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Buttermilk is crucial in classic recipes like ranch dressing, fried chicken, and pancakes, but almost no one has it when they need it. Hereโs How to Make Buttermilk at home with just two ingredients and 10 minutes.
As a classically-trained chef, I have studied all the ways buttermilk enhances recipes: juicier meats, fluffier baked goods, and sharper, more flavorful sides and sauces.
The trouble is, I never have it on hand. Iโm reluctant to buy it because I probably wonโt use it all. Buying a carton of buttermilk at the store is an exercise in optimism, but deep down I fear some of it will get thrown away.
The solution is simple, budget-friendly, and waste-conscious: make your own buttermilk. If you have milk and an acid and just 10 minutes, you can make the buttermilk you need and move on with your life.
Table of Contents
Ingredients Needed to Make Buttermilk
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
- Milk: To make dairy-free buttermilk, substitute an equal amount of almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or soy milk.
- Lemon juice: Or substitute lime juice, white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
How to make Buttermilk
- For every 1 cup of whole or 2% milk, stir in 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or vinegar.
- Let stand for 10 minutes to thicken.
Buttermilk Recipe Tips and Variations
- Yield: This recipe makes about 1 cup of buttermilk.
- Make buttermilk with yogurt: Combine ยพ cup plain yogurt with ยผ cup milk.
- Make buttermilk with cream of tartar: Stir together 1 cup of whole or 2% milk and 1 ยพ teaspoon cream of tartar. First, mix the cream of tartar with 2 tablespoons of milk to form a loose paste; this keeps the cream of tartar from forming lumps. Then, add the rest of the milk.
- How to make buttermilk with lemon juice: For every 1 cup of whole or 2% milk, stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes to thicken.
- How to make buttermilk with vinegar: For every 1 cup of whole or 2% milk, stir in 1 tablespoon vinegar. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes to thicken.
How to store Homemade Buttermilk
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Stir or shake to recombine before using.
Ways to use Homemade Buttermilk
- Buttermilk batter: Fried chicken, chicken fried steak, and fried green tomatoes are all better with buttermilk.
- Buttermilk pancakes: Whip up a batch of tall, fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes for your next breakfast, brunch, or brinner.
- Salad dressing: Ranch dressing and blue cheese dressing get their delicious tang and creaminess from buttermilk.
- Irish soda bread: The acid in buttermilk mixed with baking soda makes this bread rise.
Buttermilk Biscuits
Tall and fluffy, light and airy, these Buttermilk Biscuits are peak brunch fare. Serve with with sausage gravy, with scrambled eggs and cheese, or with a slather of orange marmalade. Thereโs no wrong way toโฆ
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Recipes with buttermilk
Chicken and Turkey Recipes
How to Make Crispy Fried Chicken
Mardi Gras Recipes
Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe
Salad Dressing Recipes
Ranch Dressing Recipe
Salad Dressing Recipes
Blue Cheese Dressing
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Buttermilk Recipe
Ingredientsย
- 1 cup whole milk or 2% (see note 1)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (see note 2)
Instructionsย
- For every 1 cup of whole or 2% milk, stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes to thicken.
Notes
- Milk: To make dairy-free buttermilk, substitute an equal amount of almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or soy milk.
- Lemon juice: Or substitute lime juice, white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
- Yield: This recipe makes about 1 c. of buttermilk.
- Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Stir or shake to recombine before using.
My grocery store was out of buttermilkโฆ so easy to make! Thank you!