Here's what you need to know about the ~magical~ ingredient that's popping up everywhere and how to make vegan and dairy-free recipes with it.
Charlotte Gomez / BuzzFeed
First things first: What even *is* aquafaba?
It's a fancy word for the liquid inside a can of chickpeas. Turns out that the stuff that you might normally just throw away is a ~magic juice~ of sorts: It acts as a binding/thickening agent, is a vegan-friendly egg substitute, and lends itself perfectly to everything from breakfast staples, to condiments, to whipped desserts — along with almost any other recipe where you might want to go egg-less.
So, how do you even eat this stuff?
Working it into recipes is super simple. First, just drain chickpea liquid into a bowl.
Mary's Test Kitchen / youtube.com
Then whip it up!
Mary's Test Kitchen / youtube.com
You can also blend the liquid in a high-speed blender or a handheld blender.
It will eventually become light and fluffy, like this:
Mary's Test Kitchen / youtube.com
It's the same consistency of regular whipped cream and the taste is very, very mild.
So now that you know how easy it is to make, let's dive in to some recipes!
1. Chocolate Mousse
The Flexitarian / theflexitarian.co.uk
It only takes four ingredients to make this smooth and creamy chocolate mousse. Get the recipe from The Flexitarian.
2. Butter
Plante Pusherne / plantepusherne.dk
Make your very own dairy-free butter at home with this recipe from Plante Pusherne.
3. Mayonnaise
Oh She Glows / ohsheglows.com
You’ll need chickpea brine, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, brown rice syrup, and a few spices, and boom! Instant egg-less mayo. Get the recipe from Oh She Glows, or take a gander at the New York Times' recipe featuring sunflower oil here.
4. Pizza Crust
The Plant Strong Vegan / theplantstrongvegan.com
This particular recipe from Plant Strong Vegan is gluten-free and vegan, too.
5. Pierogis
Potluck at Oh My Veggies / potluck.ohmyveggies.com
All it really takes is bean brine, water, flour, olive oil and salt to make this pierogi recipe from Oh My Veggies.
6. Whole Wheat Bread
FatFree Vegan Kitchen / blog.fatfreevegan.com
Perfectly light and fluffy. Get the recipe at FatFree Vegan Kitchen.
7. Tempura Vegetables
Lazy Cat Kitchen / lazycatkitchen.com
Finally, veggie tempura without eggs! Get the recipe at Lazy Cat Kitchen.
8. Peanut Butter Brownies
Joy Food Sunshine / joyfoodsunshine.com
Absolutely drool-worthy. Get the recipe from Joy Food Sunshine.
9. Cauliflower "Bread" Buns
Kirbie's Cravings / kirbiecravings.com
This version from Kirbie's Cravings is low-carb and gluten-free.
10. S'mores Parfait
The perfect vegan dessert if you love chocolate + marshmallows. Get the recipe from Mindful Avocado.
11. Pesto
House Vegan / housevegan.com
Use this recipe from House Vegan as a base, then try mixing up all different kinds of pestos. You can experiment with walnuts, spinach, hemp seeds, kale, sun-dried tomatoes and pretty much anything you'd find in your kitchen already.
12. Lemon Meringue Pie
Lazy Cat Kichen / lazycatkitchen.com
Make one a large pie or smaller individual versions with this recipe from Lazy Cat Kitchen.
13. Fluffy Chickpea Pancakes
Emilie Eats / emilieeats.com
If you're a fan of savory breakfasts, these are for you. Get the recipe from Emile Eats.
14. Hummus
Lazy Cat Kitchen / lazycatkitchen.com
Well, this one shouldn't be a surprise. Get the recipe from Lazy Cat Kitchen.
15. Hushpuppies Muffins
Brand New Vegan / brandnewvegan.com
Make 'em spicy or not so much. Get the recipe at Brand New Vegan.
16. Mozzarella Cheese
Avocado and Ales / avocadosandales.com
A dairy-free mozz that actually melts! Get the recipe from Avocados and Ales.
17. French Toast
Vegan Mother Hubbard / veganmotherhubbard.net
Make French toast sans eggs with this recipe from Vegan Mother Hubbard.
18. Crepes
Vegan Daughter Paleo Son / foodhighs.com
What's better than rewarding yourself after a long day with a warm, sweet (or savory!) crepe? Nothing. Get the recipe at Vegan Daughter Paleo Son.
19. Potato Dumplings
A Traveling Cook / atravellingcook.com
Perfect egg-free potato dumplings that you can add to soup or eat on their own. Get the recipe at A Traveling Cook.
20. Chocolate Cake
The Plant Strong Vegan / theplantstrongvegan.com
Yes, you can have your gluten-free cake and eat it too. Get the recipe at Plant Strong Vegan.
21. Gluten-Free Bread
A Little Insanity / alittleinsanity.com
Get the recipe from A Little Insanity.
22. Veggie Fried Rice
Cooking Classy / cookingclassy.com
Swap the eggs for chickpea brine, and it will act as a binder in this recipe from Cooking Classy.
23. Rainbow meringues
Nerdy Mamma / nerdymamma.com
These tie-dye cookies look like something straight out of a candy cosmos. Get the recipe from Nerdy Mamma.
