Shared by DeniseM
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I bet you’re wondering why I have a photo of French Fries when talking about Xanthan Gum. Believe it or not, it’s a key ingredient in making these Keto fries! I remember making them, and my hands were very slimy, and I was VERY skeptical about the whole recipe, but this recipe was unbelievable, and I owe it to the xanthan gum! Thank you, xanthan gum, for giving us some Keto French Fries! 🍟
I used to dislike Xanthan gum. I don’t even know what the heck it was, hence the mystery, but I use it more frequently now because I’ve come to understand and respect it more. You don't want to use too much! I have paid the price more than once, thinking I just “knew” how much xanthan gum the recipe would take, and to save time, I would put it in all at once. I ended up with the most horrible-tasting, slimy mess, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t fix it. I remember one time we had about a gallon of gravy because I was trying to fix the overdose of xanthan gum, and it never did recover!
So, even though I am a slow learner, I have learned to start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon. I put it in the palm of my left hand, and with my right hand, I have a whisk, and I’m whisking as I’m sprinkling, which is a wondrous sight right there. If you can't whisk while you add, guess what happens? You can get xanthan gum dumplings! 😳 You do NOT want xanthan gum dumplings!
It thickens when it is heat-activated, so start with a very, very small amount. Stir, stir, stir, and give it a chance to thicken. If it’s still not thick enough, then repeat. Please don’t put too much, it will change the taste. It was so funny, the other night I was making some Alfredo sauce, and I didn’t have much cheese to thicken the sauce so I asked my son to hand me the xanthan gum out of the refrigerator. He said, “Oh no, don’t put that in there!” Ha! Made me laugh. He’s been around for a few of the xanthan gum disasters. I told him it would be fine 😂
So, don’t be afraid of xanthan gum; go prepared with the knowledge of how to use it, and it will be your friend! It will thicken sauces and dressings, it gives baked goods a gluten type texture, I‘ve also heard it gives ice cream a smoother texture although I have never tried that.
I had the same bottle of Xanthan gum for four years, and it lasted forever, but I accidentally bought some more! This is the brand I bought, and it’s worked great! 😀
Be brave and try some xanthan gum!
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