Substitute Onion Puree for Cream for a Brighter Flavor
From sour cream to crème fraiche , there is a wide variety of creams that add juiciness and richness to all types of dishes such as soups, salads and nachos. Here’s another dish worth adding to your repertoire: the vegan, low-fat onion puree.
The idea to use mashed onions instead of cream comes from Grant Lee Crilly, co-founder of ChefSteps. He sautés onions, removes the skins, mixes the insides with lemon, oil and salt, and then uses it instead of cream in savory applications to lighten food and add a creamy consistency that would not otherwise be there.
Food52 editor Kristen Miglor tests this technique by writing:
It is not really a cream substitute – you will never confuse one with the other. But it might even be a better alternative. Because while some of us love a cream to add richness and fluffiness, it can wash away any nearby aromas … instead of darkening the aromas, [mashed onion] enhances them like a well-cooked broth.
We can’t wait to use this method to decorate our next pea soup or add a spoonful to our plate of dumplings. Follow the links below to learn more about how to make onion puree and other ways to use it.
Substitute Onion Puree for Cream for Better and Brighter Taste | ChefSteps via Food52
Skillet is a new blog from Lifehacker about being cool in the kitchen. Follow us on Twitter here .