For most casual home cooks, buttermilk isn't an item they always have on hand. So, when the weekend morning calls for airy buttermilk pancakes, the only choice is to run out to the grocery store or else settle for a less-than-fluffy variety -- neither of which is ideal. But according to chef Pace Webb, these aren't your only options.
"Don't worry. You don't have to get out of your Sunday PJs to go to the store," she tells #OWNSHOW in the above video.
Instead, Webb suggests using a simple buttermilk substitute that everyone already has in the kitchen:
- 1 c. whole milk
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar
While it may not seem as appetizing, this mixture performs the exact same job as regular buttermilk.
"That is how buttermilk works: It reacts with the baking soda to make the crumb really nice and moist," Webb explains.
This buttermilk substitute works beautifully with pancakes and baked goods (like biscuits), but there's one particular food for which Webb still suggests sticking with the real thing.
"I wouldn't use this version of buttermilk for your salad dressings," she adds. "Happy carb-loading!"
Another useful pantry substitute: Make creamy soup without adding a drop of heavy cream -- Webb explains how here.
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