Wednesday, March 22, 2017

The Perfect Texture

When talking gluten free baking, one cannot forget to mention the importance of the use of yogurt in making a high quality dough. Most gluten free flours lack the moisture and high protein content necessary to maintain a moist texture after baking. Because there is no gluten in the flour, you won't have that sticky gelatin like hold to maintain consistency as well. If you use traditional milk, or even buttermilk, or a thin yogurt, you will get a gritty crumbly texture. I don't know about you, but to me that is not appetizing! When I eat a cake, or a biscuit for instance, I want it to be moist and stay together as I handle it. I want to be able to slice my biscuit and put a piece of elk filly steak in the middle with fried onions (or sausage, bacon, beef steak). Don't you agree?
The trick in order to eliminate all gums, including xanthan gum, is to use the right flour, and the right yogurt. The best flour is one that is freshly milled from light brown rice. Not only do you retain the vitamins and minerals that rice is rich in, but you also end up with an excellent texture. White rice is too gummy and makes a tough dough. Brown rice is heavy. Light brown rice has the perfect combination of gumminess and fiber. When you mix your flour, baking soda, salt, butter, and vinegar, with high protein Greek yogurt you get the bond that holds the proper consistency once baked. The high protein is the key, and that combined with the texture of the light brown rice makes an awesome biscuit. If light brown rice is not available in your area, brown rice will work but it will result in a slightly heavier biscuit. Again, the Greek yogurt is the key to keeping it from being gritty. The Greek yogurt should have at least 20 grams of protein per serving size.
Interested in giving it a try???

Here is my recipe for a pan of biscuits:

Yield 9 large biscuits:

1 3/4 cup freshly milled organic light brown rice flour (brown rice will work)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda (not baking powder)
3/4 teaspoon salt (I use David's Kosher salt because it has no added ingredients)
1/3 stick of butter ( Extra Virgin Olive Oil can be used but is not as good)
1-2 teaspoons vinegar
1 1/2-2 cups high protein Greek yogurt (Use just enough to be sure that all the flour is wet. There should not be any dry flour at the bottom of the bowl. It should all combine into a sticky kinda wet dough.)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees:
Mix together dry ingredients first, then add butter cutting it in with a pastry cutter. Add vinegar and yogurt stirring well. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls into a buttered 8 or 9 inch square glass baking pan (should make 9 biscuits). Bake until they are brown and no longer doughy in the middle. 15-25 minutes based on your oven.
Let cool in the pan for five minutes before serving.
ENJOY!!!



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