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    Home » Recipes » Salad Dressing Recipes

    Creme Fraiche and Chives Dressing

    Published: Aug 12, 2023 by The Devil Wears Salad

    Jump to Recipe

    This silky and lush creme fraiche salad dressing is packed with the creaminess of crème fraîche, refreshing tartness by lemon juice and brightness from herbaceous chive. Perfect for everything from hearty potato salads, leafy greens to roasted vegetables.

    Creme Fraiche and Chives Dressing in a jar this recipe
    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love Our Crème Fraiche Dressing with Chives
    • What is Crème Fraiche?
    • Crème Fraiche vs Sour Cream
    • Ingredients
    • Variations and Substitutions
    • Instructions
    • How to Make This Dressing Perfectly [Expert Tips] 
    • How to Store
    • Best Salad for This Dressing
    • Recipe

    Why You’ll Love Our Crème Fraiche Dressing with Chives

    This creme fraiche salad dressing recipe was created with potato salad in mind. Rather than using mayonnaise as a base, I chose crème fraîche instead.

    I do love a good classic potato salad but sometimes I find them a bit too heavy and rich. 

    With the slightly acidic taste, this herbed creme fraiche salad dressing helps cut through the starchy feel of potato salad but still gives it a creamy, lush finish. 

    Together with a dash of lemon juice and fresh chopped chives, the combination of this creamy dressing is delightfully light and herbaceous. 

    This creme fraiche recipe not only goes well with potato salad but would be delicious with roasted vegetables or drizzled over baked fish. 

    What is Crème Fraiche?

    Pronounced “krem fresh”, crème fraîche is a dairy product made by adding bacteria to cream and is essentially the French version of sour cream.

    Creme fraiche has a creamy texture and slightly tangy flavour. Because of the higher fat content, creme fraiche is often used in sauces and soups to add richness. It can be whipped into salad dressings and used in sweet pastries and cakes.

    I chose to use crème fraîche for this salad dressing as an alternative to heavier creams or mayonnaise.

    Crème Fraiche vs Sour Cream

    The difference between sour cream and crème fraîche is the higher fat content which makes crème fraîche more silky in consistency and won’t curdle or split as easily in higher temperatures.

    Sour cream has a more sour taste, whilst crème fraîche is more creamy and tart.

    You can substitute creme fraiche with sour cream if it is not readily available. 

    When substituting crème fraiche in recipes, bear in mind that the taste and consistency might vary slightly. It is always a good idea to do a small test before using the substitution in a larger dish.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients you’ll need to make this crème fraiche dressing with chives:

    Individually labelled ingredients for Creme Fraiche and Chives Dressing

    Creme fraiche: Silky smooth French-style sour cream that, when folded through a salad, just gives it a lovely creamy finish without the heaviness.

    Chives: A relative of onions, leeks, and garlic, chives subtly introduce a pungent flavour without dominating the entire dressing.

    Olive oil: Adding to the creaminess of the dressing and ensuring that it isn’t so thick so that it can be stirred through the salad.

    Lemon: The juice of the lemon will aid in bringing out the acidic flavours of the creme fraiche.

    Salt and pepper: Crack some fresh pepper and a pinch of good salt to taste.

    Variations and Substitutions

    Creme fraiche substitutions: Depending on your dietary requirements, here are some alternatives to creme fraiche for this salad dressing recipe: 

    • Sour cream is the closest substitute for creme fraiche in terms of taste and texture. It has a similar tanginess and creamy consistency. 
    • Greek yogurt can also be used as a substitute for creme fraiche. It has a thick and creamy texture with a tangy taste. Use plain, full-fat Greek yogurt for the best results. 
    • Buttermilk can be used as a creme fraiche substitute due to its tangy flavour. It is thinner than creme fraiche, so I would check the quantity and adjust it to achieve the desired thickness.
    • A plant-based sour cream is an option for a vegan salad dressing. 

    Alternative to chives: Mix up the herbs with parsley, dill or a combination of all three. Similar to our green goddess dressing and vegan ranch dressing, a good opportunity to use up any herbs you have left over. 

    Instructions

    Step by step instructions for how to make creme fraiche dressing with chives:

    Finely chop chives.

    Knife chopping chives on a wooden board

    Place crème fraîche, olive oil, lemon juice and chives in a small bowl. 

    Mix together until well combined. 

    Chives and creme fraiche in a silver mixing bowl
    Mixing Creme Fraiche and Chives Dressing in a mixing bowl with a small whisk

    Add salt and pepper to taste.

    How to Make This Dressing Perfectly [Expert Tips] 

    Mix well: make sure the creme fraiche is mixed well with the oil and lemon juice when serving. The fats will separate if you make it in advance, so give a good stir before tossing in salad or drizzling over food.

    Adjust consistency: depending on what you are serving this dressing with, you can adjust the consistency by adding less oil. If you prefer more richness, you can use half creme fraiche and half mayonnaise. 

    How to Store

    I would prefer to consume creme fraiche salad dressing on the day. If you do have any leftovers, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. 

    Creme fraiche dressing may separate over time due to the presence of fats. Give it a good shake before using it to blend the ingredients back together.

    Best Salad for This Dressing

    Potato Salad with Crème Fraîche [No Mayo, Gluten Free]

    Give your everyday potato salad something different with marinated artichoke hearts, crispy maple-glazed pancetta tossed together with a tangy crème fraîche salad dressing. This delicious, comforting potato salad is gluten free and has no mayo, perfect for entertaining the crowds.

    a grey bowl filled with potato salad, pancetta, artichoke and creme fraiche dressing. with a fork

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    A jar of Creme Fraiche and Chives Dressing with fresh lemons and chives on the side

    Recipe

    Lifting a serve of Creme Fraiche and Chives Dressing from a jar
    Print Recipe
    4.94 from 78 votes

    Creme Fraiche and Chives Dressing

    This silky and lush creme fraiche salad dressing is packed with the creaminess of crème fraîche, refreshing tartness by lemon juice and brightness from herbaceous chive. Perfect for everything from hearty potato salads, leafy greens to roasted vegetables.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Total Time5 minutes mins
    Course: Salad Dressing
    Cuisine: International
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Dietary: Gluten Free, Nut Free, Vegetarian
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 33kcal
    Author: Sammy Eng

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ tbsp creme fraiche
    • 4 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice
    • 2 tbsp chives, chopped
    • salt, to taste
    • pepper, to taste

    Click on the toggle below for conversion to US Cooking Units.

    Instructions

    • Place crème fraîche, olive oil, lemon juice and chives in a small bowl.
    • Mix together until well combined.
    • Add salt and pepper to taste.

    Notes

    • You can substitute crème fraîche with sour cream, Greek yoghurt or buttermilk if it is not available.
    • Substitute the chives with parsley, dill or mix a combination of all three.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 33kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 127mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 179IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 8mg

    *Disclaimer: Nutritional information provided is an estimate only and generated by an online calculator.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mama Maggie's Kitchen

      July 02, 2020 at 7:17 am

      5 stars
      This looks incredibly delicious. Yum!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        July 03, 2020 at 9:08 am

        It sure is! Give it a try some day.

        Reply
    2. Jar of Lemons

      July 01, 2020 at 12:07 am

      5 stars
      This is one of those recipes that is simple but doesn’t lack flavor. I need to add this into my rotation of recipes!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        July 03, 2020 at 9:07 am

        Exactly right! We love the texture it gives our salads.

        Reply
    3. Chef Dennis

      June 30, 2020 at 7:13 pm

      5 stars
      I am so loving this dressing! This Creme Fraiche and Chives Dressing looks really perfect for salads!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        July 03, 2020 at 9:06 am

        It really is and oh so creamy and velvety!

        Reply
    4. Christie Gagnon

      June 30, 2020 at 9:30 am

      5 stars
      Such a lovely combination of flavors!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        July 03, 2020 at 9:06 am

        Yup, finger lickin’ good!

        Reply
    5. Sue

      June 30, 2020 at 6:05 am

      5 stars
      Time to harvest my chives – love the combination with creme fraiche!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        July 03, 2020 at 9:06 am

        Thanks Sue! It’s a great salad dressing:)

        Reply
    6. Emily Flint

      June 29, 2020 at 1:41 pm

      5 stars
      This dressing sounds so delicious and easy to make, I can’t wait to try it with the chives in my garden!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        July 03, 2020 at 9:05 am

        Oh yes you should! Great way to use them up.

        Reply
    7. Sara Hilzendeger

      June 29, 2020 at 1:32 pm

      5 stars
      I LOVE creme frâiche! I’m going to have to try this.

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        July 03, 2020 at 9:05 am

        Me too! Super dooper creamy!

        Reply
    8. Alex

      June 29, 2020 at 10:39 am

      5 stars
      A delicious and simple to prepare dressing – wonderful with so many things!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        July 03, 2020 at 9:05 am

        Yes it is! Gives that lovely creamy finish.

        Reply
      • Kirsty

        February 13, 2023 at 9:00 pm

        I can’t wait to try this!
        How long does it keep for once made?

        Reply
        • The Devil Wears Salad

          February 15, 2023 at 6:08 pm

          Hi Kristy. I would say not more than 3 days after it is made:)

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