09/01/2018
What Is Aquafaba?

Think of all those cans of cooked beans you use in everyday life. I expect like me you usually just drain the gloopy liquid off down the sink. But this is the magical Aquafaba; available by simply draining a can of chickpeas (chickpea water works best). Once you’ve proved to yourself how amazing it is by using the canned variety, it is recommended to graduate to making your own.
Homemade Aquafaba
This is not only the cheapest way of producing Aquafaba but it also produces a better quality product to use which is more consistent in its viscosity than the canned variety and the yield is far greater than you can get from a single can. Using dried chickpeas, water and kombu (which is an essential ingredient as the various minerals it releases in the cooking process helps to soften the beans and make the Aquafaba more viscous). So all you need is three ingredients and 8-9 hours on low in a slow cooker until the chickpeas are tender and then drain.
Storage
Store your homemade Aquafaba in airtight containers for 5-7 days in the fridge or even freeze in ice cube trays before transferring to an airtight contained for up to 3 months. The cooked chickpeas can be used straight away or frozen in a single layer on a tray in the freezer before being popped into an airtight container ready to use as and when a recipe calls for them.
Who Should Keep Reading?
Particularly vegans and those with egg allergies.
Aquafaba Whips Differently To Egg Whites
I have provided a link at the bottom of this post to a great book about Aquafaba and its uses but just so you are aware, whisking to get soft, firm or stiff peaks takes considerably longer than using real egg whites. The advantage, of course, is that vegans and anyone allergic to EGGS can find some great recipes that open the world of meringues and omelette’s that the rest of us enjoy without having to rely on egg substitutes.
What Can I Use It For?
Aquafaba has great emulsifying ability so is perfect to make:
- Butter
- Cheese and Cream Cheese
- Mayonaise
- Non Dairy Yoghurt
- French Toast
- Meatloaf that sticks together!
- Quiche
- Tamagoyaki Rolled Omlette
- Salad Dressings
- Alternative whipped topping similar to cream
- Chocolate Mousse
- Macarons
- Royal Icing
… and a lot more!