15 Best Vegan Substitutes For Eggs
When I was 18 and watched a video that exposed the cruelty of the meat industry, I became a vegetarian. However, I wasn’t informed that the egg industry is also a cruel one, even though at that time it seemed an innocuous one. But it’s far from being one. Only in the U.S., around 300 million male chicks are killed annually in the egg industry, and 6 billion worldwide.
With that learning also came the realization that it had an impact on sustainability, something you can read more about in my post “Why Is a Plant-Based Diet More Sustainable”. In summary, the egg industry also has a negative effect on the environment, mainly land and water pollution, as well as creating high levels of greenhouse emissions, mostly methane, ammonia, and nitrous oxide.
Some people also stop eating eggs because of health, principally because they are loaded with cholesterol. Nonetheless, I won’t discuss the nutrition side of eggs because my focus is on animal rights and sustainability, and I’m not a nutritionist.
Whether you are vegan, plant-based, or trying to gradually replace eggs in your diet, you might be looking for alternatives, either because you like their taste, or because you love to bake, and eggs are a crucial ingredient in many recipes. Fear no more! I made this list with some egg-cellent ideas to fill that hole in your gastronomic life.
Some of these ideas are perfect to use when baking (you may need to experiment for a bit until you incorporate these alternatives into your baked goods), while others can be used in other ways like omelets, vegan egg salads, frittatas, quiches, among many other vegan recipes!
THE BEST PLANT-BASED AND VEGAN REPLACEMENTS FOR EGGS
1) CHIA SEEDS
This one is one of my favorites, as it’s made with only water and chia seeds, therefore a super healthy vegan substitute for eggs. Chia seeds offer various nutritional advantages, including magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamins, antioxidants, among others.
When you combine both, it becomes gelatinous, like the texture of an egg, and serves the same purpose when baking, as it binds ingredients well together.
To replace one egg, simply combine in a bowl 1 tablespoon of chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water, and let it sit for about 5 minutes, or until it starts developing that gelatinous texture.
This kind of egg will work better for brownies, cookies, and quick breads, or, for instance, banana bread.
2) MASHED BANANA
Use one mashed ripe banana to replace one egg for some specific baked goods like brownies or pancakes, and simultaneously enjoy the health benefits that come with it, including but not limited to: potassium, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin C.
Beware that, in this case, you will get a bit of banana flavor (duh!) in your food. But, unless you really dislike banana, it is a super convenient vegan alternative to eggs, and something most people usually have at home.
3) JUST EGG
Just Egg is a good plant-based substitute for eggs, if you are looking to use them to cook savory food. For instance, I’ve used it to make vegan omelets, scrambled eggs, and tortilla de papa, but they have more recipes in their website, so have fun experimenting with all the possibilities it offers.
I prefer whole foods to replace eggs, but this is a nice option to have to eat occasionally, when you’re craving something with a flavor and texture that is more similar to regular eggs.
4) APPLESAUCE
Replace an egg with a quarter cup of applesauce to add moisture to your vegan sweet baked goods! You can also try finding unsweetened applesauce, which can be used in most baking recipes. However, if you can only find sweetened applesauce, then try reducing the amount of sugar–if there is any–in your recipe, so it doesn’t turn oversweet.
5) Unsweetened Vegan Yogurt
Another substitute for eggs is unsweetened vegan yogurt. Replace a quarter of a cup of vegan yogurt for one egg in any baking recipe. I’ve never dared used a flavored one (imagine a brownie tasting of strawberry yogurt!), and I sporadically buy Forager’s cashew milk plain yogurt, which is awesome, and is a great choice for your vegan cooking.
6) Aquafaba
Aquafaba is one of the wonders of the world, and it never stops amazing me. In case you have never had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with this ingredient, Aquafaba is the water in which legumes have been cooked, mostly chickpeas. It can be used to make vegan meringue, or–drumrolls please– to replace eggs! To replace one egg, use 3 tablespoons of aquafaba. The best way to use it is in all baked recipes, instead of a stand-alone substitute, as would be Just Egg.
7) Pumpkin puree
Pumpkin puree is another healthy alternative for eggs if you’re looking for a plant-based option. Like the measurements I mentioned before, just add a quarter of a cup of pumpkin puree to replace one egg in a recipe.
8) Bob’s red mill egg replacer
If you are looking for something that will fulfill an egg’s whole purpose when baking, and that won’t alter the final product’s flavor, Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer is another great alternative. It’s non GMO, vegan and gluten free, and it’s made with potato starch, tapioca flour, baking soda, and psyllium husk fiber. They might sell it at your local store!
9) Flaxseed
A vegan substitute for eggs that is basically the same concept as chia eggs, and just as nutritious. Again, it’s mostly an option to replace eggs in baking (no whipping, and avoid nut-based flours, as they don’t work well together), but not as a stand-alone. I love eating flaxseed because they are loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids, among other healthy perks!
To make this vegan egg, grab 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds (you can buy it at the store as ‘flaxseed meal’, or blend whole flaxseeds in a food processor for a minute if you prefer to make it yourself), and add 3 tablespoons water in a bowl. Stir with a fork and let it sit for around 12 minutes.
10) Follow your heart vegan egg
This vegan egg grabbed my attention the first time I saw it, because it has a very curious packaging. From the outside, it looks like a tray of regular eggs. Only when you read the product’s details you realize it’s vegan (and gluten-free)! However, when you open it, you don’t find fake eggshells–as I admit I thought I would– but a bag filled with what looks like flour.
This vegan alternative is an all-in-one, as it works as a stand-alone egg replacer, as well as a substitute for baking. Try it any way you like it: for a vegan egg sandwich, scrambled eggs, to make vegan French toast, a quiche, anything!
11) Tapioca starch
Tapioca starch is probably the first vegan replacement for eggs I discovered. Actually, most starches, including cornstarch and arrowroot, are great at working as thickening and binding agents.
To replace one egg, use two tablespoons of tapioca starch mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. When you combine both, you get a sticky mixture that will say sayonara forever to eggs in your baking. There are also plenty of combinations you can make to improve your replacement a bit more. For instance, you can make an egg-replacement powder by mixing one and a half tablespoons tapioca starch with 3 tablespoons vegan milk, and a quarter tablespoon baking powder. This will work great for most baked goods.
12) Silken tofu
This one might be received with skepticism at first, but silken tofu can be used as a vegan substitute for eggs! By using a quarter of a cup of silken tofu and adding just a tiny bit of baking powder (1/6 or 1/8 tsp) you will replace one egg, particularly for cakes, muffins, and cupcakes. It will also add a lot of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and more health benefits to your recipe.
13) nut butters
I always have a jar of peanut butter at home. It has become one of those items I can’t do without, but only since I moved to the U.S. Back in Argentina, it was very rare to see peanut butter at the supermarket, basically an imported delicacy. Ironically, in the U.S. it’s one of the most basic goods, the equivalent to dulce de leche in Argentina. I always make sure to buy a brand that only has peanuts as ingredients (no salt, oil, sugar, or additives), and I eat it daily with my morning oatmeal bowl, and sometimes with a toast or cracker.
Still, it has become a legend in our pantries for a reason. It has other uses, besides being a popular spread to accompany jam, or to add to your breakfast bowls. As surprising as it may seem, peanut butter can also be the plant-based egg substitute you’ve been looking for–any nut butter, for that matter, but I’ll mention peanut butter out of pure gastronomic loyalty. To replace one egg in baked goods like pancakes, cookies, or brownies (or anything you wouldn’t mind having a tiny bit of nutty flavor), use 3 tbsp of creamy peanut butter.
14) Agar-agar
Agar-agar is the ingredient that has a vegan-recipe-savior-complex. It has come, after all, very handful at replacing the non-vegan gelatin (which is made with animal parts), while also serving as a vegan substitute for eggs. Agar-agar is made from seaweed! It comes in powder form, which you will usually find at the supermarket. To replace one egg in most baked goods recipes, mix 1 tbsp of agar-agar with 1 tbsp water.
15) chickpea flour
In a similar fashion to its cousin, aquafaba, chickpea flour can be used as an egg substitute by mixing 2 tbsp with 2 tbsp water until you have a thick and creamy mixture. I love to use chickpea flour for vegan scrambled eggs and omelets, but my special favorite is using it to make vegan tortilla de papas! In this case, you just beat the mixture by hand with a fork (the corresponding amount, probably 16-18 tbsp), and add it to the potato mixture. If you have never done it, just search for a vegan tortilla de papa recipe where they use chickpea flour, and you’ll get a very similar result to the traditional one.
Is there any of these vegan egg substitutes you use more in your cooking? Let me know in the comments!
If you’d like to know more about plant-based and vegan diets, and sustainability, please don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to read my future posts!
Hi, I’m Melina,
I’m the creator of Sustainable Rookie, and my goal is to share what I learn throughout my sustainability journey, so that I can help other people live a more conscious life.
If you liked this post, you may also enjoy:
