Are eggs vegetarian? It depends on your beliefs, for instance, if you’re a Hindu the answer’s no. What are vegetarian foods after all? Broadly, they are foods that are not flesh, be it seafood, poultry, beef or other types of meat. Again, depending on your beliefs, even some cheeses can be non-vegetarian, owing to the use of calf rennet (extracted from the stomachs of young calves), the enzyme mixture used to curdle the milk in cheesemaking. Regardless, any product of the animal industry, whether dairy or eggs, are borne of animal cruelty, even if raised free in pastures. The reason for that is the huge demand for both, which calls for their production at the lowest possible (short-sighted) economic costs. And so, when the yield decreases as the animal ages, there is nothing to do but to ‘cut the losses’ i.e kill the animal and sell it for meat. So, unless you know for a fact that the farm from where your milk or eggs come from does not practice any cruel practice, there’s no way other than going vegan.
That’s where plant-based eggs come in, the best of which mimic the taste, aroma and mouthfeel rather convincingly. They can be used to make Omelettes, Scrambles, French Toasts, and so on. Many can also be used for baking as well, except for things that require a lot of aeration (meringues, soufflés and the like).
Below, are the 11 of the best-tasting plant-based egg alternatives for you to try-
1. PlantMade
The biggest underdog on this list, Plantmade is an Indian startup which makes plant-based eggs in both powdered and liquid forms. Their Vegetarian Anda liquid and powder are both made from Mung Beans. They can be used go make omelettes, scrambles, French toasts, Bhurjis…
Below are the ingredients.
Vegetarian Anda Liquid Ingredients
Moong Dal, Chana Dal, Carrageenan, Gellan Gum, Black Salt, Corn Starch, Refined Oil, Methyl Cellulose, Curcumin Extract, Carotene Extract, Nisin, Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Lactate, Yeast extract and Natural flavours.
Vegetarian Anda Powder Ingredients
Moong Isolate, Carrageenan, Rice Flour, Xantham Gum, Soy Lecithin, Black Salt, Yeast Extract, Oil, Water, Methyl Cellulose, Transglutaminase, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Baking Powder, Potato Protein, Curcumin, Carotene.
2. JUST EGG
JUST EGG is by far the biggest name on this list, and you probably already know it. Formerly known as Beyond Egg, the base ingredient across all their products is Mung/Moong Bean Protein Isolate. They have 3 products, namely Just Egg, Just Egg Folded and Just Egg Sous Vide.
Just Egg is a thick liquid that keeps in the fridge for 7 days. It can be used for making Omelettes, Scrambles, French Toasts… It can also be used for baking as well. Below is the complete list of ingredients and the protein content.
Ingredients
Water, Mung Bean Protein Isolate, Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil, Contains less than 2% of Dehydrated Onion, Gellan Gum, Natural Carrot Extractives (color), Natural Flavors, Natural Turmeric Extractives (color), Potassium Citrate, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Sugar, Tapioca Syrup, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Transglutaminase, Nisin (preservative). (Contains soy.)
5g protein per (44ml) serve
Price: $4/12oz
Just Egg Folded is essentially a fluffy frozen omelette with a shelf-life of 270 days. You just need to pop it in a toaster and it’s ready to go in a burger/sandwich or as is. Below are the ingredients.
Ingredients
Water, Mung Bean Protein Isolate, Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Contains less than 2% of Baking Powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, corn starch, monocalcium phosphate), Dehydrated Garlic, Dehydrated Onion, Carrot Extract (color), Natural Turmeric Extract (color), Salt, Transglutaminase.
7g protein per 57g serve
Price: $4/12oz
Just Egg sous vide are frozen bites that come in 2 flavours; Roasted potato and Red bell pepper Dill inspired by America and Roasted poblano Black beans Chili powder inspired by Mexico. The shelf-life is a year. The ingredient list follows.
Ingredients
Water, Vegan Creme (water, soybean oil, natural flavors, xanthan gum, sunflower lecithin), Potatoes, Bell Pepper and Onion, Mung Bean Protein Isolate, Rice Flour, Canola Oil, Green Onion, Corn Starch, Contains less than 2% of Spices, Salt, Yeast Flakes (dried yeast, niacin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamin hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, cyanocobalamin), Tapioca Syrup Solids, Soy Lecithin, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Gellan Gum, Sugar, Chives, Potassium Citrate, Dill, Citric Acid, Transglutaminase, Carrot Extractives (color), Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Turmeric Extractives (color), Nisin (preservative). Contains Soy.
9g protein per 119g serve
Price: $6/8.4oz
3. Acremade
Acremade is the new kid on the block, making a place for itself out of Minneapolis, USA. They have 2 products- one is an egg replacer, and the other is the Scrambler. The base ingredient in both is Pea Protein.
The egg replacer is a powder for baking and even for making noodles or fresh pasta. Being a powder it is shelf-stable (does not require refrigeration). The shelf-life is not mentioned. The ingredients are mentioned below.
Ingredients
Pea Protein, Gellan Gum, Methylcellulose, Pea Flour, Chickpea Flour, Carrageenan, Sea Salt, Potato Starch, Cream of Tartar
5g protein per 41g serving
Price: $6.49/4oz
The Scrambler can be used to make scrambles, omelettes… and also egg batters. This one is a shelf-stable powder as well. Following are the ingredients.
Ingredients
Pea Protein, Methylcellulose, Pea Flour, Chickpea Flour, Gellan Gum, Sea Salt, Natural Flavors, Agar, Konjac, Natural Colors, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Calcium Carbonate
4g protein per 66g serve
Price: $5.99/4oz
4. Be Leaf
California-based Be Leaf makes quite a variety, ranging from jerky to broth premixes to even calamari, all vegan of course! Being on this list, yes, they do make an egg alternative; eggs over easy, and that too out of Non-GMO Soy!
The product gives a new meaning to ‘over easy’ seeing that all you need to do is take it out of the fridge and into the pan. The Shelf-life is 5 days in a fridge and 18 months in a freezer.
Ingredients
Non-GMO soybean protein, Non-GMO soybean skin, pea fiber, pea starch, sunflower seed oil, yeast, salt, brown sugar, paprika extract, and carrot extract.
5.8g protein per 50g serve
Price: $17.99/10oz
5. Follow your heart
Probably the most senior on this list, this SoCal (South California) biz, which started as a restaurant, has been around since the 70s. Made from Organic Soy-milk Powder, Their “VeganEgg™ can do it all – scramble, bake, and bind.” And the packaging certainly makes you wanna take it home, doesn’t it?! Being a powder, it is shelf-stable for up to 6 months. The ingredients are listed below.
Ingredients
Organic Soymilk Powder (Organic Soybeans), Modified Cellulose, Gellan Gum, Cellulose, Calcium Lactate, Carrageenan, Black Salt (Black Salt, Herbs), Nutritional Yeast, Natural Flavors, Beta Carotene for Color.
3g protein per 10g serve (1 egg)
Price: $14.99/4oz
6. Simplyeggless
SimplyEggless is one of the most unique in that it uses Lupin beans for protein. The product “frys, bakes and scrambles… just like the real thing.” What’s more, is that it’s free of the 8 major allergens (No Dairy No Tree nuts No Peanuts No Soy No Wheat No Eggs No Fish No Shellfish). The ingredients are listed below. The product is a liquid and has a shelf-life of 7 days in the fridge. Following is the list of ingredients:
Filtered Water, Lupin Protein Concentrate, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Beta Glucan, Natural Flavors, Calcium Lactate (vegan source), Vegan Enzyme, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Xanthan Gum, Natural Extractives of Turmeric, Natural Extractives of Carrot, Nisin (a natural preservative).
3g protein per 67ml serve (1 egg)
Price: $59.99/48 fl.oz.
7. Peggs
Peggs is a US-based women-owned startup that makes plant-based eggs from chickpeas. They can be used for cooking and baking like real eggs. The product is shelf-stable powder.
Ingredients
Chickpeas, potato starch, flaxseed, nutritional yeast, black salt, cellulose, gellan gum, baking powder, turmeric, and onion powder.
*Manufactured in a facility that also processes nuts, wheat, soy, egg, & milk.
4g protein per (33g of powder) serve (2 eggs)
Price: $36/7oz
8. Nummy Nibbles
Not only do they have a very cute name and packaging, but they also have one of the cleanest labels and the best prices. They offer 3 flavours of an omelette/scramble mix; Original, Southwestern and Chipotle. They are shelf-stable powders.
Ingredients
Original: Chickpea flour, Mushroom*, Onion*, Tomato*, Black Pepper, Kala Namak (Black Salt), Turmeric
Southwestern: Chickpea flour, Bell Peppers*, Onion*, Garlic*, Jalapenos*, Kala Namak (Black Salt), Turmeric, Cayenne, Paprika
Chipotle: Chickpea flour, Bell Peppers*, Tomato*, Onion*, Jalapenos*, Kala Namak (Black Salt), Turmeric, Chipotle powder
12g protein per (2 eggs) 28g serve
Price: $10.99/21oz
9. Vegg
US-based Vegg is the only one on the list that provides a vegan egg yolk mix and a dedicated French Toast Mix! The base ingredients across their product line consist of Soy, Pea and even Algal protein.
The ingredients for all their products are mentioned below.
Ingredients
Yolk Mix: Fortified Nutritional Yeast (dry yeast, niacin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamin hydrochloride, folic acid, B12), Sodium Alginate, Black Salt, Beta Carotene.
0g protein per ¼ tsp (0.65g) serve
Price: $8.99/2.4oz
Scramble: Soy Protein Isolate, Whole Algal Protein, Whole Algal Flour, Fortified Nutritional Yeast (dry yeast, niacin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamin hydrochloride, folic acid, B12), Magnesium Chloride, Black Sea Salt. Contains Soy.
20g protein per (28g) serve (2 eggs)
Price: $8.99/3.8oz
Baking Mix: Pea Protein Isolate, Fortified Nutritional Yeast (dry yeast, niacin pyridoxine, hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamin hydrochloride, folic acid, B12), Xanthan Gum, Sodium Alginate, Guar Gum, Black Sea Salt, Beta Carotene.
3g protein per 1 tsp (3.5g) serve
Price: $8.99/2.8oz
French Toast Mix: Soy Protein Isolate, Fortified Nutritional Yeast (dry yeast, niacin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamin hydrochloride, folic acid, B12)*, Magnesium Chloride, Beta Carotene, Black Sea Salt.
Price: $8.99/4oz
10. All Vegetarian Inc.
The only family-owned business on this list started in ’93 in the US. What started as a mission to provide vegetarian products turned vegan in 2006. From vegan turkey to shrimp, you name it they likely have it! They are the only ones on this list that provide a ready-to-cook sunny side up and still use good-old tofu.
Ingredients
Non-GMO Soy Bean Paste, Non-GMO Tofu, Non-GMO Soy Bean Skin, Pumpkin Paste, Green Bean Paste, Salt, Vegan Seasoning, White Pepper Powder.
14.2g of protein per serving (1 egg)
Price: $19.99/21.2oz
11. Nabati Foods
Eggz
Canadian giant Nabati foods does vegan cheese, burger patties (fish flavoured ones too), and even cheesecakes! They are also unique in that they use Lupin protein as the base ingredient. The product is a liquid that keeps for up to 6 months in the fridge.
Ingredients
Filtered Water, Lupin Protein Concentrate, Sunflower Oil, Pea Protein Isolate, Vinegar, Gellan Gum, Rosemary Extract, Pea Syrup (Isomalto-Oligosaccharide), Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Vitamin & Mineral Blend, Sunflower Lecithin, Potassium Citrate, Salt, Transglutaminase TI, Magnesium Lactate, Calcium Carbonate, Dehydrated Onion, Beta Carotene.
6g of protein per 1/3 cup serving (76g)
Price: $6.99/12fl.oz.
