Disclaimer - Contains Gifted Item
Why did the chicken cross the road? ....because they had a day off. OK, I'll explain the punchline...
Many years ago I was 100% vegetarian, and to be honest I'm probably 80% veggie now and I think I could probably live quite happily without meat. Could I have gone Vegan though?
The things I thought I would miss are baked goods. Cakes, biscuits, pastries, however, Oggs have come along with a solution to solve the problem.
What Have They Done???
They've only gone and blimin created an egg substitute haven't they!
So, Oggs created Aquafaba as an alternative to eggs. It started as one persons dream to eat cake without cruelty, to bring plant-based alternatives to everyday food without compromising on the taste.
With each bite of an Oggs product you're doing your little bit to positively change the future of the planet, animals and people.
Why?
It is estimated that more than 60 percent of the worlds eggs are produced in industrial systems - i.e battery hens. Wild hens naturally lay 10-15 eggs per year, but modern hens have been bred to produce 250-300!! These caged hens are often given 1.5sq ft to live in, which is kind of like you living in a very small lift.
How?
Aquafaba is a liquid which on sight look like egg mix when you've combined the white and the yolk. It is sold in cartons made from either 100% recycled, plant based or sustainably sourced materials. What it actually is is a water-based chickpea mixture which whips and whisks like egg, which means it's perfect for vegans. You can use it in the same way you would egg to make crepes, cakes, ice-cream, mayo, dressings, brownies...the list goes on.
Each carton is the equivalent to 4 eggs and is low in calories, fat free and with no added sugar - so it's actually great as part of our diet. It's even better news for the chicken though as by using just one carton of Aquafaba equates to giving 5 chickens the day off!
The Challenge
So, could I use it in my everyday cooking and baking? Oggs set me the challenge of trying.
They very kindly sent me some Aquafaba, an apron and some recipes to help me along the way.
Following their recipe instructions I managed to whip up several dishes without fuss. One of my favourites was Buffalo Cauliflower and Ranch Mayonnaise.
The method involved mixing the raw cauliflower with seasoning, dairy free milk, Sriracha sauce and Oggs Aquafaba before roasting and then coating with glaze to serve. The result was a delicious, and it feels wrong to use the word meaty, but meaty dish packed full of flavour. The delicious cauliflower bites went beautifully with the Ranch Mayonnaise dip, which I also made from scratch again using Aquafaba in the recipe provided to me by Oggs.
I also tried my hand at Oggs Best-Ever Black Bean Burger recipe, which really wasn't difficult as the ingredients were blended together in the electric mixer before being shaped into burgers and cooked. If you like to know exactly what is in your food then you can't go wrong with these tasty burgers which you could also freeze ready to throw in the oven or on the bbq and definitely rival anything shop bought.
The final test was the biggie for me. Would it satisfy my sweet tooth? I used Oggs Aquafaba to make their Coffee and Walnut cake, and it didn't disappoint. Lovely light sponge sandwiched together with vegan butter icing. I'm classing it as healthy eating. I don't care what you say.
I could quite get used to this Vegan lifestyle. I can't wait to use Oggs Aquafaba I have left to try some more recipes. I think the crepes might be next on my list, or maybe the brownies...
If you fancy trying Oggs Aquafaba for yourself, it is available in all major supermarkets including Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Asda at a RRP of £1.95.
I'd love to know if you try it. Tag me I your photos on instagram @realtanyalouise, or let me know in the comments.
Love Tx