Perfectly flaky biscuits. I am so proud of these little fellows.Buttermilk has had a reputation as being an old-fashioned food without much place in modern urban life but like many other country staples it is gaining popularity again.
Buttermilk comes from whipping cream into butter. The fats solidify into the butterball, and the other liquidy bits are buttermilk. [More on that here.] This fresh liquid naturally ferments into a rich, thick, tangy cream. However, most commercial buttermilk has bacteria cultures added to it to speed this up.
I love buttermilk. It's acidity reacts with baking powder to produce delightfully fluffy biscuits, scones, cakes, etc. Martha Stewart's Whole Living site says: "Buttermilk also makes an ideal marinade for lean meats, particularly chicken and fish, since the lactic acid has a tenderizing effect on proteins. Baked chicken stays tender and juicy after just an hour of marinating, without any additional fat." It also lends a pleasant flavor in other foods.
Cucumber Buttermilk Soup we made earlier this year
Southern Foodways produced a new film Buttermilk: It Can Help; it's playing this weekend at the NYC Food Film Festival. The New York Times covered the lovely people behind the film and their deep love of buttermilk in April (with recipes for poundcake, biscuits, and fried chicken). This guy says he could drink a gallon of buttermilk everyday. I'm working up to that feat.
For a more gradual transition of buttermilk into your diet, try some of these!
Bulgarian Buttermilk, like most things Bulgarian...more intense than the American version
Cakes and Pies
Raspberry Buttermilk Cake from Gourmet
Maple Buttermilk Pie also from Gourmet, might get made soon in my quest to use maple syrup (more on that in a later post)
Vanilla Bean Buttermilk Cake from Orangette. I made this for myself on my birthday without the orange glaze. It is very tasty and makes for an excellent breakfast.
Ice Cream
Buttermilk Rosemary Ice Cream from the Kitchn
Blackberry Buttermilk Ice Cream also from the Kitchn
Nectarine Ginger Buttermilk Ice Cream, from Martha. YUM
Biscuits and Rolls
Buttermilk Fantail rolls from Gourmet look really elegant
Savory Treats
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
This Buttermilk Leek Tart would be fantastic now with leeks in season.
Rajasthani Buttermilk Curry, this one is great--delicious and ready in about 15 minutes. Eat with rice.
Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
Ranch or blue cheese dressing
Soups
Jeff and I made a chilled cucumber buttermilk soup similar to this one. It was pleasant and refreshing as an appetizer, but not great for a one-dish meal.
Vichyssoise, however, I could probably eat every day and be happy
Chilled Radish Buttermilk Soup from Gourmet
Bulgarian Buttermilk Walnut Soup is one I might not make in the near future.
Other Applications
Buttermilk Lassi from RecipeZaar
Creme Fraiche
Braised Bananas with Caramel?!
Buttermilk Panna Cotta
Buttermilk Cumin Crackers
Fresh Ricotta
Gorgonzola Cream Pasta Sauce (following article)
Fun Results from the New York Times Archives
1883, The start of a buttermilk-drinking trend
1905, Senator cuts off mustache to facilitate buttermilk drinking.
1907, Humor(?) piece touting the benefits of buttermilk microbes
1913, Complaint of faux-buttermilk being sold around town
Buttermilk comes from whipping cream into butter. The fats solidify into the butterball, and the other liquidy bits are buttermilk. [More on that here.] This fresh liquid naturally ferments into a rich, thick, tangy cream. However, most commercial buttermilk has bacteria cultures added to it to speed this up.
I love buttermilk. It's acidity reacts with baking powder to produce delightfully fluffy biscuits, scones, cakes, etc. Martha Stewart's Whole Living site says: "Buttermilk also makes an ideal marinade for lean meats, particularly chicken and fish, since the lactic acid has a tenderizing effect on proteins. Baked chicken stays tender and juicy after just an hour of marinating, without any additional fat." It also lends a pleasant flavor in other foods.
Cucumber Buttermilk Soup we made earlier this yearSouthern Foodways produced a new film Buttermilk: It Can Help; it's playing this weekend at the NYC Food Film Festival. The New York Times covered the lovely people behind the film and their deep love of buttermilk in April (with recipes for poundcake, biscuits, and fried chicken). This guy says he could drink a gallon of buttermilk everyday. I'm working up to that feat.
For a more gradual transition of buttermilk into your diet, try some of these!
Bulgarian Buttermilk, like most things Bulgarian...more intense than the American version
Cakes and Pies
Raspberry Buttermilk Cake from Gourmet
Maple Buttermilk Pie also from Gourmet, might get made soon in my quest to use maple syrup (more on that in a later post)
Vanilla Bean Buttermilk Cake from Orangette. I made this for myself on my birthday without the orange glaze. It is very tasty and makes for an excellent breakfast.
Ice Cream
Buttermilk Rosemary Ice Cream from the Kitchn
Blackberry Buttermilk Ice Cream also from the Kitchn
Nectarine Ginger Buttermilk Ice Cream, from Martha. YUM
Biscuits and Rolls
Buttermilk Fantail rolls from Gourmet look really elegant
Savory Treats
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
This Buttermilk Leek Tart would be fantastic now with leeks in season.
Rajasthani Buttermilk Curry, this one is great--delicious and ready in about 15 minutes. Eat with rice.
Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
Ranch or blue cheese dressing
Soups
Jeff and I made a chilled cucumber buttermilk soup similar to this one. It was pleasant and refreshing as an appetizer, but not great for a one-dish meal.
Vichyssoise, however, I could probably eat every day and be happy
Chilled Radish Buttermilk Soup from Gourmet
Bulgarian Buttermilk Walnut Soup is one I might not make in the near future.
Other Applications
Buttermilk Lassi from RecipeZaar
Creme Fraiche
Braised Bananas with Caramel?!
Buttermilk Panna Cotta
Buttermilk Cumin Crackers
Fresh Ricotta
Gorgonzola Cream Pasta Sauce (following article)
Fun Results from the New York Times Archives
1883, The start of a buttermilk-drinking trend
1905, Senator cuts off mustache to facilitate buttermilk drinking.
1907, Humor(?) piece touting the benefits of buttermilk microbes
1913, Complaint of faux-buttermilk being sold around town
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