What is Fresh Cream? glossary, uses in India, recipes

Fresh cream in the Indian context typically refers to a dairy product that's richer than milk but less thick than butter or ghee. It's essentially the fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before it's homogenized. Unlike heavy cream in Western countries, which often has a very high fat content (35% or more), the fresh cream commonly available in India, particularly brands like Amul Fresh Cream, usually has a lower milk fat percentage, around 25%. This distinction is crucial as it affects its whipping ability and culinary applications, making it versatile for both sweet and savory dishes without being overly heavy.

Fresh cream is extensively used across various Indian cuisines, playing a vital role in adding richness and a creamy texture to a multitude of dishes. In North Indian cooking, it's a staple for enriching gravies in popular dishes like Butter Chicken, Paneer Makhani, or Malai Kofta, giving them a luscious, velvety finish. It's also incorporated into many desserts, from traditional Kheer and Phirni to more modern fruit creams and trifles, providing a delicate sweetness and smoothness. Its mild flavor ensures it doesn't overpower other ingredients but rather enhances them.

Beyond gravies and desserts, fresh cream finds its way into other Indian culinary applications. It's often used to make creamy vegetable preparations or soups, offering a subtle richness without being too heavy. In some regions, it can be a part of traditional bread accompaniments or dips, providing a smooth base. While not as common for direct consumption as yogurt, it can be a delightful addition to fruit salads or a simple dollop on top of hot beverages like coffee or hot chocolate, especially for those seeking a richer texture.

One of the significant advantages of fresh cream in India is its versatility in texture. While it might not whip into stiff peaks as easily as higher-fat heavy cream (which often requires specific chilling conditions and techniques, as seen in the Amul Fresh Cream whipped cream recipe), it can still be gently whipped to a soft consistency. This makes it suitable for lighter toppings or for adding airiness to desserts without making them overly dense. Its lower fat content compared to some Western counterparts also makes it a preferred choice for daily cooking where a touch of creaminess is desired without excessive richness.

Fresh cream's widespread availability, particularly in convenient tetra packs, and its adaptable nature have cemented its place in Indian kitchens. It bridges the gap between traditional dairy products and Western culinary influences, allowing for the creation of a wide range of dishes that are both authentic in flavor and appealing in texture. Its balance of fat and creaminess makes it an indispensable ingredient for adding a touch of indulgence to everyday meals and special occasions alike.

How to Select Fresh Cream

• Puffy and leaking boxes of cream are best avoided.

• Cream in a tetra pack or box, is not exactly fresh, but thats the closest equivalent to fresh cream.

9 Uses of Fresh Cream in Indian cooking 

1. Fresh cream is obtained by skimming the top layer of milk. It is super rich and enhances the flavor of all the things it is added to.

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2. Adding cream to coffee makes it taste better, giving it a luscious taste. Not only is it added to hot coffee, but is also added to cold coffee preparations.

3. In India, it is used in various types of dishes. Adding it to subzis like Methi Matar Malai provides a rich and mouth feel and thicker gravy that is more enjoyable to eat. It also settles the flavor down a little bit if any spice or chili is overpowering the food. Similarly it is used in rice preparations like Kofta biryani and thick dals to make them creamier.

4. Fresh cream is used in soups to make them creamier in taste, the most famous soups being Cream of Tomato and Cream of Broccoli soup.

5. Sour Cream, which is an essential for Mexican cuisine, is also made from fresh cream.

6. Since it is so rich and creamy, it is an important ingredient to make Ice Cream. Because of fresh cream, the ice creams turn out perfect even without an ice cream maker and doesn’t form any ice crystals on cooling.

7. Different types of desserts that require some velvety texture to them, all use fresh cream as an ingredient. It is especially important in making Panna Cotta, a lush and pillowy dessert.

8. Italian Food uses cream as one of their main ingredients. Fetuccine Alfredo, or for that matter, any white sauce pasta, has fresh cream in it to get an even consistency which is rich, flowy and coats the pasta well.

9. Fruit salads taste exceptionally delicious drizzled with fresh cream.

How to Store Fresh Cream

• Before opening, store the cream in a cool and dry place for up to 120 days from packaging. It does not require any refrigeration. But once opened, store in a refrigerator and use within 4 days.

Health Benefits of Fresh Cream

1 tbsp of Amul fresh cream (15 gm) provides around 37 calories, out of which 34 calories are from fat (22 calories result from saturated fat), 2 calories from carbs and 1 calorie from protein. Till late, saturated fat was always looked upon as that evil fat which would lead to high cholesterol levels and strokes. Offhand, studies have revealed no such association. In fact, fats will keep you full for a long time and avoid bingeing and weight gain. However, the proportion of cream and the way you use them in cooking is of great importance to maintain your waistline. You can add about a tsp of fresh cream once in a while to your meals, especially coffee, to enhance the taste. Moreover, the use of cream cuts down on bitterness of the coffee, so you won’t add any sugar to your coffee. Addition of sugar will anyways cause more harm to your body. But, try not to add fresh cream in bulk frequently. Also remember that with any kind of diet to stay fit and healthy, you need to follow a good exercise plan on a daily basis.