Vegan Egg

Vegans won't eat or use animal products -- so the whole idea of a vegan egg is oxymoronic, a contradiction of terms, an impossibility, right?

Wrong!

I will show you in this instructable how to cook up a vegan sunny-side up egg which contains no animal products. It looks like an egg, it feels like an egg, but no bird ever laid eyes on this baby.

This is not the easiest recipe to follow. It requires a fair amount of specialized and hard to find ingredients, but once you've gathered everything you need and you've practiced a few times it's fairly quick, very tasty (it's a desert), and super fun to serve. This is extreme gastronomy, cooking for the concept, deconstructing the age old question of (which comes first) the chicken or the egg to replace it with the more fundamental question: what is an egg?

Step 1: Ingredients and materials

The main ingredients are mangos, coconut milk and sugar, with a little bit of rice flour. Coconut milk is sold in 16oz cans and you can buy it either sweetened or unsweetened, low fat or regular. I used the unsweetened full fat variety it should work with any kind (just don't add extra sugar if you buy the sweetened variety).

You will also need calcium lactate and sodium alginate (to give your egg yolk the right shape and texture) and agar agar for the egg white. Sodium alginate and agar are extracted from seaweed, and calcium lactate, despite its name, is NOT made from milk (it is made by reacting lactic acid with calcium carbonate. Lactic acid, in turn is made with sugar, water and chalk). This desert is 100% vegan fun.

For tools you will need a hand blender and a small slotted spoon.

Although you might be able to find the ingredients locally and individually, it is much easier to buy a kit online. Think Geek carries a kit made by moleculeR which is fairly expensive but has very pretty packaging, and it's convenient because you'll get a good sample of ingredients and all the specialized tools too. It is from their DVD that I got the idea for this recipe: they give instructions for a reconstructed egg, but they didn't take the concept to its logical conclusion, they didn't make it vegan. Their egg white is made with regular milk, and doesn't taste as good as this version. Another online vendor is The Spice House which carries all three "molecular" ingredients, sodium alginate, calcium lactate and agar

Comments

[SLCVeganista]

For the "egg" white - did you use agar flakes or agar powder? This looks super delicious BTW - definitely am going to give it a try :)

[belsey]

Agar powder

[edsobo]

Thanks for the awesome 'Ible!

[ailnn]

I was posting on an older site and now, I see, the same arguments are go still going on two years later. So I'm re-posting here.

Just found this site and was delighted to find this recipe. What I don't understand is why people are criticizing others for looking for recipes which mimic meat. I was told by my doctor to go on a vegan diet to prevent heart disease. I'm learning a lot but so many are critical of these foods. Why are you even looking and COMMENTING on such a site? Remember the old adage of MYOB. You look for your foods and I'll look for mine. I promise I'll never comment on your choices, even if it consists of cockroaches. I expect the same from you.

[manny2007]

I am a vegan and enjoy faux meat alternatives. I grew up eating all of those foods and it is a comfort being able to enjoy the same dishes, cruelty-free. Thanks for the awesome instructable, belsey.

And Mastros: You are not the only person in the world. Others enjoy reading these kinds of tutorials. Just because you are not seasoned with common terms does not mean you get to decide how the titles should read and how things should be constructed. Vegan options are in high demand and cruelty-free groups are growing.

Again, I think this was a great tutorial, and I'm sorry that others decide that their personal opinions need to get in the way of how a person should write a recipe. Keep them coming because I will continue reading.

[porcupinemamma]

Instructables is a community for people to share, learn and have fun, and a place to be diplomatic.

[HeresyOfTruth]

I came here specifically because the title was "Vegan Egg". I knew the minute I saw it, there would be no egg involved, and it would probably be some sort of ingenious non egg replica. I'm not vegan, either.

It's an amazingly well written instructable. It is clear, with great pictures, and shows exactly how a vegan would reconstruct an egg with the limitations of their eating style. Even to the point of adding nutritional additions. This happens to be one of the better written instructables that I have seen put together.

Did people get mad at Picasso when the image of a woman he painted was not what he expected? Everyone knows his style of art is not photo realistic, so there was no trick. Just another interpretation.

You might have not expected what you found, but a waste of time? No. This could have been, for you, an interesting article that showed how vegans and vegetarians work around the limitations they live by. Sometimes in a fascinatingly artistic manner using very cool ingredients. You could have learned that it is common for vegans and vegetarians to use names like "vegan mayonaise", "veggie bacon", or "veggie or vegan" anything to denote a meatless work around.

It's never a waste of time to learn things.

[belsey]

I'm really sorry it you feel I tricked you into looking at my instructable, and even worse that you felt reading just the intro was a waste of time -- however if you'd gone on to read step two you might have understood that a vegan egg is one that is made with non-animal ingredients (coconut milk, mango, seaweed and calcium). A real egg is by definition not vegan, so a vegan egg must be made with alternate ingredients... the title accurately describes the "instructable."

[bajablue]

Maybe you should title this

The Vegan Anti-Egg

or: The Great Vegan Egg Impostor.

or: The Best Egg Impostor Ever! ;-D

lol... I personally think the title is fine as-is and this Ible is first-rate.

[kevinvw]

Great article. I loved it. I was only a bit disappointed because I thought (for a brief moment) that it was going to be about how to "make" a real egg without a chicken. Kind of like the challenge that PETA put out to scientists to "grow" beef without a cow.

Thanks for you hard work!

[troseph]

Thanks. I completely agree.

[Ijsbeer]

I think that the title, Vegan Egg, made it quite clear that it was the vegan equivalent of an egg. Anyone who eats (or is familiar with) vegan/vegetarian food will be used to things being reffered to as like this, e.g vegetarian bacon. We all know that it's not actually bacon, or in this case, an egg, but an equivalent that looks like/tastes like/can be used to replace the original product (bacon, egg, cheese etc.). And anyone who knows what vegan means would know thta this is not a real egg. I'm only replying to you because I'm home sick, and I feel like asting some time.

I think you're being a bit silly really. Have a nice day.

[fernanda birrell]

Yeah, why bother, unless your intension is taking the mickey (this in deference of the "be nice" comment policy) out of the chicken or the vegans, why go to all that bother?

[Picturerazzi]

Stop being so upset already! Move on with your food choice of life and choose another instructable to look at. Please!

[JuJuBe1115]

If you are vegetarian or vegan, fine. But answer me this; if the food is really so good, why does it keep pretending to be something else? I like tofu, but I hate when tofu is doctored to be supposedly just like beef or some other meat. Faux turkey, Fakon, veggie burgers, etc. There are so many creative things that can be done with veggie/vegan ingredients that don't involve cheap imitation. I mean, I can make a bowl of rice that tastes exactly like buttered toast, but that doesn't make it a good idea. My chicken doesn't pretend to be tofu, and tofu is too good to pretend to be chicken.

That said, this does sound like it would taste good.

[DeliciousMystic]

Part of the answer is convenience.. A burger is convenient to eat, so instead make one out of black beans.. Much of the answer is more complicated.. As a vegetarian chef I think about this stuff alot.. Making the veg food imitate meat food is also primarily a western concept, Asian and Indian food have used tofu, tempeh, paneer, jackfruit, and seitan for a very very long time for their own merits, not solely to imitate meat dishes. I think the most important facet of this though is that meat has been used as a protein source and carrier of flavors in western cuisine. BBQ chicken is seasoned so it doesn't taste like chicken, it tastes like BBQ smoky, spicy, salty, sweet.. In culinary creations the 5 tastes are the important factor.. Bacon is added to a sandwich, not because it is bacon made form pork, but because it brings specific textural and flavor qualities.. The easiest way to create a vegetarian sandwich that also incorporates those flavors and textures is to spend some time with some tempeh. Most vegans and vegetarians don't primarily eat imitation meats, and although many do, the selection of imitations is more for people experimenting with vegetarian diets for health or other reasons. All that said, there are vegetarians, myself included, who enjoy some fake meat sometimes.. not all the time.. it's not necessary, but I do enjoy many of the meat flavors that I grew up with. It tastes good to me, but I have made my choice for my own health, and for the respect I feel something that died so I may eat deserves but lacks in the modern industrial food machine.. I watched Earthlings and that was the last straw.. I couldn't continue to eat animals that MAY have been treated so inhumanely.. Which brings me to a point about imitating food.. The American diet is absolutely full of imitated flavors.. in our sodas, candies, fruit juices, just about anything processed.. even our meats.. is that sausage actually smoky, or artificially? Is that gum a watermelon, or watermelon flavored? It isn't unique to vegetarian food, but rather, modern, industrialized food are inherently artificial and imitative, so it isn't surprising to find this same concept in vegetarian foods trying to imitate meat.. heh, i mean, seriously, all the "pink slime" articles in the newspapers lately should illustrate quite clearly that even "meat" seeks to imitate meat...

[TechGnostic]

Clearly, JuJuBe1115, you are a purist. Eggs must not only taste like eggs, they must BE eggs. Tofu must be tofu.

Therefore chicken must be chicken. Maple Syrup 'should' taste like tree-sap. Ice-cream aught to look and taste like all of its ingredients, (including seaweed. ??), and sausages should taste like intestines, gristle and fat.

Why are pseudo meats disturbing to you : ))

Since cake doesn't taste like eggs, why shouldn't tofu be used as an ingredient in something else?

( I'm a vegetarian and find tofu, by itself, pretty revolting, actually. But psuedo sausage is great with egg-free pancakes).

[DeliciousMystic]

word. tofu needs a lot of help to be "good" in my opinion as well.. I also don't really like it, and am not convinced that it is really that healthy.. It is a giant mono-cultured crop that has naturally occurring chemicals that can affect hormones, tastes like nothing, and has a texture like.. ugh.. yea, it needs love, but can be very good.. but, as a vegetarian i usually just find protein elsewhere, rice and beans, a little cheese, etc..

[narf7]

I am vegan and shun the fake meat etc products. I guess they are just to make it easier to transition from a meat, egg, milk diet to one that is very different. It is like moving to another country...at first you don't understand anyone, you don't know where to shop and you end up confused and homesick...we all have to make our choices but we all have that right...we also have the right to be happy with what we do and not have to explain ourselves away constantly to people hell bent on making us revert to eating meat etc. to make themselves feel comfortable about their choices. Get over it guys...we are all in this together and we get to choose.

[belsey]

The whole point of this exercise was to make something which is not what it appears to be. I wasn't trying to make an egg. I wanted to make something which looked and felt exactly like an egg but which wasn't an egg. A vegetarian or vegan shouldn't use this as an egg substitute because it's a desert... it's a culinary joke.

[JuJuBe1115]

I can get that. It would be a cute prank for April Fools, serving up "eggs" to those savory-breakfast lovers.

[belsey]

It's in this year's April Fool's Challenge

[benandsandra]

I totally "got" your idea, and applaude your creation. I find, though, that any subject matter that pertains to ethical issues or deep founded beliefs (whether or not humans "should" eat meat) are greatly debated and often ridiculed. You did good, keep it up!

[benandsandra]

I totally "got" your idea, and applaude your creation. I find, though, that any subject matter that pertains to ethical issues or deep founded beliefs (whether or not humans "should" eat meat) are greatly debated and often ridiculed. You did good, keep it up!

[kevinvw]

But, can you come up with a recipe for Kosher Pork? :)

[DeliciousMystic]

kosher pork? no problem... tempeh bacon.. tofu ham.. jackfruit carnitas... :)

[newberries]

If you want an egg, eat an egg...a local, organic free-range egg!

[SabineT]

I love the idea of a mancoconegg very much! And I love this thread and quickly want to add my fife cents worth. I'm not vegan or vegetarian, but love vegan and vegetarian food. I often cook for my friends the majority of which seem to be vegan or vegetarian. Most of the time they just appreciate my cooking, but sometimes challenge me about meat/dairy/egg/honey eating. Normally, there's no arguing with vegans because they're often a tad on the self-righteous side, so I stay well clear because no doubt they do save a lot of animals from being exploited. One thing though: Eating vegan is a thing that only fairly well-to-do and fairly well educated people can keep up. I have yet to meet a working class vegan on a low income (students excluded). For the ovo-lacto-honey vegetarians I have the following: Even if you eat organic free-range eggs - the male day-old chicks go into a blender, irrespective of their status as organic. The calves born to keep cows lactating have a similar fate - the male ones go to the works or are reared to become beef, irrespective of their organic, grass-fed status. And commercial beekeepers (as well as some hobbyists) squash countless bees "by accident" and intentionally kill the queen as soon as she is "spent". So what's a vegetarian to do: Go vegan? Or maybe become aware of the terrible impact of modern agri-businesses - not just for animals, but also for the earth as a whole. And then make a choice. Here's my disclaimer: This was not meant to tread on anyone's toes. I'm just adding to a really good discussion.

[theque]

I disagree that only well-to-do folk can truly keep up veganism.. My girlfriend and I are both vegan, and we are what could be considered working class (I make only 14k a year). However it does require good education on nutrition.. People say that eating vegan is expensive, though I know first hand it is do-able, as we eat vegan and 90% organic for ~$300 a month...

[evacooper]

lucky you then... where i live whole wheat flour is 2-3 times the price of regular flour, forget organic/vegan food! not that i want to be vegan, but i do want to eat healthy. you have to be well off to eat health food, almost no one does it.

[SabineT]

It's really cool that you're able to do that. Here in New Zealand, organic food is so expensive! If we didn't have a huge organic garden, chooks for eggs, bees for honey, a kind dairy farmer for raw milk, and two dozen fruit trees we would not be able to get away with eating well at all - vegan or no. One thing though: Having little money doesn't make you working class. My brother, who, like me, comes from a very working class background, makes loads of money. But I bet with all his dosh he wouldn't be able to eat as well as I do, because he just doesn't know what to eat if it's not meat and three veg. I on the other hand make less than 14k a year, but because of all the things I've mentioned above I eat like a queen or three :-) Anyway, good on you for commenting. It's much appreciated.

Btw: I agree with narf7, lets all just appreciate what we have. But this shouldn't mean we can't have a good discussion like this. I'm always interested in other people's opinions, and I principally never try to "convert" anyone.

And finally: belsey - I still love the idea to be able to serve an "egg" to my unsuspecting vegan friends. I can almost hear them mumble, "oh, well, hmm, I don't think I can eat this, you know, I'm vegan, you forgot, didn't you?" Ha, gotcha!

[narf7]

Very valid point and just like the monks who walk backwards and use brushes to remove their footprints, we are all going to squash a few bugs (and eat some to be honest if we are vegan in our salads :) lets all just get over what everyone else is eating and be happy with our lot!

[porcupinemamma]

I think it's just plain cool! Lots of fun! Like a cake made with tomato soup, or 7UP pound cake, or a carrot turned into a racing car with olives for wheels etc. Thanks besley for sharing this fun recipe!

[porcupinemamma]

Over at "Delish" there's a fun Sauerkraut Cupcake recipe :0)

[phreddy]

Hey, I am a vegan. Don't care a monkey's about animals just doing it so that I don't get a load of chorestoral from meat products. Don't want to help cancer get me. Had it in a kidney, lost the kidney and I'm cured.
Don't care about people eating meat, smoking, taking drugs etc etc. You make your own choices.

My help to the environment is minimal, doubt that it makes any difference. Looking forward to that egg when I first saw it, looks great but I'd prefer to eat the whole fruit, leave the coconut milk.

[Picturerazzi]

Why does everything have to be a fight on the Internet? This obviously is a parody-type dessert. If you have questions or want to debate veganism vs carnivorism do it elsewhere like a blog or in real life; Instructables is not designed for this kind of behavior and bashing!

I have no judgement for either side but when it comes to the INSTRUCTABLE I think it's fantastic!!! :) I'd definitely make this if I didn't hate coconut. As a non-vegan I could probably make a sloppy version using yogurt and a slice of mango hahaha :)

[mkarlsson1]

I like the idea of making food look like something else, it's very Heston Blumenthal and he is amazing.

Good work

[lynnhowlyn]

Very creative!

Here's a question I've wondered about for a long time: Do vegans breast feed their children?

[Janipun]

Err... how on earth is breastfeeding a child cruel to animals? That's like saying, do environmentalists grow plants, the two are not related.

[jill20]

Years ago I did know one vegan who decided to feed her baby soy formula instead of breastmilk to keep him away from dairy. That being said, there are extremists in any group and I have no doubt that she was one.