Egg Replacers
Eggs serve different functions in different recipes. They work as binders, holding the other ingredients together, or as leavening agents, providing lift and affecting texture.
The purpose of the egg in a recipe, and the flavours that are acceptable in that recipe will help determine the possible substitutes. In some cases, you can omit the egg altogether, and the recipe isn't noticeably affected.Replacing eggs in baked goods
Eggs are used in baked goods for leavening, or lightness. They also may serve as a binder.
Flat foods such as pancakes and cookies don't rely on eggs for lift. In many cases, you can eliminate the egg altogether, especially if the recipe calls for only one egg and add a tablespoon or two of additional liquid soymilk, fruit juice, or water, per egg omitted to restore the recipe to its original moisture content. A small quantity of baking powder may help give lightness to pancakes.
In recipes for baked goods that have a light, airy texture, replace eggs with an ingredient that provides lift. Any of the following ingredients can replace one whole egg in a recipe:
- Half a small, ripe, mashed banana. This gives a mild banana flavor, which can be nice in recipes for muffins, cookies, pancakes, and quick breads. However, items made with bananas may not have a very long shelf life and are best eaten within a couple of days.
- 1/4 cup of tofu blended with the liquid ingredients in the recipe. These too are best eaten in a couple of days.
- 1/4 cup of applesauce can be used. This also adds a hint of flavour. Add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, because using fruit purees to replace eggs can make the finished product somewhat denser.
- A heaping tablespoon of soy flour or bean flour mixed with a tablespoon of water.
- 2 tablespoons of cornstarch beaten with 2 tablespoons of water.
- 1 tablespoon of finely ground flaxseeds whipped with 1/4 cup of water. The flaxseeds gel and bind with the other ingredients. Use immediately. If don't want the flecks of brown skin to show, you can strain it through a fine sieve or cheesecloth before use. NOTE: Flax seeds can be a bit drying to some baked goods since they suck up liquid, so use it judiciously.
- Vinegar, when used in baking reacts with baking soda to give the same effect as egg. (See the recipe for Vanilla Cake with Plum Sauce in the deserts section).
Replacing eggs in main dishes
Some recipes need an ingredient that binds all the other ingredients together. Your choice of ingredients to replace eggs in these types of foods depends on the degree of "stick" you need, as well as how the ingredient will blend with the other flavors in the recipe. Here are some options:
- Arrowroot starch
- Potato starch
- Cornstarch
- Whole- wheat, unbleached, oat, or bean flour
- Finely crushed breadcrumbs, cracker meal, or matzo meal
- Quick-cooking rolled oats or cooked oatmeal
- Mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes,
- Tofu
We have included some recipes like Tofu Akuri, and French Toast, Tofu French toast, and Tofu mayonnaise, which replace traditional egg dishes.
Thinly sliced tofu, pan fried and sprinkled with nutritional yeast flakes tastes surprisingly like fried eggs.
