Use xanthan gum to make your salad dressing thicker.
Xanthan gum -- a common ingredient in commercial products ranging from ice cream to mayonnaise -- can serve as a thickener for homemade salad dressing. Alternatively, you can use it to thicken commercial prepared salad dressing that is too thin for your taste. This product, which consists of fermented sugar of some sort (often corn syrup) with the addition of the Xanthomonas campestris bacteria, is relatively potent. In fact, you need only about a teaspoon to noticeably thicken several cups of salad dressing. Pure powdered xanthan gum is relatively easy to find, but if your grocery store does not carry it, check at a specialty foods store instead.
Instructions
1. Pour the ingredients necessary to make 3 cups of your desired salad dressing into your blender, then blend until they are thoroughly combined. Alternatively, you can simply pour 3 cups prepared (homemade or commercial) into your blender.
2. Add 1 tsp. xanthan gum to the blender. Sprinkle the powder evenly over the dressing rather than adding it in one spot, which might allow it to clump and not serve its intended purpose. Blend well to combine the xanthan gum with the salad dressing, then turn off the blender.
3. Allow the salad dressing to sit for a few minutes so it can settle into its new texture. Scoop some out of the blender with a spoon and observe its thickness, then taste it and notice its consistency in your mouth. If it is not thick enough for your liking, add 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. more xanthan gum and blend again. Repeat this process until the salad dressing reaches your desired consistency.
4. Transfer the finished salad dressing from the blender into an airtight container of your choice.
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