Chestnut Cheesecake From 'Feast'.

Asked by Genga. Answered on 7th July 2012

Full question

I would like to make the Chestnut Cheesecake from Nigella's 'FEAST' book. However I am struggling to find sour cream here in Greece. I am hoping you could suggest an alternative ingredient. I know I can source Creme Fraiche 30% fat or 15% fat, greek yogurt, buttermilk, mascapone, ricotta etc, would any of these be a suitable subsitute? Many thanks in advance, Gemma

Our answer

When making a substitution for dairy products it is often best to consider the fat content of the ingredients. Sour cream usually has a fat content of 18-20%. Creme fraiche is usually the best alternative. Many versions of creme frache have a fat content of 24% but if yours comes in 2 versions we would err on the side of using the one with the higher fat content as reduced fat versions of some dairy products can contain stabilizers which can affect the recipe.

Mascarpone has a fairly high fat content and although it could be used, we would only suggest this as a last resort. Ricotta has a low fat content and a grainy texture so is not a good alternative. Greek yogurt can be used in some cakes as an alternative to sour cream, but for a cheesecake we would rather use one of the others mentioned above.