Looking for a way to replace eggs in your favourite dishes? Look no further! There are plenty of easy vegan egg substitutes for those following a vegan or an egg-free diet. Today I will show you my favourite two – flax and chia egg.
Although both flax and chia eggs are great egg substitutes, it is important to remember that they are never going to perform exactly like ordinary hen eggs. Whilst they are suitable for baking goods, they are not good for airy desserts such as choux pastry or mousses because the seeds have a tendency to hold onto excess moisture, which means they stick things together rather than form protein networks that reinforce doughs like an ordinary egg would.
Flax egg
Flax egg is a healthy alternative to other egg replacers due to its excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein content. It is in fact my favourite vegan egg replacer.
Flax seeds contain a goopy material, known as polysaccharide gel or simply, flax gel. Flax gel can be drawn out of the seed by combining it with water. Its texture is similar to that of an egg, which means it does a really good job of mimicking eggs in baked goods, such as vegan brownies, cakes, pancakes, muffins and cookies. It’s downside is that it has got a slightly nutty flavour, but to make up for it, it is packed with lots of beneficial nutrients, fibre and Omega-3 fatty acids – “good” fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects.
Here is my step-by-step tutorial of how to make a flax egg, an eggscellent vegan egg substitute for baking!
To make a flax egg (equivalent to 1 hen egg), you will need:
- 1 tbsp of ground flax
- 3 tbsp of water
In a small dish, combine 1 tablespoon of ground flax with 3 tablespoons of water. Stir and leave the mixture to thicken for 5-10 minutes. That’s it!
Chia egg
Chia seeds, just like flax seeds, also contain polysaccharide gels, which again, just like flax, can be drawn out of the seed by combining it with water. This means that, chia seeds can be substituted for flax seeds on a roughly one to one basis. Chia seeds are great – they promote a healthy digestive tract, relieving constipation and diarrhoea, they are gluten-free and they are an excellent source of magnesium.
For a smoother texture, you can use ground chia meal instead of whole chia seeds. Just grind your chia seeds using a food processor, spice grinder or pestle & mortar!
To make a chia egg, you will need:
- 1 tbsp of chia seeds
- 3 tbsp of water
In a small dish, combine 1 tablespoon of chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water. Stir and leave the mixture to thicken for 5-10 minutes.
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