Xanthan Gum

By Bailey1_

Ingredients

• Xanthan gum

Details

Servings 1
Adapted from nourishingmeals.com

Preparation

Step 1

"Xanthan gum derives its name from the strain of bacteria used during the fermentation process, Xanthomonas campestris. Xanthomonas campestris is the same bacteria responsible for causing black rot to form on broccoli, cauliflower and other leafy vegetables. The bacteria form a slimy substance which acts as a natural stabilizer or thickener. The United States Department of Agriculture ran a number of experiments involving bacteria and various sugars to develop a new thickening agent similar to corn starch or guar gum. When Xanthomonas campestris was combined with corn sugar, the result was a colorless slime called xanthan gum."

I have found that most recipes which use buckwheat as the primary flour do not require xanthan gum and actually turn out better without it. Buckwheat flour forms a stringy goo when mixed with a liquid and the end product holds together surprisingly well.

I have heard of some people reacting to xanthan gum, while others would rather avoid it. Recently I have been in email correspondence with someone who has our cookbook and cannot tolerate xanthan gum. She has been experimenting with different combos of ingredients to replace it. Here is her most recent email:

"hi, just to let you know that I tried your rosemary olive dinner rolls, with no xanthan at all, I replaced it with 1 tbsp of potato flour (not potato starch) and 1 tsp of sweet rice flour (for half the recipe). In no time, they disappeared. I guess it's a good sign! I accompanied them with a baba ghanoush (you know, the eggplant caviar) and I felt full, satisfied, happy...It's true that they were not "freely formed", that the muffin molds "contained" them, but you know what, I don't care as long as they are delicious! thank you again for this wonderful book. have a good week-end. Nat"

So it sounds like potato flour and sweet rice flour replaced the xanthan gum in this recipe. Hope this information will be useful to some of you.