Boost The Flavor (And Protein) Of Baked Potatoes With One Icelandic Topping — It's Better Than Sour Cream

The baked potato is among the most beloved ways to enjoy the humble spud. The fluffy interior serves as a blank canvas for tasty toppings, such as sour cream, which is a classic go-to. But you can actually swap the sour cream for another dairy topping that has a stronger flavor and even more protein — Icelandic skyr.

Though largely counted among the types of yogurt in the United States, skyr is actually a form of fresh cheese. Even so, it's very low in fat because it's made with skim milk. It only has about 1 gram of fat per 100 grams, whereas sour cream has 18 grams. Skyr makes up for its lack of fat with its protein content, packing around 11 grams of protein per 100 grams, compared to sour cream's meager 3 grams.

Substituting skyr for sour cream can be done in a one-to-one ratio, but note that skyr has a more dominant tangy flavor that's closer in profile to yogurt. It's sharper, fresher, and significantly less "buttery" than sour cream, which not only makes it a fantastic balancing topping for the starchy baked potato but also a nice vessel for any additional ingredients you might want to add.

Something you'll instantly notice as you scoop skyr out of its cup is how different the texture is from sour cream. Once again, this is due to its lack of fat and higher protein content. Skyr is firmer and more compact than full-fat sour cream. 

To give skyr a fluffier texture, there are a few options. First, you could simply pair it with some lemon juice, which will also elevate the tang. You can mix it by hand or in a blender, which is particularly handy if you want to add other flavorful ingredients (like fresh herbs) but want to keep a uniform texture. Another way of loosening up skyr's texture is to whip it together with some butter.

As mentioned, skyr is pretty versatile when it comes to being a good match for other creative baked potato toppings. It's a nice vessel for all the usual suspects, such as fresh chives, cheese, and scallions. It does an especially great job of cutting the saltiness of bacon bits (and other meaty toppings) and balancing the robust notes of chili or baked beans. Despite its tang, skyr can also be sweetened, either with honey or another liquid sweetener. Sweetened skyr makes a great companion to air fryer baked sweet potatoes whenever you're going for dessert-style baked spuds.