Anyone try a Mexican Crema recipe before?

[lestblight]

I was using this Rick Bayless crema recipe..

http://www.foodpeoplewant.com/crema-m...

I tried once before but didnt have enough tme to let it develop so flavors were under developed.

I am going to try again and going to give it more time.. this time.

Any pointers or suggestions?

One thing i noticed was that the Tang was not the same as the bottled crema...

Didnt have the same flavor... Maybe just needs some acid?

[blue room]

Stirring buttermilk into cream is how crème fraîche is made at home (by me, anyway). I suspect your finished product will depend very much on the cream you use and what you stir into it--he gives you a choice of buttermilk, yogurt, sour cream, or even crème fraîche--and *then* he adds lime, cumin, etc.

Not a very satisfying answer, I know, but a 2 ingredient recipe will depend a lot on the nature/quality of those 2 things. Both the cream and the culture will vary from what you'd find in Mexico, or even the next county/dairy over?

Here's a link to my first adventure with making the stuff:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/795820

Several opinions there.

[lestblight]

my second attempt was much better.. i used more buttermilk and i got a tangier cream.. also gave it more time to develop.

My only issue was this.. I want it to be thicker .. i was adding chipolte to this and after folding and mixing it..it just became very runny and soupy.

I looked on the jar and saw that the bottled mexican cream has a few different gums in it to give it a thickness.

My question is.. what kind of gums are suggested for cream? and how do i apply it? Just stir it in the cream before letting it sit? do i need to warm it before?

Thank You so much!

[lestblight]

did some research and found locust bean gum/carob bean gum and gaur gum to be the main thickeners.

any idea on how to incorporate? add it cold? how much per quart of fluid?

thanks.

[blue room]

lestblight, I've never used a thickener like that, but Bob's Red Mill sells guar gum, with instructions on how to use it on the back of the package -- here's a link--
http://www.bobsredmill.com/guar-gum.html

[lestblight]

thanks.. i have picked up some gaur gum and locust bean gum.. going to experiment in small doses to get the thickness i want

thanks.

[CocoaNut]

What was your result? If using heat on your final sauce, it's my understanding those gums will make the sauce "break".

[lestblight]

anyone?

[janeh]

I haven't even thought about making crema, but will give it a try - thanks for the link! Good luck with batch #2.