Egg yolk replacement: Cook, bake and enjoy without egg yolks
Theresa Aicher
25/08/22
Reading time: 8 minutes
It's good that there are numerous vegan alternatives that don't compromise on taste. Proteins and fats contained in egg yolks can also be replaced with vegan protein sources and vegetable fats. As an egg yolk substitute you will find numerous options that we would like to introduce to you.
Egg or no egg: How important are eggs anyway?
Eggs also contain fat- and water-soluble vitamins and minerals . Eggs also have good properties that are helpful in many recipes. For example, when baking, breading or as a binding agent in the mixture for meatballs or meatloaf.
You will also often find eggs in recipes for soups and sauces as well as for baking casseroles. Eggs are the main ingredient for scrambled eggs or omelettes. A good egg yolk substitute is ideal here. Ready-made powders that you just need to mix are perfect.
Eggs are foods with an animal origin. More and more people are choosing a vegan diet that avoids animal products. In addition, eggs, when eaten in excess, contribute to increased cholesterol levels.
It could also be that you simply don't like eggs, have developed an intolerance or an allergy. Nevertheless, proteins are very important in the diet . It doesn't necessarily have to be animal protein, because you can easily switch to plant-based alternatives .
Vegetable proteins for a healthy diet
Proteins are important, but they don't necessarily have to be animal proteins, which are found in :
- eggs,
- Meat,
- Fish,
- milk and
- occur in dairy products.
Plant-based proteins have numerous advantages :
- no mass farming of chickens,
- no animal suffering,
- no hidden antibiotics and
- they are usually well tolerated.
Plant protein sources include :
- legumes
- Seeds (linseed, chia seeds)
- nuts
- oatmeal
- dried wheat germ
- Pseudograins (amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa)
- Tofu and other soy products
Protein is also contained in vegetables, potatoes and many types of fruit. Avocado is also a good source. Due to the growing conditions, with very high water consumption and complex transport, it should rarely be on the menu.
Proven vegan alternatives as an egg yolk replacement
Now you are probably wondering how you can best use the foods mentioned as an egg yolk substitute . Eggs have various functions in cooking and baking . If you want to use another food as an alternative , it depends on what the substitute should fulfill.
Eggs are used to bind and emulsify, for example in a cream soup or when making mayonnaise.
Eggs in the cake batter ensure that the baking result is light and airy. Stiffly beaten egg whites have particularly good properties when a sponge cake base or soufflé needs to rise. The liquid contained is important so that the basic ratio of dry and wet ingredients in a recipe is correct.
Another component is fat, which is a flavor carrier when preparing many dishes. Fat (in moderation) is also essential for a pleasant consistency and a good mouthfeel.
Finally, the typical egg taste and color also play a role. A substitute can be sweet, savory or unflavored . That's why the recipe you want to prepare or the character of the dish often sets the tone. You choose the appropriate egg substitute .
Cooking and baking with egg substitutes
The following are well suited as an egg yolk substitute in the cake part or in the dough for pancakes:
- applesauce
- Apple pulp
- pureed bananas
- finely mashed avocados
- Nut butter
All of them make sense provided that the dough is sweet. You can hardly taste applesauce and apple puree after baking. Bananas have a slightly more intense taste. If you want to replace eggs with applesauce , two to three tablespoons of applesauce or apple puree are approximately the same as one egg.
One banana replaces about two eggs. With bananas and applesauce, it is also important that you reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe a little. Because these foods already have a sweet taste .
Avocados and nut butter, on the other hand, are relatively high in fat. Therefore, in this case, the vegan butter or vegetable oil in a recipe should be reduced. The function of eggs for a light, airy cake is taken over by a pinch of baking soda, supplemented with a dash of apple cider vinegar.
Our vegan baking mixes
Egg substitute: further alternatives
For other dishes that require eggs as a filling and binding agent, you can also use the following alternatives :
- the GREENFORCE vegan egg for mixing yourself
- linseed
- Chia seeds
- Chickpea flour
- Locust bean gum
- Starch from lupins
- Starch from potatoes, corn or tapioca
- Amaranth, buckwheat or quinoa, finely ground
- Oat flakes, preferably tender melt flakes
These flours and starch products have good swelling properties and bind quite well. Before further use, the vegan alternatives must be supplemented with liquid. A classic substitute is made from linseed .
For this you need freshly ground flaxseed and hot water. The seeds should ideally be freshly ground. Even older ground flaxseed can oxidize quickly because of its polyunsaturated fatty acids. To replace an egg, mix one to two tablespoons of ground flaxseed with three tablespoons of hot water.
The mixture needs to rest for about half an hour. Afterwards it has a thick consistency that can best be compared to jelly. This egg yolk substitute tastes slightly nutty and is suitable for savory dishes. But it also goes perfectly in a nut sponge cake, for example.
In the same way, you can use ground chia seeds to create an efficient replacement product that is also tasteless.
Tomato paste is suitable for savory dishes, as it also adds color.
This makes it possible :
- meatless meatballs made from soy granules,
- Vegetable patties and
- Burger patties without meat and eggs.
If you just want a light binding, you can use starch and flours.
To ensure that the result does not become dry, you need to add a little liquid. Mix chickpea flour, fine oatmeal flakes or starch with a little cold to lukewarm water and let the mixture swell briefly. You can also use plant milk instead of water.
Like chickpea flour or starch, carob bean gum is tasteless and suitable for sweet and savory dishes. Another advantage : it binds and thickens food when cold.
Taste and color “like with real eggs”
Luckily, with so many options, replacing an egg is easy. Vegetable protein is found in all substitute foods. There are many natural alternatives available to you. On the one hand, you have the option of simply buying vegan substitute products . On the other hand, you can prepare your own food in your own kitchen.
But maybe you miss the typical egg taste. Then there is Kala Namak , a special seasoning also known as Kalak Nun or black salt. It consists of high-quality crystal salt enriched with iron, sodium and sodium hydrogen sulfate.
It is also possible to make it with Harad seeds, which are the fruits of the Terminalia Chebula tree. The fruits are cooked together with crystal salt at very high temperatures. The salt takes on the color and flavor of the burnt legumes.
The taste is slightly sulphurous and is reminiscent of rotten eggs. Therefore, you should dose Kala Namak very sparingly.
You can recreate the beautiful yellow color created by egg yolks with saffron or turmeric. Saffron is an expensive spice, but you only need a very small amount. To do this, first place the saffron threads in a hot liquid, either water or vegetable broth.
You then get the intense yellow liquid for coloring dough or other dishes. Turmeric is a finely ground powder that is tasteless and is also said to have an anti-inflammatory effect . You can use turmeric without any effort, just stir it in and the yellow color will develop.
Conclusion: What do vegans eat if there are no eggs on the menu?
In principle, you can modify any conventional recipe if you want to replace and cook an egg vegan .
Vegan is also ideal during pregnancy . The versatile vegan diet offers a lot of what you and your baby need. Talk to your gynecologist because iron supplements or certain vitamins may be necessary. This can ensure that you are on the safe side during pregnancy.
There are countless options for all vegans to replace eggs. The quickest alternative is ready-made egg substitute powder , which you just have to mix with water.
For example, we can highly recommend the product “ Easy To Mix Vegan Egg ”. Here you can mix your own scrambled eggs or omelettes.
It's almost as quick with the many options from starch to flaxseed, from applesauce and avocado to banana.
Be willing to experiment and try out different variations of egg yolk replacement ! Fine oat flakes go well in delicious vegetable patties if you want the consistency to be very fine. For a coarser texture, you can use boiled, mashed potatoes or canned corn kernels.
For cakes, you can use soaked chia seeds or use leftover, slightly browned bananas in the dough. All types of starch are very suitable for a thick soup or a creamy sauce.
Eggs are not a " must " in the kitchen - and the vegan diet works wonderfully without eggs !
Theresa studied media communication, loves writing and her favorite product are the vegan turmeric balls. With their help you should be able to turn your question marks into inspiration. If you have any comments or requests, please write to her here: online@greenforce.com