Got buttermilk?

ByMelissa Pellegrino

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Yesterday we worked on a recipe for salad dressing which called for Bulgarian buttermilk. None of us had heard of it before, so we sent out our test kitchen assistant in hopes that she’d return with a pint or two. No such luck. This piqued my curiosity even more, and after a few moments on Google, I found theCalifornia milk advisory board, where I found a rundown of the differences between regular buttermilk and Bulgarian. Apparently, Bulgarian-style is thicker and tangier. Bulgarian buttermilk is to regular buttermilk as Greek yogurt is to regular yogurt.

It was actually not so surprising that this info came from California: the recipe’s author also hails from California. So I’m curious—is this something that all you Californians see on a daily basis? Can you pick it up in your supermarket? And, more importantly, has anyone outside of California heard of, tasted or bought Bulgarian buttermilk, and if so, can you recommend where to get it in our neck of the woods (Connecticut)?

Comments

cacolvin | 11/21/2017

I didn't know I bought Bulgarian Buttermilk until I was pouring for my buttermilk pie. Is it going to change the taste? Don't want any surprises over Thanksgiving. I think I'll make a second pie with regular buttermilk in case.
JudyMaloney | 11/04/2015

I have lived in Fort Worth, Texas for 8 years and am from Louisiana. I've drank buttermilk all my life. Specifically buttermilk poured over crumbled cornbread in a bowl. It's one of my favorite foods and I eat it too often. I discovered Bulgarian Buttermilk probably 10-15 years ago and now it's all I drink. Brookshires Grocery carries a Low Fat Buttermilk that is usually as good as any Bulgarian, but half the calories. This is important when you have as much as I do. Recently my Bulgarian and Brookshires brand low fat milk are watery instead of thick. I don't know why and am really upset about it. I'm trying to figure out how to thicken these when I buy them and find that they are watery. If anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate the info.