The Ingredient Swap For Heavy Cream That'll Add A Tangy Bite To Pasta
For pasta lovers, the fun is never-ending. There are always more pasta recipes to try out for a twist that shakes up familiar flavors. Sometimes, all it takes is an ingredient swap to instantly elevate your dish. In creamy pasta, where heavy cream is often used to create that classic richness, Greek yogurt is the ideal alternative. With a lower fat content than heavy cream but more protein and probiotics, it improves the nutritional value of your dish without compromising the taste and the other originally beloved qualities.
One of Greek yogurt's defining features is its distinctively sour taste that's a notch bolder than regular yogurt. Standing in heavy cream's place, it still gives your pasta dish a rich, creamy base with a special tangy edge. This soft tang lingers in the undertone and through each forkful, building up into a delightful kick. As minimal of a change as it may seem, it gives your creamy pasta a memorable depth that helps the dish stand out like no other.
Despite the changes in flavors, rest assured that with this ingredient swap, your sauce will still have that luscious texture that makes cream-based pasta so enticing. Since Greek yogurt is strained of water, it has a very creamy, velvety consistency that's perfect for thickening up the sauce. It won't be identical to that of heavy cream, of course, but it will be just as or more enjoyable.
Read more: 26 Types Of Pasta Sauce Explained
A Change You Can Make To Any Creamy Pasta Dish
Greek yogurt is thicker than heavy cream, so you may need to mix in some milk to thin out the texture when using it as a substitute in pasta dishes. Generally speaking, it can be replaced by substituting 1 cup of heavy cream with ½ cup of Greek yogurt and ½ cup of milk. That said, you can still use Greek yogurt on its own, which would require around 1½ cups for a four-person serving. As for the variety, both full-fat and non-fat Greek yogurt would work depending on how bold and creamy you want the taste to be. Above all, try to opt for the plain variety because anything sweetened may distort the overall flavors.
You may be wondering exactly which cream pasta this switch would work on. Well, it could be anything you want. For starters, a regular Greek yogurt pasta laced with lemon zest, herbs, and cheese is always an option. You'll also find it to be quite refreshing and captivating in a classic Alfredo. Even sauces that don't typically require creaminess, such as bright and fresh pesto or marinara, could do with half a cup of Greek yogurt. If you have time, caramelize onions for a uniquely sophisticated main course.
Read the original article on Tasting Table
