X is for Xanthan Gum – Raspberry Lemonade Sorbet / Lemon Blackberry Granita

X – Xanthan Gum

Raspberry Lemonade Sorbet and Lemon Blackberry Granita

vegan ~ plant-based ~ dairy-free ~ egg-free

X is for Xanthan Gum!

X is for Xanthan Gum. I want to first talk a little about Xanthan Gum then I also have a quick recipe to share. Xanthan Gum is popular commercially as a thickener for dressings and sauces. Look on the back of most salad dressings and you’ll find Xanthan Gum. It is favored in salad dressings because it is stable. It helps keep spices suspended and aids to prevent separation (oil/vinegar for example). Xanthan Gum also keeps those ingredients blended so they stay together. Go ahead shake up that bottle up, what do you see? …Most likely, it will be the seasonings and spices floating inside. They won’t quickly settle to the bottom like a homemade dressing would. But it’s all good – I just whisk my dressings back up before serving usually. 🙂

Xanthan Gum is also very popular in gluten free recipes. Since gluten naturally provides elasticity to dough and allows for that chewy texture. Alternatively, Xanthan Gum provides the same benefits in gluten-free baking. Many gluten-free creations can be made using Xanthan gum from breads to cakes to cookies or donuts.

Additionally, it is used in Ice Creams and Sorbets. Similar to Locust Bean Gum or Guar Gum because it helps provide a desirable mouth feel. It also helps prevent ice crystals from forming. I created two frozen treats for you to sample – a Silky Sorbet and Chunky Icy Granita.

Raspberry Lemonade Sorbet
(Serves 4) – Vegan, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free

Ingredients:
1 ¼ Cup Sugar
¾ Cup Water
Juice of 2 ½ Lemons
Zest of 1 Lemon
2 (6oz) Packages Fresh Raspberries
¼ Tsp Xanthan Gum

Directions:
-In medium saucepan combine water and sugar over medium heat. Dissolve sugar in water to create a simple syrup.
-Juice lemons and combine with raspberries and lemon zest in blender, food processor or I used my nutribullet.

-In a bowl whisk together simple syrup with lemon mixture.

-Whisk in Xanthan Gum then pour into 9×13 dish and freeze for 2 ½ hours. Every 30 minutes scrape through sorbet with a fork. Enjoy!

Lemonade Blackberry Granita

vegan ~ plant-based ~ dairy-free ~ egg-free

Serves 4:

Ingredients:

Juice of 2 1/2 Lemons
1/2 Cup Water
Zest of 1 Lemon
6oz Blackberries
3 Tsp Blue Agave Nectar
1/4 Tsp Xanthan Gum

Directions:

-Combine blackberries, water, agave and xanthan gum in food processor, blender or I used my nutribullet for this recipe.

-Whisk blackberry mixture into lemon juice and zest.

-Pour mixture in 9×13 dish and freeze for 2 ½ hours. Every 30 minutes scrape through with a fork. You want to separate the ice crystals as the mixture freezes.

Notes: Both recipes were created without having to use an ice cream maker. Granita can be made raw omit Xanthan gum. The Raspberry Lemonade was sweet. So, you can cut down the sugar to 1 cup or add additional raspberries.
Strain the raspberries if your kids (like mine) prefer it smooth. This time around I kept the seeds in.

Enjoy!