Indulge in the rich flavors of Lithuanian cuisine with this savory delight: Lithuanian Sour Cream Sauce with Bacon. Also known as Lithuanian bacon sauce, this warm sour cream sauce is a staple in Lithuanian kitchens, traditionally served with potato dishes like Kugelis and Cepelinai. However, its versatility extends to pasta, pork chops, and more. Made with just a handful of everyday ingredients including smoked bacon, onions, and sour cream, this creamy sauce is sure to elevate any meal with its irresistible taste and creamy indulgence.
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What Is Lithuanian Sour Cream Sauce Served With?
This Lithuanian sauce is typically paired with traditional potato dishes, like Kugelis (Lithuanian Potato Pudding), Potato Zeppelins (Lithuanian National Dish), Bulviniai Blynai (Potato Pancakes) or Bulviu Kukuliai (Lithuanian Potato Dumplings). It is also often served with dough-based dishes, like Svilpikai or Eziukai (Lithuanian Flour Dumplings).Β
However, this Sour Cream Sauce is absolutely wonderful mixed with pasta, or as a sauce to pork chops or pork tenderloin. Super rich and creamy, with just a handful of ingredients it is a truly versatile warm sauce that I am sure you'll find lots of uses for!
Looking for a cold sauce? Try Farmer's Cheese Dip instead! It's great with Lithuanian Potato Pancakes (recipe coming soon).
Ingredients and Substitutes
βYou will need 5 simple everyday ingredients to make Lithuanian bacon and sour cream sauce.
- smoked bacon: use smoked bacon lardons or pancetta. Thinly slices of bacon will not work well in this Lithuanian sauce recipe.
- neutral oil: or unsalted butter or ghee. We typically use sunflower or vegetable (canola) oil.
- brown or white onions: finely chopped or thinly sliced. Onions can also be substituted with shallots.
- garlic: optional.
- sour cream: use full-fat sour cream or creme fraiche. Low-fat sour cream is likely to split.
Find the ingredient quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Method
βCut your bacon into small pieces (if you're using lardons or pancetta, cut them into cubes). Add them to a large non-stick frying pan and fry the bacon over medium heat for 6-8 minutes, until brown and crispy.
Using a slotted spoon, remove the crispy bacon onto a small plate, lined with paper towels. Keep any fat in the pan.
If your pan is dry (which may happen if you used very lean bacon), add some oil or butter and set it over medium-low heat.
Add the onions and salt, and saute for approximately 15 minutes, until the onions are very soft, but don't let them brown too much. If you're using garlic, add finely chopped garlic for the last couple of minutes of cooking.
When ready to serve, add the sour cream and bacon to the pan and stir over low heat until combined and warmed through. Loosen the sour cream sauce with 2-3 tablespoons of water, and leave the sauce to warm through. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed.
Spoon the sauce over your favourite Lithuanian potato dishes!
Storage & Reheating
You can make most of the components of this sauce ahead of time. Make the crispy bacon, and saute the onions up to 1 day ahead of time. Then assemble everything together just before serving.
βIf you have leftover sour cream sauce, let it cool to room temperature. Then spoon it into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
To reheat, place the sauce into the pan with a splash of water and warm it over low heat. Note though, that your bacon will no longer be crispy.
Tips For Best Results
This Lithuanian Sour Cream Sauce is very easy to make, but if it's your first time making it, read through our tips that may help you achieve better results:
- Buy a slab of smoked bacon, if you can. You can then cut it into small cubes. The second best alternative is Italian Pancetta.
- Make sure your sour cream or creme fraiche is no less than 30% fat to ensure a creamy sauce that won't split.
- Use more water to loosen the sauce further if you prefer a thinner sauce.
- Make sure your onion is very soft before adding sour cream.
- Reserve some of the crispy bacon to scatter on top of your dish for extra texture.
Other Lithuanian Recipes To Try
Fancy a Lithuanian feast? Try some popular Lithuanian food:
Warm Sour Cream Sauce With Bacon (Lithuanian Bacon Sauce)
Ingredients
- 100 g smoked bacon or Pancetta cut into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- 1 brown onion thinly sliced
- 1 garlic clove finely chopped (optional)
- ΒΌ teaspoon salt
- 150 g creme fraiche or sour cream full-fat
- a pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Cut your bacon into small pieces (if you're using lardons or pancetta, cut them into cubes). Add them to a large non-stick frying pan and fry the bacon over medium heat for 6-8 minutes, until brown and crispy.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the crispy bacon onto a small plate, lined with paper towels. Keep any fat in the pan.
- If your pan is dry (which may happen if you used very lean bacon), add some oil or butter and set it over medium-low heat.
- Add the onions and salt, and saute for approximately 15 minutes, until the onions are very soft, but don't let them brown too much. If you're using garlic, add finely chopped garlic for the last couple of minutes of cooking.
- When ready to serve, add the sour cream and bacon to the pan and stir over low heat until combined and warmed through. Loosen the sour cream sauce with 2-3 tablespoons of water, and leave the sauce to warm through. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed.
- Spoon the sauce over your favourite Lithuanian potato dishes!
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