I’ve been trying out new ingredients in my kitchen the last couple of months. Trim Healthy Mama has been my lifestyle since May 25th 2013. I have had to learn to replace some of the ingredients I’ve been using all my life and learn to use new ones. The new one this time is Xanthan Gum. Say What? Sounds like a really weird chemical you read on the back of a label and are immediately thinking…”mmm, no thank you”! But, it’s not as weird as it sounds. It’s basically a good bacteria that is dried and ground up into the white looking powdery stuff. Do your own research and you will see it’s actually not bad stuff!
I really needed this xanthan gum to work for me because I was having trouble finding a replacement for the usual corn starch or flour to thicken my soups, gravies, custards, puddings, etc. So I gave it a whirl. I bought it at my local HEB. I thought it was expensive for such a small bag. Considering how cheap flour and corn starch are. But I went ahead and bought the Bob Mill’s Xanthan Gum. You can find it cheaper for sure but that’s what I bought. First thing I need to let you know is DO NOT USE TOO MUCH! Haha, a little xanthan gum goes a really long way. One to 2 teaspoons at the most can thicken a whole pot of soup. Shoot, it will thicken a cup of plain water to the texture of pudding. That’s a crazy awesome ingredient, right there.
How I use it: I cook up my batch of soup or gravy and season it to how I like it. Then I get about a teaspoon of the gum, sprinkle very gently while stirring or whisking consistently. It will thicken quickly. And it works way better if your liquid is hot. If you are worried about clumping, you can heat up a cup of water, whisk the gum into it, add the thickened water to your soup, gravy, etc. It does not have an after taste or a flavor so this will work well with any flavor.
I would be careful with it around kids and pets because of how quick it absorbs any liquid. This is probably now one of my favorite ingredients to use. Not only does it work way better than the corn starch or flour that I used in the past but it goes a long long way for the quantity. Definitely a keeper. Give it a try and see for yourself!!
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Your wгiting ѕtyle is witty, keep up the good work!
Thanks so much!
Whoa! Thіs blog looks just like my old one!It’s on a totally differeոt subject
but it has pretty much the same page layout and design.
Outstanding choiсe of colors!
Thank you!
Thanks for the review in the xanthan gum. I have it and would use it more often but the glucomannan is so strongly encouraged in Trim Healthy Mama that I’ve mostly used it. Do you think that they are interchangeable or is the Xantham gum so far superior that I should try it more often? Just wondering what you thought.. I love the good old Texas comfort food that you are offering on this blog and THM friendly no less! …. Please keep up the good work.
I think it IS interchangeable with glucomannan. But the gluc has more benefits for weight loss which is why it is encouraged in the Trim Healthy Mama book. I really do love the Xantham Gum though. I really use both. Gluc more for my smoothies & xantham gum as a thickener for soups, etc. Hope this helps some. 🙂
Word to the wise: Whatever you do, do not mix up xanthan gum with warm water and attempt to dispose of any leftover mixture by putting it down your drain. I strongly suggest scraping it into a disposable bag and placing it into the garbage.