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Smetana

Eastern European soured cream used in soups and sauces.

Smetana — illustrative ingredient image

About Smetana

Smetana is an Eastern European cultured sour cream used as a dairy ingredient and table condiment. It is stirred into soups, sauces, vegetable dishes, dumplings, and baked preparations, where it contributes richness and a clean dairy acidity. The term can cover products with different formulations across countries and producers.

Its flavour is tangy, mildly buttery, and fermented, with a creamy mouthfeel. Thickness ranges from pourable to spoonable, depending on fat level and culturing. It is usually less sharp than yoghurt and richer than many ordinary sour creams, although the balance changes with processing and local style.

Smetana is generally a smooth, white to pale cream product sold in tubs, cartons, or other chilled containers. It may be served cold or folded into hot food. Gentle incorporation helps retain a smooth texture; boiling can cause cultured cream to split, so it is often added near the end of cooking or tempered first.

Ingredient type
derived ingredient

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Where smetana appears

0 linked foods

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Food connections are still being added.

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Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for smetana

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Smetana

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Smetana nutrition & diet

Smetana nutritional value

Reference: SOUR CREAM, 40% FAT

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
389.9kcal
Protein
2.1g
Carbs
2.2g
Fat
42.0g

Official national food-composition reference. The displayed food form is part of the estimate; cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

Match the reference to the specific smetana style, fermentation level, fat formulation, and serving state. Use the portion as eaten, whether spooned plain, stirred into soup, or incorporated into a sauce. Brand formulation and added thickeners or sweeteners can change the ingredient profile.

Compare the right form: Match branded smetana by fat formulation, cultured state, plain or flavored recipe, and whether measured alone or incorporated into soup or sauce.

Diet considerations

Smetana is a cultured dairy product from animal milk. Plain versions differ from products with thickeners, sweeteners, flavorings, or other dairy ingredients. Compatibility changes when it is added to soups, sauces, doughs, or meat dishes; accompanying cereal ingredients and portion size can alter the dish’s carbohydrate pattern. Brand details should be checked.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Not established
  • Vegetarian
    Not established
  • Pescatarian
    Not established
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    Not established
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Vegetarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Pescatarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · Not established
The ingredient form and processing have not been assessed against this dietary pattern.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Fineli Finnish Food Composition Database, release 20.0 — 630 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .