Last Updated on December 31, 2022 by Shari Mason
Sour cream is essential to any Chipotle meal, whether you’re a taco fan or a burrito lover.
But a store-bought sour cream isn’t the same if you want to imitate the unique taste of this Mexican restaurant favorite at home.
So what kind of sour cream does Chipotle use? If you really want to know Chipotle’s sour cream secret, read on.
What Sour Cream Does Chipotle Use?
The sour cream that Chipotle uses is the Daisy Brand Sour Cream.
If bought in store and you used it at home, the sour cream is thicker and not that spreadable than at Chipotle. In restaurants, the sour cream is thinned to recreate the Mexican crema.
But Chipotle doesn’t use any flavorings, seasonings, or sugar. Chipotle thins their sour cream to make it spreadable for use in tacos and burritos.
Just a quick overview, Daisy Brand Sour Cream is a well-known sour cream brand in the US. And anyone who likes the kind of sour cream at Chipotle can get this simple and tasty ingredient.
However, some of the other ingredients might be hard to find, like the flour tortillas, which are made just for Chipotle.
What Is In Daisy Brand Sour Cream?
Daisy Brand Sour Cream comprises skim milk, cultured cream, and Vit A palmitate. These healthy and simple ingredients perfectly complement Chipotle’s mission to deliver high-quality, healthy food.
Chipotle uses Daisy brand sour cream, so the ingredients are easily accessible. Daisy takes pride in being preservative-free. That’s why they have a very short number of ingredients.
However, we can’t know for sure what is in their recipe, but we can assume that they make the sour cream mixture by mixing chipotle, salt, sour cream, garlic, and lime juice.
What Makes Chipotle Sour Cream Different?
The kind of sour cream Chipotle uses is much thinner compared to most brands of sour creams, which is why most people wouldn’t think Chipotle uses Daisy brand sour cream.
Chipotle Mexican grill likes its own sour cream thinner because it tastes more like Mexican crema. When it is thinner, they can use it more easily and in smaller amounts because you don’t need that much.
Overall, Chipotle restaurants successfully stand out from the crowd because of their thin sour cream, making them unique from other food establishments. Also, this distinctiveness provides a more authentic feel to the customers.
Is It Healthy?
Not entirely. Despite its health benefits, Chipotle sour cream is not a healthy food due to how much fat and calories it contains. But as long as it’s part of your well-rounded diet, it’s fine to consume occasionally.
Sour cream is made through the fermentation process of milk and cream containing lactic acid bacteria.
Chipotle sour cream gets its distinctive tangy flavor from fermentation. It is high in Vitamin A, phosphorus, and calcium. Besides, it has active and live cultures, aiding for a healthy digestive system.
Chipotle’s sour cream, on the other hand, is high in calories and fat. Sour cream has around 50 calories plus 5g of fat per tablespoon (15 mL), as per the nutrition facts.
Why Is Chipotle Sour Cream Runny?
Chipotle thins down the sour cream on purpose to look more like the Mexican crema recipe.
This also makes it easier for them to drizzle and mix it into food, like burgers, tacos, and even steak, giving a tangy, creamy bite throughout your meal.
Chipotle’s sour cream is runny because they add milk until the right thickness is reached.
If you like Chipotle’s sour cream, you can prepare it at home with the same stuff or dairy product (Daisy sour cream and milk).
This has the same effect –and since it’s the same brand, it will deliver the same taste. But you can use other ingredients according to your liking to enhance the flavors.
What Does It Taste Like?
Chipotle sour cream tastes sour and spicy with the flavors of garlic. But, if you want it to taste authentic, thin it out with a little milk.
If you’ve tried the Mexican crema, the taste is almost the same (which is the inspiration of Chipotle).
The flavor of the Chipotle sour cream goes well with all kinds of Mexican food and other foods as well. This would be a great cream dressing for a salad or a tasty addition to a veggie wrap.
Make-Your-Own Chipotle Sour Cream
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- One lime juice
- One clove of minced garlic
- One Chipotle pepper
- Pepper and salt
- ½ cup of mayonnaise
- ½ cup of Daisy sour cream
Instructions:
- In your food processor, combine all the ingredients and blend until you get a smooth consistency.
- Taste the liquid mixture and add seasonings if needed.
- In your serving pan, serve it with your favorite Mexican food.
FAQs
How much sour cream does Chipotle use?
The amount of sour cream that Chipotle use per serving is approximately 2 ounces. But when you subtract the cup, it is around 2.3 ounces. If you ask about the cheese, it is around 1 ounce.
Does Chipotle sour cream contain sugar?
Yes, Chipotle sour cream contains 2g of sugar, based on its nutrition facts [1] per serving. It also contains 30mg sodium and 2g carbohydrates, with no dietary fibers present.
Summary
Now you know what kind of sour cream Chipotle restaurants use, it may be easier for you to imitate their sour cream at home.
You can head over to the grocery store near you and grab the Daisy brand sour cream to make your own sour cream to accompany your favorite Mexican foods.
Just one simple tip – to get the consistency of Chipotle’s sour cream, beat the sour cream in the bag or dilute it with water or another dairy product [2], like cheese.
References:
- https://www.fda.gov/food/new-nutrition-facts-label/how-understand-and-use-nutrition-facts-label
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/dairy-product
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