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Have you discovered the hidden charms of aquafaba, that murky water that you probably throw out when you drain a can of beans?
Yes, we're talking about chickpea water, and its hidden depths, which works wonders as an egg replacement in vegan recipes, or simply if you need a substitute when you're all out of eggs.
If you go to the AquaFaba Facebook page and you'll find a community of over 60,000 aquafaba enthusiasts on a quest to perfect their ideal recipes with this unique ingredient, suited to sweet and savoury recipes and even cocktails.
The general advice is "One egg is generally replaced by three tablespoons of aquafaba! And, yes, you can store aquafaba in the refrigerator for 2 to 10 days, until it starts getting stinky - but you can also freeze it!."
Here are 10 recipes and ideas that'll make you think twice before throwing out the chickpea water. This will have you baking, cocktail shaking and generally whipping up a storm with what would normally go to waste.
1. Vegan Macaroons
Aquafaba is up to the job of refined patisserie replacing the egg white in delicate macarons leaving you to get adventurous with flavours. Cooking On Caffeine has got the art of Italian vegan macarons off to a tee. Get the recipe here.
2. Cocktails with Aquafaba
Aquafaba is the perfect replacement for whipped eggs come cocktail time. In fact, as an inexpensive option, along with the smooth airiness it brings when whipped makes it an attractive option for a bartender to use instead of egg white. Check out the video above where the creamy foam is poured onto a pisco sour – it is quite impressive!
3. Aquafaba Meringues
Keep things simple and literally whisk your aquafaba into delicious eggless meringues: Here's how.
4. Chocolate Ice Cream
If you're vegan, you don't have to go without your favourite scoop of chocolate ice cream when aquafaba's in town. In fact, Tasty has a very enticing recipe for a classic vegan chocolate ice cream, check it out here.
5. Aquafaba Lemon Meringue Pie
The gooey, velvety meringue topping made with aquafaba tastes just like the real deal according to the Pancake Princess. Here's their recipe for an aquafaba lemon meringue pie
6. Vegan Mayonnaise
Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt
Homemade mayo without the egg is a great place to get experimenting with aquafaba. Check out the recipe from Serious Eats.
7. Aquafaba Cinnamon Rolls
Photo: Lyndsey Matthews
Don't let running out of eggs stop you from baking. Here's the recipe you need for cinnnamon rolls, using aquafaba where you'd never have gone eggless.
8. Vegan Pancakes
Photographs: J. Kenji López-Alt
Breakfast time without the eggs is possible with these light and fluffy vegan pancakes. Find the Serious Eats recipe here.
9. Mozzarella Aquafaba cheese
Yes, that's right, cheese lovers, as strange as it might sound, and admittedly we have yet to try it, aquafaba is up to making cheese. Try as a topping on your pizza or melting it on toast. Find the recipe here.
10. Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse
"Fluffy and light, yet rich and substantial" this Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse with Caramel + Hibiscus Soaked Blood Oranges has got us licking our lips over at withfoodandlove.
