What are Vegan Eggs and How Do They Taste?

A great question to start off with, isn’t it? Are eggs vegan? No, they’re not! Eggs are chickens-to-be and they certainly don’t qualify as vegan food. All life is precious. That’s why vegan eggs, as well as other vegan meats and plant-based products, were made. With more and more people agreeing with that sentiment, more and more vegan egg brands are popping up in supermarkets and online stores.

Not all vegan eggs taste the same, though. Different ingredient blends yield different flavours. Not all of them will taste like… well, eggs! 

What Are Vegan Eggs?

Vegan eggs are often called fake eggs (f-eggs?) and we don’t agree with that! Plant-based eggs are imitations of real eggs. Calling them fake would be an understatement to all the food science that goes into making them!

Vegan eggs are simple - they are eggs made from plant-based ingredients. No animal by-products and the like are found in them. Because a lot of people are choosing to go plant-based and are becoming more eco-conscious, you’ll find loads of options out there now. 

Restaurants also make food with vegan eggs now, for f-eggs sake!

Different Kinds of Vegan Eggs

You can find some great vegan sunny-side-up eggs, vegan scrambled eggs and other alternatives. You’ll find a vegan egg to suit your recipe needs…especially when you shop here at PlantX! We’re sure about that.

1. Liquid Vegan Eggs

Vegan eggs also come in different textures. That may sound weird, but it’s actually not. Some vegan scrambled eggs mix come in liquid form, packed in bottles. 

Shake ‘em, pop open those bottles and pour them into a hot frying pan to cook them. These are likely the least shelf-stable among the different kinds of vegan egg textures and would benefit from being kept in the fridge.

2. Pre-Cooked/Pre-Made Vegan Eggs

Some come pre-made and cooked. They have easy heat and eat instructions. Think pre-packed egg patties or already scrambled tofu eggs. So, these are ready for vegan burgers or wraps. If you want vegan eggs that look closest to the real deal when cooked, chances are that they’ll fall under this category. 

3. Powdered Vegan Eggs

You can also find vegan eggs that are powdered! Think of them as similar to dehydrated eggs. You often need to mix them in some water to make them ready to cook. Powdered vegan eggs are great if you don’t eat eggs often since they tend to have longer shelf lives.

What Are Vegan Eggs Made From?

Vegan eggs aren’t universally made from just one key ingredient. Some are made with soy, some made with chickpeas and some even with flour and oils. The goal, as always, is to match the taste and texture or make something as equally good.

If you like, you can make egg substitutes at home. While they won’t match the taste, they’ll often match the texture you need in recipes. This is especially helpful when baking - read on to find out more!

Homemade Vegan Eggs

1. Flaxseed Eggs

The magical ratio to make a flaxseed egg is 1:3. One tablespoon of ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water will give you the equivalent of one egg.

Let that mixture thicken for about 5 minutes and you’re done! It’s easy as. If you want a smooth consistency, simply blend it. If you’re making vegan burgers from scratch, add this flaxseed egg to bind your ingredients together and you’ll have yourself a sturdy burger.

2. Chia Eggs

Flaxseed and chia eggs require the same ratio to make. You also need to let this mixture sit for 5 minutes or until it reaches a gel-like, eggy consistency. You can use this for baking, but you may not get the same results as you would with real eggs. You may also want to blend the mixture up for a smooth consistency, but we think the odd crunch from the chia seed adds some extra texture!

3. Banana

This is simple. To get the equivalent of one egg, just mash half a banana! Do take note that bananas will bring more flavour than the previous alternatives. If you’re making something savoury, a mashed banana will maybe make it sweeter. 

4. Tofu

Usually used as a scrambled egg alternative, tofu is a neutral-tasting ingredient that can be used for sweet and savoury applications. Tofu also comes in different textures with different moisture content. Use that to your advantage!

5. Aquafaba

If you need something along the lines of a whipped egg white, then aquafaba is what you’re looking for. 3 tablespoons of aquafaba will be the equivalent of one egg. Most would recommend this particular homemade alternative when baking. 

With all these egg alternatives, we do still recommend keeping a vegan egg alternative product to hand. They’re handy and make delicious meals and vegan eggs are ready to go!

Egg-Citing Possibilities with Vegan Eggs

Vegan eggs are great for numerous, tasty reasons. If you don’t have vegan eggs often, you can find shelf-stable options so that you can keep them to hand until you need them. If you like to eat them a lot, there are a lot more delicious vegan eggs available to you!