Egg, Spelled with a “V”

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by Hannah (BitterSweet)
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Considering the frequency in which the issue of replacing eggs pops up, for both new and seasoned vegans, it’s surprisingly that few comprehensive solutions exist. There are certainly many methods, fully satisfying the need for egg-flavored dishes or the binding power they bring to baked goods, but there has been no single approach that could claim success in complete egg replication. Let’s be honest here: Mashed bananas are really not like eggs. Delicious in certain cakes, yes, but limited in their utility beyond that. Powdered “egg replacers” gave many confounded bakers a hand in converting family favorites over the decades, but these still had severe shortcomings. Lacking body and flavor, the results were never exactly the same. Such a complex ingredient seemed to have no equal, either naturally or chemically composed.

The Vegg wants to change all that. Claiming to be the “world’s first vegan yolk,” it’s currently the only product that strives to mimic not only the taste of eggs, but the physical properties unique to the yolk. One of its most impressive claims to fame is its ability to make perfectly round spheres, just like you might find in a soft-cooked sunny side-up egg, or the tender center to a poached one, bursting with golden goo when punctured.

I wasn’t nearly so ambitious though. Naturally, my first impulse was to crank up the oven and see what this unassuming powder could do. Using the prescribed 1 teaspoon of Vegg to 1/4 cup water, it’s reassuring to know that a little bit goes a very long way. Undeniably sulfuric in aroma, it was pungent enough to make me do a double-take. Of course, I couldn’t just toss it into any old cookie dough, but an egg-heavy batter that depended on the unique proteins that traditional yolks would bring to the party. After blending the Vegg mixture for a full 10 minutes, it was clear that it would not be whipped. Scratch those plans for sabayon.

Although the cookies worked, they were not the crackled, glossy-topped little numbers I had been pining after. Additional experiments to make a Vegg-based nog confirmed that it was better suited for more savory applications. Drinkable but not quite delicious, consider it an act of kindness that I’m not sharing any photos of the murky, brownish beverage.

Speaking of savory dishes, perhaps you recall the passing mention of my product and recipe article in Laika? Well, that recipe is none other than my Omelette Roulade, a large baked rectangle of Vegg wrapped around an umami-packed spinach and mushroom filling. Talk about a passing the test with flying colors- There may have been a genuine victory dance involved when the eggy sheet was fully rolled. Breakfast and brunch may never be the same with Vegg on hand. A compelling reason for any remaining holdouts to finally go vegan, this perfectly imitates the slightly salty, funky flavor that many fear they will lose when the give up eggs.

Finally, in the ultimate test, I threw down the gauntlet. Carbonara, the classic pasta preparation bearing a raw egg sauce, has proven impossible for decades. Sure, very creative vegan solutions exist, but most renditions end up erring closer to creamy alfredo than carbonara. Topping my glistening bowlful of noodles with homemade coconut bacon, the first bite was taken with great trepidation… But I can assure you, the rest were shoveled down enthusiastically. I may have little experience to base my assessment of the carbonara on, but I can tell you with certainty that A) I’ve never had anything like it since going vegan, and B) I would make it again in a heartbeat.

Yield: Makes 2 - 4 Servings

Linguine alla Carbonara

Linguine alla Carbonara

Creamy, rich, and undeniably eggy, it's hard to believe that this rendition of pasta carbonara is completely plant-based.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Pound Linguine
  • 3 Tablespoons Melted Vegan Butter or Olive Oil
  • 1 Small Yellow Onion, Finely Diced
  • 2 Cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
  • 1 Cup Vegetable Stock
  • 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk
  • 1 Tablespoon Brown Rice Miso Paste
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon Vegg
  • Fresh Parsley, Chopped
  • Coconut Bacon, or Any Vegan Bacon Substitute

Instructions

  1. Cook and drain your pasta according to the directions on the box; set aside.
    In a medium skillet or saucepan, heat the vegan butter or oil over medium heat. Add in the diced onion and saute for about 3 minutes, until softened. Toss in the garlic next, and cook until aromatic and just barely golden, but not browned, all over.
  2. Meanwhile, place the stock, non-dairy milk, miso, and pepper in your blender, and briefly blitz to combine. Then, with the motor running on low, slowly sprinkle the Vegg powder into the center of the canister to incorporate. If using a Vita-Mix, aim for the center of the vortex to prevent it from merely sticking to the sides and clumping.
    Gently pour the Vegg mixture into the pan of aromatics, whisking to incorporate.
  3. Continue cooking, stirring periodically, until the sauce thickens and bubbles break rapidly on the surface. Pour the hot sauce over the cooked pasta, toss to coat, and portion out onto plates. Top with parsley and your “bacon” of choice, and serve immediately. It will continue to thicken as it cools, and doesn’t make for great leftovers. The noodles will glue themselves together after a trip to the fridge, so enjoy right away.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 413Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 693mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 4gSugar: 11gProtein: 12g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.

© Hannah Kaminsky
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Main Dishes and Entrees

33 thoughts on “Egg, Spelled with a “V””

  2. I heard about Vegg and have been tempted to try it but it sort of freaked me out a bit, perhaps, I shouldn’t be freaked out! LOVED this post! LOVE the pics, too!

  3. I don’t miss eggs at all (was never big on them as an omni), so Vegg has not intrigued me in the least so far. I would, however, eat your Vegg creations if you were to make them for me. :)

  4. I work at a health food store that caters for allergies, intolerances and vegans/vegetarian and this is one product we’ve been trying to convince our suppliers to import for a while.
    We’ve heard good things from the manufacturer of course, but it’s great to see the product in action and to know a bit more aboit it’s best uses (and that its not so great for sweet morsels). The omelette roulade and the carbonara recipe look delicious!

  5. Since in our non-vegan days we loved, loved, loved carbonara, I will definitely be giving this a try once I take the time to find it. Thanks for doing the ground-breaking and testing. Your Omelette Roulade looks amazing, too.

    janet

  6. I didn’t buy any Vegg when I had the chance since I don’t miss eggs very much, but that Omelette Roulade looks so classy! Maybe I’ll have to order some….

  7. You’re a genius, carbonara indeed! The spherical properties sound so weird, I wish I could see it, but I’m happy that vegans have one more opportunity to explore classic egg-dishes now!

  8. Oh, I am SO glad you posted this! (in addition to the food porn factor, of course). ;) I tried Vegg in a scramble and found the flavor got lost. But in carbonara–brilliance!! I can’t wait to try this–and still have plenty left to do so. :)

  10. One thing I miss is “cheesy eggs”, basically just scrambled eggs with cheddar shredded cheese. Tofu scrambles are great but just don’t meet that need. Vegg looks like it may just do the trick. That Omelette Roulade looks absolutely delightful, I love spinach and mushrooms, especially together.

  11. I’m surprised you mentioned the disappointment in powdered egg replacers. I find Ener-G egg replacer perfect! It’s a well-known loved classic to the vegan coomunity. If this Vegg is more expensive than Ener-G, I’m staying with Ener-G. If it ain’t broke, I’m not fixing it.

    But I’m always happy to hear new vegan products on the market.

  12. that omelette roulade looks so delicious! i m scared of the funky smell too.. but i m sure it will work great in savory dishes and to please omnis.

  13. I always love your reviews Hannah because they are thorough and honest in the most helpful ways. I have heard of this product, but haven’t actually tried it yet, so I loved seeing your impressions of it.

  14. I love Vegg, though I admit I haven’t used it as much as I planned. I did mix it in with a tofu scramble and loved how well it represented scrambled eggs. I’ve been meaning to make a hollandaise sauce with it for a tofu benny–but I lack motivation :) Your omelette roulade looks gorgeous!

  16. Ahh, the Vegg! I’m excited to hunt around and see if I can find it here in Texas, I’ve heard lots of good things. That omelette looks incredible, as does the carbonara – definitely pinning that recipe!

  18. Hannah, you have a way of making any food look gorgeous! I bet you could make even brown food look good! I actually have an egg allergy and we do not get this product in Hong Kong but hope they do some day. Take care, BAM

  19. That roulade is gorgeous and honestly I’d never be able to tell that there’s not real egg in it! I had to laugh at the brown murky nog comment…there are so many dishes I don’t post just because they kind of look like that. :P

  23. I think for vegans who used to love eggs this maybe a good substitute but is it healthy? It sure looks good to me! Grand recipes with tasty dishes too, Hannah !!!

  24. Dang, I have to admit, that pasta looks amazing. I had seen Vegg, but didn’t think much of it yet. Sounds brilliant, for savories anyways!

  28. I wonder if this product can be used to substitute eggs in puff pastry like eclair or cream puffs? Trying other egg-replacers usually doesn’t work in this case.

    1. You’re not a pain at all! I wish I could share it, but I’m afraid it’s only printed in Laika magazine right now. You can get either a physical printed copy or an ebook version though, so you have options for easy access. :)

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