Eggs can bind liquids, emulsify water and fat and loosen up food in the form of egg whites. It's not for nothing that they are firmly anchored in our diet and it's hard to imagine the kitchen without them.
However, there can be reasons to replace chicken eggs with alternatives in cooking and baking recipes : due to an allergy, the desire to eat vegan to prevent animal suffering, to protect the environment and at the same time to do something good for your own health.
But what can you use as an egg substitute ? We have put together a variety of options for you that work at least as well as the classic chicken egg - sometimes even better.
The right egg substitute for every application
When looking for an alternative to chicken eggs , you can first consider what function the egg would serve in your dish. Is it the main ingredient of the dish, as in :
- fried eggs,
- scrambled eggs,
- boiled eggs or
- Egg salad?
Does it serve as :
- Binder,
- propellant,
- Moisture supplier or
- do you need egg whites?
It is also important what taste you want to achieve. Is it a hearty or a sweet dish? Some substitute products have their own taste, which can be annoying but can also give the recipe that special something.
If you are not looking for an egg substitute for cooking or baking , but rather vegan protein sources to supply your muscles with enough building blocks, you can instead of eggs :
- Oatmeal,
- Legumes,
- soy products,
- Pseudograins such as amaranth,
- quinoa and buckwheat,
- cabbage vegetables and
- Take nuts.
Replace chicken egg as the main ingredient
When it comes to dishes in which eggs are the main ingredient and the main flavor provider, it is not easy to find vegan alternatives . However, there is one exception : " scrambled tofu ", the vegan version of scrambled egg.
With regular (firm) tofu and smoked tofu as a base, you can add the right spices, such as :
- Kala Namak , a volcanic rock salt from India and
- Turmeric for the yellowish color, deceptively imitating the original.
Replace chicken egg as a secondary ingredient
Where chicken eggs are used as a binding agent or ensure the right consistency, you can almost always swap them for vegan substitute products . You can now find special egg replacer powder in health food stores and well-stocked supermarkets . You can use these instead of eggs according to the instructions and can be used for breading, for example.
Whole egg substitute powders are usually made from corn starch or sweet lupine flour. Starch powder, such as potato or tapioca starch, is also occasionally used.
Other possible ingredients include vegan protein sources such as:
- sunflower seed flour,
- Chickpea flour as well
- Pea, flax and potato protein.
Protein substitutes are primarily made from pea protein and corn starch.
In addition, some are :
- lupine flour,
- Pea, broad bean and potato protein or
- Added starch powder such as rice or potato starch.
Using powdered replacement products is incredibly easy. All you need to do is mix them with water and add them to your dishes.
Our product “ Easy To Mix Vegan Egg ” covers everything. It is 100% plant-based, with no added soy or lactose and gluten-free.
In addition to special substitute products, you can also use the following ingredients. You probably have some of these in the fridge or pantry.
applesauce
Applesauce is not only a delicious accompaniment to rice pudding or potato pancakes, it also works great as a binding agent for dough. Since it is relatively tasteless, you can use it as an egg substitute for almost all cakes. You need about three tablespoons per chicken egg .
The puree of other fruits is also suitable. However, some of them have their own flavor. You should therefore be careful that the taste of your cake is not completely overshadowed by that of the substitute .
oatmeal
Are you looking for a binding agent for vegetable patties, vegan meatballs or potato pancakes?
Then simply add three to four tablespoons of tender oat flakes per chicken egg into the mixture and let them steep for about 15 minutes. Oatmeal is also a good choice for sweet dishes and baked goods such as pancakes and cookies.
Flax and chia seeds
Flax seeds and chia seeds have similar binding properties to chicken eggs . They are suitable for savory cuisine as well as for baked goods and desserts. Since flaxseeds swell in liquids, you should grind them before using them or buy ground flaxseed meal.
As a substitute for a chicken egg , mix one tablespoon of linseed with three tablespoons of water. What should be taken into account is the slightly nutty taste, which does not go well with all dishes.
banana
A good alternative for delicious cakes are ripe bananas. A banana, mashed into the batter, replaces two medium-sized eggs . In addition, due to the intense sweetness of the fruit, you can reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe by around 50 grams per banana.
This variant has a less neutral taste than other substitute products . However, it is a real asset for banana lovers.
Tomato paste
Fruity tomato paste is an ideal binding agent for savory baked goods such as burger patties. You can replace a chicken egg with one to two tablespoons .
In savory dishes, the pulp has a relatively neutral taste and can be combined well with other spices. However, it does affect the color of the dish.
Potato, corn or tapioca starch
Starch is suitable as a binding and thickening agent for puddings and sauces. Corn and potato starch require heat to function as binding agents.
Depending on the dish, you can also use tapioca starch cold, for example to make creamy vegan mayonnaise. To make one egg , you only need to mix two tablespoons of cornstarch with three tablespoons of water.
Chickpea water (aquafaba)
A substitute for egg whites can be easily made from the water of boiled chickpeas. Frothing works best with broth from store-bought chickpeas from a jar or can. Using a hand mixer, you can beat the aquafaba for about ten minutes until it forms a solid mass.
This can hardly be distinguished from conventional egg whites. Two tablespoons of aquafaba replace one egg white. As a substitute for a whole chicken egg you need three, and for an egg yolk you need a tablespoonful.
Arrowroot or locust bean gum
These two egg substitute variants provide a strong bond and can therefore be dosed much more finely than cornstarch. Since they have no taste of their own, they are equally suitable for sweet and savory baked goods.
Locust bean gum has the advantage that it does not need to be mixed with water.
Simply mix a heaped teaspoon of it with the dry ingredients of the cake. Then add 40 milliliters of water or plant drink to the liquid ingredients. For arrowroot flour, whisk half a tablespoon full of three tablespoons of cold water for each chicken egg .
Kala Namak for the egg flavor
The Kala Namak mentioned above is a black salt that has a permanent place in Asian cuisine. Due to its high sulfur content, Kala Namak smells and tastes strongly of eggs, which is why it has taken vegan cuisine by storm.
It is suitable for seasoning plant-based dishes such as :
- vegan egg salad,
- Frittata,
- Quiche and
- French toast.
However, it should be used sparingly.
Turmeric as a color substitute
Turmeric, also known as goldenseal, is a plant from the ginger family. The seasoning powder obtained from turmeric root has a high color intensity even in small quantities. It is ideal for giving baked goods a beautiful yellow color.
Due to its own taste, you should only use a small pinch in cakes. When it comes to scrambled tofu, spaetzle and vegan quiches, it can be a little more.
Are you allergic to the dye curcumin? Then the old children's song " Bake, bake cake " gives you a clue to another possible color substitute. Correct : Saffron makes the cake yellow.
Sometimes not using an egg substitute is the best alternative
In some cases, the question “ What can you use as an egg substitute? ” can also be answered with “ Nothing ”. For example, with potato pancakes you can do very well without eggs .
All you need is :
- Grated potatoes,
- salt and to taste,
- Onions and a few spices.
It is important to get the water out of the potato mass so that the starch contained in the potatoes can develop its adhesive effect. To do this, add some salt, stir vigorously and let the whole thing stand for twenty minutes. Simply pour off the excess liquid before frying.
For even better binding, you can also use the starch contained in potato water as an egg substitute. Collect the liquid in a bowl and wait about twenty minutes. The starch should now have settled at the bottom of the bowl. Pour off the water and add the potato starch to the potato mixture as a binding agent.
Conclusion: Cooking and baking can also be done without eggs
Baking and cooking without chicken eggs is not rocket science and the results are really impressive to see and taste. However, it is important to use a substitute ingredient that serves the purpose of the eggs in the recipe and does not adversely affect the taste.
In most cases, tasteless alternatives are the best choice. But sometimes it's the special aroma of the substitute that makes it that special.
Substitute powders offer a relatively simple way to replace eggs in cooking and baking . They are easy to use, have a long shelf life and are ideal for stockpiling.
However, similar to fish substitute products, they have a significantly lower nutritional value than the animal original. This can have advantages if you want to lose weight, but also disadvantages if you are already underweight.
If you want to replace eggs vegan , you can also consider that eggs contain important micronutrients that your body needs.
If you eat a vegan diet during pregnancy, for example, avoiding chicken eggs can promote folic acid deficiency. For this reason, you should make sure to replace them with the right plant-based foods or supplements .
We hope that this answers your question : “ What can you use as an egg substitute ?” ” could clarify.