Many of us are attempting to incorporate organic cooking further into our kitchens, which is leading us to discover new ingredients. Among them is organic lecithin. At first glance, this ingredient may not sound very appealing. But in fact, it can be used in many recipes, with plenty of benefits. It's actually a waxy ingredient, and it was originally derived from soybeans. Essentially, it acts as a thickening agent and its uses extend far beyond the field of culinary science. Organic lecithin has been used in cosmetic products as well, replacing much more harmful ingredients that were once relied upon.

But the question is, how can you use organic lecithins, like soy lecithin or sunflower lecithin, in your kitchen? Its thickening properties makes lecithin a great option for people who are making dietary changes, allowing them to enjoy the foods they love without eating ingredients they have to avoid.

1. Gluten-Free Breads

For health reasons, many people are choosing to cut gluten out of their diets, or at least reduce its presence. Obviously, gluten is most easily found in bread. How can you make gluten-free bread at home, you may wonder, while making sure that it's still delicious? Lecithin is the answer. Rather than using traditional flour, which contains gluten, you'll use brown rice flour or tapioca flour (or both) and rely on lecithin as the thickening agent.

2. Egg Replacements

Eggs are often used to thicken food products; but what happens when you want to eat vegan and live without eggs? Choose lecithin, combining it with water and baking powder. The great thing about lecithin is that it can offer health benefits as well, raising your HDL (good blood pressure) and lowering your bad blood pressure (LDL).

3. Emulsion Stabilizer

It can be difficult to stabilize emulsions, whether you're making dressings or complex vinaigrettes. The issue with these mixtures is often the fact that ingredients like oil and vinegar don't mix well together. The edition of organic lecithin can stabilize the mixtures. Essentially, the lecithin allows these ingredients to actually connect to and bind with each other. Without it, you'll find yourself with a mixture that hasn't actually been mixed.

For more information on lecithin and lecithin manufacturing, check out Clarkson Specialty Lecithins. We specialize in producing organic and non-GMO lecithins that are great additions to any recipe!