Chia Seeds Use a mixture of one tablespoon of chia seeds to three tablespoons of water to replace one tablespoon of xanthan gum. Increase your baking time by 15 minutes if you use this substitute. *** Egg Whites Egg whites are both a binder and a leavening agent, which means that not only can they be used to help bind foods together, they can also help them rise. Egg whites make an excellent substitution for xanthan gum in cakes and quick and batter breads. They do not work as well in kneaded breads. Use one egg white for every tablespoon of xanthan gum in a recipe. Keep in mind that your finished product will be very light and airy and may need a larger pan. *** Ground Flax Seed Along with the above substitutes, you can add ground flax seeds to bread recipes. Flax seeds come in a golden color or dark brown. The golden variety contains more oil. Remember that the dark flax seeds can turn your baked goods green! Whole flax seed should be ground before it is added to the dough or batter. Use the same amount of flax seed as xanthan gum called for in the recipe, but mix it with two times the water. If a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of xanthan gum, use 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed plus 2 tablespoons water. *** Psyllium Husk This ingredient improves the texture of gluten-free bread . It is usually sold as a dietary fiber supplement♂ . It gives breads great structure and can also help keep baked goods moist. Use twice the amount of psyllium husk powder as xanthan gum in your recipes. Find the Right Substitute for You No matter which substitute you try, at first use the same amount of the replacement. For example, if you have a recipe that calls for two teaspoons of xanthan gum, substitute two teaspoons of your preferred replacement. Finding the right substitute for xanthan gum will take a little patience and practice, but the end result will be well-textured foods that taste delicious and are good for you. _______________________________________________ Cookinginthedark mailing list [email protected] http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark
