What Is A Good Substitute For Psyllium Husk Powder? (UPDATED)

AHHH, you ran out of psyllium husk in the middle of preparing a meal. Now, what do you do? Maybe you should just give up and order a pizza? Right?

No, it does not have to be that way. This annoying issue tends to happen more often than we like to see. However, it doesn’t mean you ruined your upcoming dish. There are many ingredients out there that make great substitutes for psyllium husk powder.

Are you dying to know what these different alternative options are? What is a good substitute for psyllium husk powder?

Let’s take a look.

First, What’s Psyllium Husk Powder Exactly?

Psyllium husk powder comes from the Plantago ovate seed, also known as Ispaghula. This is a plant found primarily in India and used for many purposes. 

What Does Psyllium Husk Powder Do in Baking?

Psyllium husk powder is a dietary fiber used in cooking and for medicinal purposes. It is a natural probiotic which promotes gut health.

Psyllium husk is well known for its health benefits. This dietary fiber is more potent than bran. For that reason, it is a terrific way to combat digestive issues such as,

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• IBS

It can also aid in weight loss, regulate blood sugar, and lower cholesterol. 

As for cooking, this is a popular product in recipes needing a binding or thickening agent. It also provides added texture to many dishes. When you mix this product with a liquid, it creates a thick gel. This gel will add depth to any dish and keep ingredients from separating.

How Does it Taste?

The best part about psyllium husk powder is that it has no taste or odor. (Except for the thickness it adds to your liquids, of course.) it doesn’t matter what you put this in; you’re not going to know it’s there.

We really love using psyllium husk powder because of all the benefits it possesses. Unfortunately, this product isn’t cheap. Because of its high price tag, it isn’t a typical staple in everyone’s pantry. 

What is A Good Substitute For Psyllium Husk Powder?

Psyllium husk powder is easy to find online and in stores. Plus, this product is versatile, and a little goes a long way.

However, in the event, you don’t have any psyllium husk on hand. Here is a list of 10 great ingredients you can use instead.

1. Cornstarch Is The Best Substitution

Cornstarch, also known as corn flour, is a fine powder from corn grain. This powder is the result of extracting the endosperm from the corn kernel.

Like psyllium husk powder, cornstarch is a great thickening agent. You will often use this ingredient in soups, stews, and sauces. 

Aside from savory dishes, you can also use cornstarch in your favorite baked goods.

Cornstarch can help keep custard and cheesecake from coming apart. It can also stop your fruit pie from turning soggy. 

Cornstarch is gluten-free and is an excellent source of B12 vitamin. 

• Use one cup of cornstarch for one cup of psyllium husk powder.

Learn more: What Can You Substitute for Cornstarch?

2. Flax Seeds are a Healthy Alternative

Flax seed is one of the healthier substitutes for psyllium husk. It is nutrient rich, high in fiber, and a useful source of healthy fats. 

Like psyllium husk powder, flax seeds will turn to gel when added to liquid. This aspect lets the ingredient bind other ingredients together. It can also replace the fats in most recipes, making them much healthier.

Flax seed has a unique nutty flavor that can alter the taste of your recipe. Yet, you won’t notice the difference in recipes with other bold ingredients. 

• Use one cup of flax seed for one cup of psyllium husk powder.

Learn more: What Is A Good Substitute For Flaxseed Meal?

3. Chia Seeds are a Superfood

Another healthy psyllium husk substitute is chai seeds. Chia seeds are known as a superfood because it has a high number of health benefits. 

These seeds are great for smoothies and added to baked goods. You can grind chia seeds and add them to almost any recipe calling for psyllium husk. 

Because this product is a soluble fiber, it makes a great binding agent when cooking and baking. 

• Use one cup of chia seed for one cup of psyllium husk powder.

Other Psyllium Husk Powder Substitutes To Try

Based on their availability, versatility, and similarity to psyllium husk powder, here are other alternatives!

4. Rice Flour is a Great Option 

Rice flour is a popular ingredient used in Asian cuisine. This ingredient is a fine powder that comes from grinding rice. It has little in the way of taste and is full of nutrients, and is high in fiber.

This ingredient is ideal for recipes that need to thicken, such as gravies and sauces. It is also a good substitute for psyllium husk in baked goods like cakes and bread.

Rice flour is a go to for athletes who need a healthy helping of carbs. This makes it an excellent option for bread and pasta dishes. 

• Use one cup of rice flour for one cup of psyllium husk powder.

Learn more: The 12 Best Sweet Rice Flour Substitutes For The Home Chef

5. Coconut Flour Offers a Fine Texture

You can use coconut flour instead of psyllium husk in cake and bread recipes or soups and sauces. 

This product is a big deal in the diet world, especially for gluten free recipes. Like psyllium husk, coconut flour is high in fiber. (Even if it has more calories)

Coconut flour does have a unique, distinct, yet subtle flavor. We would not recommend adding to any dishes with a light flavor profile. 

• Use one cup of coconut flour for one cup of psyllium husk powder.

6. Arrowroot Powder is Great for Acidic Recipes

You can mix arrowroot powder with water to create a thick substance. This powder is perfect for thickening or binding recipes and has no taste. This makes it the perfect substitute for psyllium husk powder. 

You can use arrowroot powder as a breading when frying or baking. And, thanks to its ability to mix in with acidity well, you can add it to jellies and jams.

• Use one cup of arrowroot powder for one cup of psyllium husk powder.

Learn more: Top 8 Arrowroot Powder Substitutes

7. Almond Flour is Ideal When Baking

Almond flour is a fantastic substitute for psyllium husk powder when baking. This ingredient is a healthy option that is high in nutrients and low in calories.

Unlike psyllium husk, almond flour does have a distinct flavor. This nutty component can alter the taste of your baked goods, so use it with caution.

You can easily replace psyllium husk with almond flour when baking or frying foods. Just remember, almond flour is very absorbent. Adding more liquids to your recipes will keep them from drying out.

• Use one cup of almond flour for one cup of psyllium husk powder.

8. Guar Gum for an Outstanding Thickening Agent

Another thickening and stabilizing agent you can use as a substitute for psyllium husk powder is guar gum. Guar gum can thicken a dish up to eight times more than cornstarch. 

You can use guar gum to increase the shelf life of a recipe. This product comes from the guar plant seed and is a gel forming fiber. It also traps the air in the dough and prevents ingredients from separating in a mix.

Use guar gum when making yogurt, sauces, frozen foods, and beverages.

• Use one cup of gaur gum for one cup of psyllium husk powder.

9. Millet is not Only Used to Make Beer

Millet is high in fiber and full of protein. This product is ideal for weight loss because it helps slow digestion. Slowing down digestion keeps you feeling fuller longer, reducing the amount you eat.

This small seeded grass is often grown in developing countries. But it is getting more popular throughout the world. 

Millet is well known for its use in beer making. Yet, it is also an excellent option for thickening porridge and fermented drinks. You can also enjoy this ingredient on its own on top of salads or in stir-fries.

• Use one cup of millet for one cup of psyllium husk powder.

10. Xanthium Gum When Nutrition isn’t as Important

Xanthium gum is an excellent psyllium husk alternative if you don’t care about the nutritional content. This product isn’t nearly as good for you as the latter.

However, Xanthium gum also has no calories or flavor, making it versatile. You can use this substitute in just about any recipe needing additional bulk.

• Use one cup of Xanthium gum for one cup of psyllium husk powder.

FAQs

Final Note

Remember to consider the specific properties of each substitute and how they may affect the taste, texture, and nutritional profile of your dish.

Experimentation may be necessary to achieve the desired results when substituting psyllium husk powder.

Additionally, it’s always a good idea to consult a healthcare professional or nutritionist for personalized advice, especially if you have specific dietary requirements or health concerns.