Thickener sub?

[LC_Diva]

Can psyllium husk be used as a substiute for guar gum or xanthan gum in a recipe?

Thanks!

[Sherri]

Re: Thickener sub?

I havn't tried any of those for thickeners. I use arrowroot to thicken my sauces and gravies.

[not2late]

Re: Thickener sub?

Psyllium husk will thicken liquids. But the texture might be too slimy for some.

I find the best thickener is pureed vegetables. If you make a gravy, simmer some onion and celery in the liquid until the vegetables are very, very soft. Then puree it in a blender. If it's too thick add more liquid. If it's too thin, boil it until it gets to the thickness you want.

This is also a good way to add carb during your OWL phase. We get alot of OWLers complaining that they can't eat an additional 5 net carbs of veggies because it's too much food (volume). Pureeing the vegetables into sauces or soups reduces the volume.

Arrowroot powder is okay, but I wouldn't add it until the appropriate OWL/Pre-Maintenance rung. Arrowroot is a powder from a starchy root vegetable. So it acts like cornstarch in regards to thickening.

[LC_Diva]

Re: Thickener sub?

I bought Dana Carpender's 200 Slow Cooker recipe book and a lot of her recipes call for guar or xanthan gum.

Thanks ladies for the ideas!

[not2late]

Re: Thickener sub?

Yeah, many low carb cookbooks do that.

The gums will give a product that is clear----like if you used cornstarch to thicken it. But if you don't mind the sauce being not so crytal clear, then thickening them with vegetable purees is the way to go, imo, because the gums have a slimy or gooey mouth feel.

[LC_Diva]

Re: Thickener sub?

Yeah, I know what you mean about that. I used psyllium husk that left my gravy nasty gooey tasting. I bought some xanthan gum and hope that will work better.

I will definitely be using some veggie purees. I really like using mushrooms and onions.

[Chicklady]

Re: Thickener sub?

I've used flaxseed to thicken----not QUITE as slimy as psilly husk. I've also let okra turn to mush to thicken stew....but also a bit slimy.
learn to love slimy