--- airs weeknights on SBS at 6pm and Food at 7pm, or stream it free any time on . Catch Adam Liaw's buttermilk fried chicken sandwich in the country music episode. ---
is one of those often-overlooked ingredients. It tends to be tucked up the back of the dairy cabinet, hiding somewhere between the lactose-free milk and the Yakult. You never even notice it until you get the urge to try buttermilk pancakes and suddenly the hunt is on.
Pancakes are fabulous, of course, but buttermilk is good for so much more. Many people shy away from it simply because the word 'butter' tends to do that to people. Not us, but people.
The irony is that buttermilk was once what was left after the fat was churned from . The thin liquid was full of cultures that developed naturally when the cream was left at room temperature to improve the butter's flavour. Traditional buttermilk is rarely commercially available in Australia but is still common in other parts of the world.
Have a go at making your own
Butter and buttermilk
The modern buttermilk we use today is still a fermented dairy product. It's made from water, lactose and casein, with added lactic-acid-producing bacteria cultures. Lactic acid is what gives buttermilk its slightly sour taste, which is a result of the bacteria fermenting lactose, the primary sugar in milk.
Not only is , but buttermilk also packs in plenty of calcium and B vitamins. This is all very positive, but the main reason you'll want to find buttermilk is that it stars in so many brilliant recipes.
So, by all means, make the pancakes, but be sure to use up any leftover buttermilk trying other recipes. Guaranteed you'll be adding this versatile staple to your weekly shopping list in no time.
Add this to your list of best-ever breakfast recipes. Source: Petrina Tinslay
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This version of aebleskiver keeps things simple with cinnamon and a dusting of sugar. Source: Chris Chen
A full-on cake like this relies on BM to stay on the light side. Source: Alan Benson
Buttermilk adds a little fluff to spicy, dense Jamaican ginger cake. Source: Brett Stevens
This addictive American Southern-style carrot cake features the works. Source: Poh & Co.
Buttermilk keeps things moist, which is exactly what you want in your cake. Source: Beth Kirby
This is a rich, decadent cake that you would be wise to only make every now and then (if you can possibly resist). Source: Alan Benson
Thanks to BM, chess pie is sweet, but not sickeningly so. Source: Mark Roper
Put the soft into a soft pretzel. Source: Feast magazine / Chris Chen
Marinade your onions in buttermilk to tender effect. Source: Mark Roper
Adam Liaw's buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. Source: Adam Liaw
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Martha Stewart’s fried chicken
Hush puppies, a fried dumpling made from cornmeal, are a must-try Carolina specialty. Source: Mark Roper
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Oyster po' boys
Three types of flour, a little salt and buttermilk make a very tasty bread. Source: Adam Liaw
Added jalapeño plays to cornbread's spicy side. Source: Savannah van der Niet
There’s nothing quite like a good banana muffin. Source: Danielle Abou Karam
Jam duffins are doughnuts made with the ease of a muffin. Source: Chris Middleton
Ironically, perfect when slathered in a ton of butter. Source: SBS VICELAND / It's Suppertime
Butter(milk) us up
Tomato cobbler with buttermilk biscuits
