Jar of fresh greek yogurt
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Sour cream is a common ingredient in baked dishes, dressings and dips, but its high fat content has scared many away from using it. Those who want to reduce the amount of fat in their diets need not give up their favorite creamy recipes; instead, a substitution for sour cream can be used. Yogurt is an effective substitute for sour cream, but you need to be careful when doing so.

Examine the recipe and note the amount of sour cream required. Also make a note of whether the dish will be cooked or prepared and served cold.

Replace an equal amount of yogurt for the sour cream in your recipe for heated applications,and be sure to use full-fat yogurt rather than fat-free. (See Reference) You should also add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the yogurt before adding it to the recipe.

Combine a mixture of sour cream and yogurt in equal parts to replace the total amount of sour cream in a cold dish or a dip. For instance, if the recipe requires 1 cup of sour cream, use instead 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup yogurt blended together. This will help you to achieve the desired tang and consistency of the original dish.

Proceed to prepare the recipe as directed.