What is rūgpienis and how is it made?
Rugpienis (rūgpienis) means sour milk in Lithuanian. It is a thick, sweet and slightly sour fermented milk, made by letting milk sour naturally at room temperature or, industrially, by adding lactic acid bacteria. Lithuanians eat it as a snack, at breakfast and especially in cooking, where it is used much like sour cream, for example with mashed potatoes and fish.
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In this article
What is rūgpienis?
Rūgpienis is the Lithuanian word for sour milk. It has a thick consistency and a taste that is both sweet and slightly sour, with no air bubbles. It is a fermented milk and a regular food in Lithuania.
How is rūgpienis made?
Lactic acid streptococci ferment the milk, changing its taste and texture. At home, milk can ferment naturally if left at room temperature. Industrial producers add bacterial cultures to speed this up. If you try this at home, use clean containers and fresh milk, and discard any batch that smells rotten or shows mold. Soured pasteurized milk from the fridge is not the same thing and should be judged cautiously.
How is it used?
- As a snack or breakfast food on its own.
- With mashed potatoes, bread and fish dishes.
- As a cooking ingredient used much like sour cream in other parts of the world.
- In batters and pancakes in place of buttermilk. This swap is our general suggestion, not from the source.
Rūgpienis vs similar products
| Product | Short description |
|---|---|
| Rūgpienis | Lithuanian sour milk, thick, sweet and slightly sour |
| Kefir | A separate drinkable ferment made with kefir grains |
| Buttermilk | Thinner; the liquid left from churning or a cultured drink |
| Yogurt | Made with specific cultures at warmer temperatures |
Buying and storage
Outside Lithuania, try Baltic or Eastern European shops. Keep it cold and follow the date on the pack.
Substitutes
Plain buttermilk, sour milk or thin plain yogurt are the nearest everyday swaps when you cannot find it. Sour cream is a good swap in cooking, though richer.
People also ask
What does rūgpienis mean?
Sour milk in Lithuanian.
Is rūgpienis the same as kefir?
No. Kefir is a separate drink made with kefir grains. Rūgpienis is soured milk made by lactic acid bacteria.
What do Lithuanians eat rūgpienis with?
Mashed potatoes, bread and fish dishes, or on its own, and it is used much like sour cream in cooking.
Sources
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