Secrets of the Best Chefs

elevate a dish with their citrusy, caviar-like interiors.
AVAILABLE IN most health food stores, xanthan gum is a
natural thickener that allows you to control viscosity. You can
use it to thicken ingredients that wouldn’t thicken naturally by
themselves. For example, you can use it to make a great fat-free
salad dressing by mixing balsamic vinegar, herbs, and ⅛
teaspoon xanthan gum—just enough so it thickens. Instead of a
3:1 ratio of oil to vinegar, you get a thickened dressing with zero
fat.
AT HOME, when cooking for his family, Duffy often does away
with his complex techniques and esoteric ingredients. He grills
chicken and serves it with quinoa that’s tossed with chopped
toasted hazelnuts and assorted dried fruit (it’s a good meal for
you to try, too).