David in Largo, FL asked how to use Guar Gum in cold salad dressings and in hot sauces.
David, I haven't tried using guar gum hot, but I've found that it works really well cold, in salad dressings. I've purchased a few wonderful fat-free salad dressings, and then worked at duplicating them using the ingredients on the label (which is what initiated the need for guar gum in the first place.) I've had great luck duplicating the dressings, and of course, they are pennies per pint as opposed to $3 and $4 that I had paid for the original.
The key is to use *VERY LITTLE* guar gum (or xanthan gum) in the recipe. Start with 1/4 teaspoon in a cuisinart, pour 1/4 cup HOT water on the guar gum (or xanthan gum). Blend until the gum is dissolved. Add in additional water (about 3/4 cup). This mixture can now be used to substitute oil in a dressing recipe. Usually I add in additional ingredients (mustards, honey, spices or balsamic vinegar, fat-free pasta sauce, spices, or -- you name it. Use the ingredients on the label as your guide) and blend in the cuisinart.
Some salad dressing ideas are:
French, using your sweetener of your choice, the oil substitute, balsamic vinegar
Apple-Ginger, using vinegar, oil substitute, small amounts of raw ginger and apple and white pepper
Honey-Mustard, using a good german or french mustard, honey, oil substitute
More ideas: Curry, Raspberry vinaigrette, and so forth
Guar or Xanthan gum are available inexpensively at most "Natural Foods" markets.
Hope this helps!
Charisa
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