vegan egg substitute

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althea
althea Member Posts: 1,595
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment

Someone asked about egg alternatives in a different thread, so I thought I'd start a new thread to share what I've found.  I've been tinkering with vegan recipes all summer and actually finding things I like (in the dessert section anyway). 

The first egg substitute I tried is flaxseed.  A local health food cafe shared this information with me, and it was mentioned in one or more of the vegan cookbooks I found at the library.  Instructions were vague, but I'm satisfied with what I tried.  Take a 1/4 cup of water and heat it.  Grind 2 T of flaxseeds until fine.  I eat flaxseed for breakfast and I have a coffee grinder dedicated to flaxseed.  Add the ground flaxseed to the hot water and mix.  Let cool.  

 I knew flaxseed turn gelatinous when they're heated, but I was doubtful that they'd make cookie dough hang together like an egg.  I was surprised when the cookies turned out great.  I took them to a bc support group and got a unanimous thumbs up there also.  

Here's what I'm not so sure about though, and that's the longevity of the baked goods.  Time and again I've read that flaxseed should be ground fresh because once the oil is released, the shelf life is very short.  I don't have answers on that, but I think it's something people should be aware of if trying this alternative to egg.  

Another egg alternative is a powder called Egg Replacer by EnerG.  I finally took the plunge and purchased a box.  It's several dollars and the whole box replaces over 100 eggs.  Now I cant remember what I used it for, but it was some kind of cookie that I liked.   

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  • mocame
    mocame Member Posts: 669
    edited August 2008

    Althea,

     I just bought a box of milled flaxseed.  It says:  3 Tbsp milled flax seed can replace 1 Tbsp. fat or oil.  1 Tbsp. milled flax seed plus 3 Tbsp. of water can replace one egg.

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  • Daffodil
    Daffodil Member Posts: 829
    edited October 2008

    It was I who asked...thanks!!!! One set of my daughter's in-laws are almost vegans, and I like to try to cook for them when they visit. Ironically, my SIL's step-mother was DX a few weeks after I was. Think I'll cruise Whole Foods for a starter.

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  • althea
    althea Member Posts: 1,595
    edited August 2008

    Pansy, good luck with cooking vegan for the visitors.  I found a Candle Cafe cookbook at the library that had some tasty things in the dessert section.  When it comes to dinner, though, I have a lot more difficulty.  Gotta start somewhere though.  Part of the difficulty is finding ingredients, or knowing what the heck they're talking about.  Kombu.  Who the heck knows what kombu is without looking it up? 

    How about getting THEM to cook for everyone when they visit?  heh heh 

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  • Daffodil
    Daffodil Member Posts: 829
    edited October 2008

    NONE of their kids are even vegetarian. I think everyone orders Thai takeout!

    I did run into milled flaxseed packets at grocery, on 50% off rack. We'll see.

    Heard that my Pilates Studio has a list of vegan restaurants in the area, so that's always a great alternative. DH will be utterly thrilled.

    That said, she did her yoga meditation before surgery and needed little anesthesia.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2008

    I've posted this before on another thread, but thought it worth repeating here.

    I've been a vegan since before I was diagnosed with bc, and have always found tons of great recipes online.

    Here are few of my favorite vegan recipe websites. Most of the recipes on these sites use easy-to-find ingredients. 

    www.vegweb.com

     Fatfree Vegan Kitchen (don't worry, not all the recipes are fatfree!)

    Wednesday Food blogging

    Epicurevegan

    Each of these sites has links to tons of other vegan recipe blogs. 

    Enjoy!

    -- Jo

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  • paige-allyson
    paige-allyson Member Posts: 781
    edited December 2008

    Jo- these are great websites you posted. Thank you!

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  • althea
    althea Member Posts: 1,595
    edited January 2009

    This thread came back to the top at a fortuitous time.  I get so tired of the flaxseed/yogurt for breakfast day after day and I've just discovered another option for omega 3.  Chia seeds.  I found some at a vitamin shoppe that opened nearby recently.  A small scoop contains 3 grams of omega3's  I tried some with grapefruit juice and liked it. 

    The chia seeds can also be mixed with water and serve as an egg substitute also.  Haven't tried that option yet, but I thought I'd add it to this thread while it's in view. 

    Also, I've been trying to figure out why I keep reading that flaxseed oil should not be heated and no one ever seems to say why.  I think what might be happening with exposure to heat is the breakdown of the omega 3 fatty acids.  

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