization, including lactase. Lactase is the enzyme that helps us digest lactose or milk sugar. For this reason, some folks who don’t tolerate milk well can digest crème fraiche just fine.

How to Make Crème Fraiche

It’s simple to make crème fraiche. You will probably have to buy the initial “dose,” but crème fraiche is generally available in most grocery stores. Once you have some in hand, buy some regular cream. Put the cream in a glass jar and stir in two tablespoons of crème fraiche.

Cover loosely with a lid and place on the kitchen counter for twenty-four hours. At the end of this time, you will have an entire jar of crème fraiche. Place in refrigerator.

I add crème fraiche to most of my soups and stews. And, in my opinion, a potato (mashed, baked or fried) is just a delivery system for butter and crème fraiche. Yum!

Crème Fraiche Recipes

Crème Fraiche-Blueberry Ice Cream

Savory Mushroom Crepes with Herbed Crème Fraiche

How did your crème fraiche come out, and what’s your favorite recipe that you use it in? Tell us below!