As much as we’d
like to avoid using eggs in our vegan recipes, it can be a challenge.
In fact, this is one of the most difficult ingredients to replace.
However, there are many options to choose from that will get the job
done.
What do eggs do in the recipe?
In certain recipes,
eggs are almost essential. They bind ingredients together. They can
be used to make baked goods rise and they also help make them light
and fluffy. Another thing eggs do is to help the product form some
structure and also provide extra moisture. They are especially useful
while baking but are essential to certain savory dishes as well.
Egg Replacement Options
Here is a list of
some of the best egg replacement options out there. You can replace
the eggs in any recipe using these options.
Use Pureed Bananas
Pureed bananas are
another effective egg substitute. Just place a rip banana in the
blender and pulse until completely smooth and there are no lumps. A
half of a regular sized banana is the equivalent of one egg.
The positive aspect
of using bananas is that they are readily available. However, bananas
have a distinct taste that won’t work out in every recipe. For
example, if you were trying to make peanut butter cookies, the banana
flavor would alter the taste.
Ground Flaxseeds
It is best to
purchase the flaxseeds whole and store them in the refrigerator. When
it’s time to use them, measure out 1 tablespoon of flaxseeds for
every egg that you need to replace. Then, pulverize it in a blender
or coffee grinder.
Transfer the flaxseeds to
a bowl and add three tablespoons of water for each egg you need to
replace. Add the water slowly while whisking vigorously. Whisk until
the mixture takes on a gel-like quality.
Since flaxseeds are
nutty tasting, this egg replacement works best when making things
like whole grain breads, muffins, and pancakes. You may want to
experiment to get a feel for the types of recipes you like this to be
in.
Egg Replacement
Product
There are several egg
replacement products out on the market that are designed to be vegan
friendly. Look at the packaging to make sure that it’s vegan safe
and that it doesn’t contain any meat byproducts.
These egg
replacement powders get mixed reviews. Some like them a lot, others
don’t. They’re definitely convenient and good to have on hand.
Once you get used to cooking vegan, you’ll start to learn which
foods taste best with it in it.
Since there are
several brands on the market, it may take a while to find one that
you’re happiest with. When using, just follow the package
instructions. They usually come in powder form. If you can’t get it
at the health food store, you can easily get it online.
Try Tofu as an Egg
Replacement
Tofu is also another
option you can try if you need to find a replacement product. You can
try any form of tofu but this may take some experimentation. Silken
tofu seems to yield the best results. You can also use unflavored soy
yogurt in the same proportion with similar results.
The nice thing about
tofu is that it blends well with most flavors. Flax seeds, for
example, have that distinct nutty flavor. Tofu doesn’t have a lot
of flavor on its own, especially when paired with stronger
ingredients. Another advantage is that it is widely available in most
areas, even in the regular supermarkets.
To use, just take
the tofu and blend it until smooth in the blender. Food processor
also may work but it’s important to make sure that there are no
lumps and the texture is as smooth as possible. To replace one large
egg, use ¼ cup of the blended mixture.
You’ll need to do
some experimenting to see which recipes work best with tofu as an egg
substitute. It all depends on the kinds of recipes you try and your
personal preferences.
Using Flour and
Other Leavening Agents
You can also use
pastes made from different kinds of flours and leavening agents to
replace the eggs. The benefit is that most homes have these
ingredients on hand. They also don’t have flavor of their own like
bananas and flaxseeds do. They can blend into the batter fairly well.
It may take some
experimentation to get the proportions right. Here are some options:
- 1 tablespoon flour of any kind (try wheat flour, oat flour, or soy flour) and 1 tablespoon water for each egg.
- 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 tablespoon flour, 2 tablespoons water for each egg.
- 2 tablespoons corn starch and 2 tablespoons water blended together also replaces one egg.
Finding the Right
Egg Substitute
Again, as you try
these different combinations, you’ll get a feel for which egg
substitutes work best for which recipes. As a suggestion you may want
to start with one of your favorite foods and try different egg
substitutes until the flavor and texture you desire are reached.
For example, if you want
to make a batch of blueberry muffins, you can substitute the eggs for
any one of these substitution options. Make a note of how it tastes.
Next time you make it, try another egg substitute. After trying
several, think about which one was your favorite and stick with that.
Pretty soon, you’ll be able to tell at a glance which egg
replacement products work best for certain kinds of recipes.
