Do you want an egg-less chocolate mousse or meringue? That is now possible with aquafaba or chick pea juice! Overview of a magical ingredient for vegans, those allergic to eggs or simply those looking to discover new cooking techniques.
An alternative to egg whites
If you ever encountered aquafaba when emptying a jar or can of chick peas: you know it simply is the legume’s cooking juice – albeit the juice of the most famous legume at the moment because of the oriental cuisine frenzy. As chick peas, this thick and slightly viscous liquid is indeed rich in proteins comparable to egg whites. The result is: when whisked energetically, it abounds and hardens... just like beaten egg whites! This astonishing physio-chemical property was discovered by a French man in 2014 and spread quickly throughout the vegan movement.
Chick pea juice in practice
When cooking with aquafaba, the simplest is to retrieve the liquid when draining the chickpeas (when there is no aroma or additives). Theoretically, it works with several legumes such as red beans, but it is chick peas which gives the best results. It is also possible to make one’s own juice by cooking chick peas soaked for at least 12 hours beforehand and then rinsed. It is then better to reduce the liquid so it thickens, then let it cool down and keep it in the fridge. As an added bonus, it is both natural and cheap. In both cases, 3 tbsp of juice replace 1 egg white. Beware, you must whisk aquafaba energetically for longer than egg whites to obtain a similar result.
Ideas for using aquafaba
The liquid’s smell and taste being almost neutral when it is whisk, almost everything is allowed. There are many desert recipes online. To get started, the most common preparation is meringue – truly impressive –, but once the technique is acquired mousses, macaroons, ice creams and other egg-less treat will be a cake walk! For savoury dishes, chickpea juice can be part of a vegan mayonnaise for instance: you need to emulsify it using a hand mixer with a fat and acidic content (vinegar or lemon juice).