Sam D. wrote:

> "Bob (this one)" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Steve Wertz wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I can make pretty good oil/herb/vinegrette dressings, but what
>>>would I add to make a creamy version?
>>
>>Xanthan gum, guar gum or gum arabic. Hydrate the gum and any dried
>>seasonings with the vinegar and run it through your blender to mix in
>>the oil. It'll stay emulsified. Think in terms of a scant tablespoon
>>to a pint.
>
> I have used guar gum for a long time in vinaigrette type dressings. It is
> excellent as a thickener and emulsifier but it won't give a creamy quality
> to the dressing. Also, a tablespoon for a pint would be way, way too much.
> Guar gum is a powerful thickener. The amount needed also varies with the
> ratio of oil to the vinegar and water used. With more oil, less guar gum is
> needed. I use 2 parts oil and one part vinegar and water. And for that ratio
> I add 3/8 tsp. of guar gum when making one pint of dressing to obtain the
> right viscosity and consistency.

Ooops. That was supposed to be teaspoon. The basic vinaigrette
dressing is white and creamy done this way. I use a ratio of 3 oil to
1 vinegar with no water in a commercial blender with fresh herbs,
garlic and other things. I acidify the additions by infusing them in
vinegar for at least 8 hours and then process them in the blender with
the gum. Typically, I use a mixture of gum arabic and a proprietary
gum (from a company called TIC gums) called Aragum.

One made differently that I like has dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegar
and fresh basil and it comes out a deep brownish red. Here's the basic
recipe:

Basil-Tomato-Balsamic Dressing
The entire recipe makes something over 4 cups total - 32 ounces.
2 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1 cup tomato juice
1 cup basil, chopped (roughly 2 ounces weight)
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 cups oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
3 ounces honey (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons gum Arabic
1/2 teaspoon Aragum (or xanthan gum)
Process all in blender. Refrigerate. Shelf life about a month.

Pastorio