The histamine content of cream: What you should know
Cream is a versatile and popular ingredient used for many dishes. Whether in sweet desserts or creamy sauces – cream adds a wonderful creaminess and rich flavor to many meals. In the following blog article, we will look at the various types of cream, their use in a low-histamine diet, and some delicious recipes where cream takes center stage.
These are the different types of cream
- Heavy cream: Also known as whipping cream, it is arguably the most well-known and frequently used type. It has a fat content of at least 30% and can be whipped until stiff. This makes it an excellent topping for desserts such as cakes, ice cream, or fruit.
- Crème fraîche: This is a thickened cream with a fat content of about 30-40%. It has a slightly creamy taste and a creamy consistency. Crème fraîche is generally used to refine sauces, soups, or dips. It is also a popular ingredient in savory dishes like casseroles or potato gratin.
- Sour cream: It is a thick cream with a fat content of about 20-30%. The difference from crème fraîche lies primarily in its acidic taste. Sour cream is often used in savory recipes such as Mexican dishes, soups, or salad dressings. Its acidic flavor provides a fresh note in many dishes.
- Schmand: It is a sour variant of heavy cream with a fat content of approx. 20%. It has a thick consistency and a creamy taste with a slight acidic note. It is mainly used in German cuisine for dips, sauces, or cake fillings.
- Vegan alternatives: For people affected by lactose intolerance or who prefer a vegan diet, there is now a multitude of vegan alternatives. Among the best-known alternatives that are also suitable for a low-histamine diet are oat cream (1), almond-based cream (1), or coconut-based cream. These plant-based alternatives are excellent for cooking, baking, or as a topping for desserts. Oat cream and almond-based cream are declared with a 1 on the SIGHI list, so tolerance should ideally be tested individually when following a low-histamine diet.
Cream and histamine: All you need to know about tolerance
Cream is suitable for the following dietary requirements:
- low-histamine diet
- low-fructose diet
- gluten-free diet
- low-salicylate diet
- low-sorbitol diet
- low-nickel diet
- lactose-free diet
For a lactose-free diet, as mentioned above, it is advisable to use a vegan alternative.
Cream and its use in low-histamine cooking
Cream is extremely versatile in the kitchen and offers many advantages. It can give a sauce or soup a creamy texture and make it smoother. Additionally, cream can serve as a binding agent for baked goods to provide them with more moisture. Adding cream to a pan of vegetables or pasta increases the complexity of the flavor and gives the dish a luxurious touch. Furthermore, cream is an ideal base for homemade ice cream, as it results in a rich and creamy consistency.
Cream is excellent for giving sauces a particularly creamy consistency. As a suitable base, we recommend our Organic Vegetable Sauce – a tomato-free alternative for pasta, casseroles, or other Mediterranean dishes. Combined with cream or a plant-based cream alternative, you can create a creamy sauce in no time that is suitable for a low-histamine, gluten-free, and lactose-free diet.
Lieferzeit: 2-3 Tage
Comparison with other dairy products
p> In the world of dairy products, there is a variety of options used in recipes and as standalone foods. In addition to cream, there are other dairy products like milk, yogurt, and quark. While cream represents a luxurious element in recipes due to its high fat content and ability to be whipped stiff, milk is a versatile all-rounder with a mild flavor. Yogurt and quark offer a healthier alternative to cream and milk, with probiotic benefits and a creamy consistency.Practical tips for handling cream in a low-histamine daily life
Shopping: If you value sustainability and animal welfare, it is recommended to buy cream in organic quality. By the way, quality in cream is not a matter of price. Whether from a discounter or a high-quality brand, the contents are always the same for both fresh and long-life cream. As mentioned above, it is also sensible for a low-histamine diet to look for a long shelf life, as the histamine content in these products is the lowest. Furthermore, you should ensure when buying cream that no incompatible additives like sodium citrate, potassium citrate, or calcium citrate are included.
Storage: Like all dairy products, cream likes it cool and therefore belongs in the refrigerator. After opening, the cream should be used up as quickly as possible, as the histamine content rises quickly in opened cream.
Delicious low-histamine recipes with cream
Below we have put together three delicious recipes for you with cream as an ingredient.
No bake cheesecake
The recipe is: low-histamine, gluten-free
You will need the following ingredients for a 22cm cake tin:
Cookie dough:
- 250g gluten-free oat cookies (1)
- 150g butter
- 250g white chocolate (1)
- 500g double cream soft cheese
- 120g powdered sugar
- 350ml cream
- 200g white chocolate (1)
- 150ml cream
Vegan potato and cabbage casserole
The recipe is: low-histamine, lactose-free, vegan
You will need the following ingredients for 1 portion:
- 400g Savoy cabbage (1), pointed cabbage, or white cabbage
- 500g potatoes
- 1 onion (1)
- 40ml frying olive oil
- 40g spelt flour
- 200ml oat cream (1)
- 200ml HistaFood Organic Vegetable Broth
- 20g vegan grated cheese
- Salt
Sheet pan apple cake
The recipe is: low-histamine, vegetarian
You will need the following ingredients for 1 small baking sheet (approx. 40x36cm)
- 1kg apples
- 187g spelt flour
- 1/2 packet cream of tartar baking powder
- 50g butter
- 2 tbsp milk
- 200g heavy cream
- 125g coconut blossom sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/2 packet vanilla sugar
- 75g slivered almonds (1)
- Butter for the baking sheet
Are you looking for more low-histamine products for your daily life? Then our HistaStarter-Set might be just the thing for you. It contains a selection of our most popular organic foods and supports you in preparing varied and delicious meals for a low-histamine diet – ideal for trying out or as an introduction to a low-histamine daily life.
Lieferzeit: 2-3 Tage
Sources:
- Dairy Products & Heavy Cream
- Das große Lexikon der Lebensmittel, Südwest Verlag GmbH, 1998
