Vegans often seek out unconventional sources to fill nutritional gaps. Not eating animal products means substitution is sometimes necessary. The egg is a classic example. Eggs are a great source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. They’re also a necessary ingredient when cooking a variety of foods, including pastries, meringues, and quiches … or are they?1
Enter aquafaba. The vegan community uses this canned bean water as a replacement for egg whites. Aquafaba is made from water from cooking chickpeas and cannellini beans. And it’s opening the culinary horizons of vegans who miss certain egg-based foods.2
How Does It Work?
A computer engineer, who’d recently turned vegan, first discovered this new egg substitute. He was desperate to find a vegan meringue for a family function. Then he learned that some chefs use water from a can of chickpeas to create chocolate mousse. A light bulb went off. He applied the idea to meringue, and aquafaba was born.
Legume Liquid Transformation
Having become a hit in vegan communities, the egg substitute is beginning to get traction with omnivores as well. In fact, one company recently put out an aquafaba-based mayonnaise.3
But does aquafaba offer the same nutritional benefits as legumes or chickpeas? Chickpeas are a long-established vegan protein source. Aquafaba is far less well known, and as a result, it doesn’t have the benefit of much scientific attention. Questions abound about its nutritional value.
Is it Nutritious?
One of the only scientific sources addressing this question comes from the vegan ‘egg’ creator. It’s a crowd-sourced nutritional analysis.4 The results showed aquafaba has roughly 3-5 calories per tbsp. Any other nutrients are present in such low quantities that they’re not shown on an FDA food label. For example, aquafaba is one percent protein versus the 10 percent protein of egg whites.
The final conclusion? Aquafaba isn’t bad for you by any means, but it’s not a superfood. In essence, it is a lesser version of chickpeas. As a note, the brand of beans or legumes that you use may have minor effects on the quantity of salt or preservative content.5
Using Your Brand-New Replacement For Egg Whites
Now that you know what this new egg replacer is, how can you incorporate it into your cooking? The online community is a great resource for recipes. But to start, know this: You can use it just as you would use egg whites, especially in baking. This includes whipping it, and combining it with granulated sugar for a vegan meringue.
But, if you want a broader idea of the potential, here is a list of tested suggestions:
- Meringue pies
- Chocolate mousse
- Fudge
- Baked Alaska
- Buttercream
- Marshmallow Fluff
- Macarons
- Butter
- Aioli
- Binding for various vegan foods6
It’s versatile for sure and new recipes and dishes are being created all the time. When it comes to actually getting the aquafaba from your chickpeas or beans, there isn’t really much to it. Either pour the water from a canned product, or cook your own dried beans at home and hold onto the water for future use.7 A general rule of thumb is to use 3 tbsp of the egg replacer per one egg in your recipes. You may need to alter this depending on the consistency. The closer to egg whites you get, the better.
The Takeaway
Aquafaba was born out of a need for more culinary flexibility. A product which was once treated as waste, is now used to create a myriad of different foods. Vegans can enjoy all kinds of dishes they’d never been able to enjoy before. The next time you’re at the grocery store, grab a can of chickpeas and whip up a delicious chocolate mousse!
For more helpful information, keep reading:
10 Lifestyle Habits Destroying Good Bacteria in Your Body
Why Your Gut Says Yes To Probiotics For Your Baby
Sources:
1.https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/ingredient-focus-eggs
2.http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/04/20/524749020/vegan-cookbooks-spill-the-beans-about-aquafaba-the-eggless-egg-white
3.https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/11/dining/aquafaba-vegan-egg-substitute.html
4.http://aquafaba.com/nutrition.html
5.https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/ingredients/article/aquafaba-health-benefits
6.http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/aquafaba-amazing-recipes-made-with-chickpea-brine/
7.https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/580-what-is-aquafaba