Buttermilk is a tangy and refreshing milk drink left after churning the butter. It is widely used in baking and as a healthy drink to quench thirst. The recipe I have shared here shows you how to make Buttermilk and Buttermilk Substitute with easy step-by-step instructions for you to try and enjoy at home.
I have also shared a detailed video of this recipe to show the process visually clear. This homemade Buttermilk is perfect to consume as a summer drink and the Substitute is the best alternative to use in your cooking if the fresh buttermilk is not handy to you.
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What is Buttermilk?
Buttermilk is a tangy and refreshing milk drink and is nothing but liquid left after churning butter from cultured or fermented cream. It is also one of the common drinks in India to refresh yourself in the hot summer.
Traditionally, the milk cream is collected and allowed to ferment. Then the fermented milk cream is churned to make butter. The leftover liquid from the churning process is called Buttermilk. So, technically there is no butter in buttermilk, it is similar to whey but has high proteins compared to it.
Being an Indian, we make our yogurt, buttermilk, butter, and ghee at home in the traditional way. So here I have shared how to make Buttermilk using yogurt for instant consumption and its Substitute to use in cooking especially in baking if the fresh drink is not handy to you.
Ingredients
The ingredients you will need to make this Buttermilk and the Substitute are simple. It is just 2 ingredients that help to make an easy drink or to make your baking goodies soft, fluffy and airy.
For Buttermilk
- Full Fat Yogurt - Full fat yogurt are thick cultured milk that are basically acidic. You can also directly use yogurt in baking if the recipe calls for buttermilk. And here I have thinned it down for drinking purpose
- Water - Filtered water to thin out the yogurt.
For Buttermilk Substitute
- Whole Milk - I have used full fat milk but you can also substitute it with coconut milk, soy milk, oatmilk, almond milk or any other kind of vegan milk
- Lemon Juice or Vinegar - You can use either lemon juice or vinegar to curdle the milk
How to make Buttermilk?
I have shared how to make fresh Buttermilk using full-fat yogurt that is usually used for cooking as well as consumption in this section.
Following are the high-level instructions to make this drink but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photo and video, please check out the recipe card below.
- In a blender jar, add 1 cup of whole milk plain yogurt and 1 cup of water
- Close the lid and blend the ingredients on high for 10 to 20 seconds on a blender
- Open the lid and pour the buttermilk into the serving glass. This is the fresh Buttermilk that can be enjoyed directly to quench your thirst or to use in your baking recipes
How to make Buttermilk Substitute?
Here I have shared the recipe for Buttermilk Substitute that is used as an alternative for real Buttermilk. I have used full-fat milk and I have given some ideas for vegan-friendly versions in the tips section below.
Following are the high-level instructions to make this drink but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photo and video, please check out the recipe card below.
- Warm the Milk - In a saucepan with medium heat, pour 2 cups of whole milk and allow it to warm up slightly. You can also heat the milk in a microwave for 1 minute
- Add Lemon Juice - Remove from heat and transfer it to a bowl. Add 2 tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar to the warm milk and give a good mix
- Rest the Milk - Close the bowl with a lid and rest it for 5 to 10 minutes. Now open the lid and the milk should have curdled now
- Store or use it in Baking -The acid in the lemon juice or vinegar helps the milk to curdle and delivers a tangy flavor. This buttermilk substitute is especially used in baking recipes when the fresh drink is not handy to you. The acidic property reacts with baking soda which helps to deliver soft, and fluffy baking goodies
Tips
- Fresh Buttermilk - The first recipe shows you how to make fresh homemade Buttermilk to enjoy as a drink. I have diluted the 1 cup of whole milk yogurt with 1 cup of water
- Buttermilk Substitute Ratio - Use 1 tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar for every 1 cup of warm milk
- Sour cream - You can also use 1½ tbsp of sour cream for 1 cup of warm milk to make a Buttermilk substitute with sour cream
- Vegan Buttermilk - You can also add 1 tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar for every 1 cup of soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk or any other vegan-friendly kind of milk
Calories
The Buttermilk shared here contains 75 calories per serving and the substitute contains 153 calories per serving. And it is an estimation by the nutrition calculator. The calorie count may change if you change or alter the ingredient. You can also find the detailed nutritional information in the recipe card below.
Storage Suggestions
This Buttermilk and the substitute stay good in the refrigerator for up to a week in a closed container. And it also freezes well in the freezer for up to a month.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the fresh homemade Buttermilk from yogurt as a refreshing drink to quench your thirst. You can also use it in making pancakes, cakes, biscuits, and fried chicken as per that particular recipe instruction. And the substitute I have shared above will not taste great for drinking but an alternative for the fresh one in cooking.
Related Recipes
You can also find similar drinks below and more at Milk Drinks Recipes:
Buttermilk and Substitute Recipe video
I have also shared a detailed video of the Buttermilk Recipe and recipe for the Buttermilk Substitute below. And I hope it will help you to make a fresh drink for consuming or using it for baking recipes. And you could also find this recipe in a story format.
📖 Recipe
Buttermilk and Buttermilk Substitute Recipe
Ingredients
For Buttermilk
- 1 cup Whole Plain Yogurt
- 1 cup Water
For Buttermilk Substitute
- 2 cups Whole Milk
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice, or Vinegar
Instructions
To make Buttermilk
- In a blender jar, add 1 cup of whole milk plain yogurt and 1 cup of water
- Close the lid and blend the ingredients on high for 10 to 20 seconds on a blender
- Open the lid and pour the buttermilk into the serving glass. This is the fresh Buttermilk that can be enjoyed directly to quench your thirst or to use in your baking recipes
To make Buttermilk Substitute
- In a saucepan with medium heat, pour 2 cups of whole milk and allow it to warm up slightly. You can also heat the milk in a microwave for 1 minute
- Remove from heat and transfer it to a bowl. Add 2 tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar to the warm milk and give a good mix
- Close the bowl with a lid and rest it for 5 to 10 minutes
- Now open the lid and the milk should have curdled now. You may not see a drastic change in the texture of the milk but slight curdling. And the acidic nature works well for the recipes call for buttermilk
- Pour the acidified milk into a milk bottle and store it for future use. This buttermilk substitute is used in baking recipes when the fresh drink is not handy to you. The acidic property reacts with baking soda which helps to deliver soft, and fluffy baking goodies
To Serve
- Serve the fresh homemade Buttermilk as a drink to quench your thirst and the substitute to use in baking recipes
Video
Notes
- Fresh Buttermilk - The first recipe shows you how to make fresh homemade Buttermilk to enjoy as a drink. I have diluted the 1 cup of whole milk yogurt with 1 cup of water
- Buttermilk Substitute Ratio - Use 1 tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar for every 1 cup of warm milk
- Sour cream - You can also use 1½ tbsp of sour cream for 1 cup of warm milk to make a Buttermilk substitute with sour cream
- Vegan Buttermilk - You can also add 1 tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar for every 1 cup of soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, or any other vegan-friendly kind of milk
Nutrition
FAQ
It is a tangy and refreshing milk drink and is nothing but liquid left after churning butter from cultured or fermented cream. It is also one of the common drinks in India to refresh yourself in the hot summer. Traditionally, the milk cream is collected and allowed to ferment. Then the fermented milk cream is churned to make butter. The leftover liquid from the churning process is called Buttermilk
You can use it directly in recipes that call for it. Especially it is widely used in baking to make the goodies soft, fluffy, and airy.
You can add 1 tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar for every 1 cup of milk, soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or any other vegan-friendly kind of milk to use it as a substitute for Buttermilk.
Buttermilk shared here contains 75 calories per serving and the substitute contains 153 calories per serving. And it is an estimation by the nutrition calculator. The calorie count may change if you change or alter the ingredient. You can also find detailed nutritional information in the recipe card above.
I hope you enjoyed the recipe that I have shared here and I would love to hear from you on how it turned out for you. Please let me know.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Enjoy!
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