Eggs in meatballs have an important purpose because they contribute to your dish’s texture, colour, flavour, as well as consistency. Without them, your meatballs can be dry or flavourless. However there are a lot of cases where you are not able to use eggs in your recipes. This may be because of your allergies, a special diet, or that you have run out of eggs. There are a lot of alternatives, that you can use in place of eggs in meatballs. Some of them include buttermilk, plain yogurt and cheese.
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Buttermilk
One of the best substitutes for eggs in meatballs is buttermilk. Buttermilk is made from the milk from cows and other animals, including goats or sheep. The milk can be either fresh or fermented heavy cream which can be produced through the whipping method. Buttermilk has a pale yellow colour that can gradually turn into white. You can find the milk familiar because it is served with bread, prepared for desserts, and sometimes it is used in cooking to replace cooking oil. Buttermilk is a perfect substitute for eggs in meatballs because it contains similar contents. Scientists have also shown that 14 grams of dairy contains 100 calories and 11 grams of fat, and other nutrients like vitamin K and fatty acids. In addition, buttermilk also has a creamy taste that is similar to eggs, although not exactly alike. You can use buttermilk in meatballs because it has good adhesion and can help keep your meatballs moist without eggs. Take note that you need to choose the right type of buttermilk for your no egg meatball dish, since other types of sour buttermilk that can be found in grocery stores can cause a fermented and spoilt taste to your meatballs. That can mess up your dish.
Plain Yogurt
Plain yogurt is another good alternative to eggs in meatballs. Plain yogurt is known for its high nutritional value and it is good for your health because it contains many substances including proteins, glucose, lipids, and mineral salts, especially calcium and vitamins, especially vitamins A and B. Plain yogurt can act just like eggs, when they are cooked. It can help develop a texture frame to form meatballs and act as a leavening. The fat inside plain yogurt can also reduce the gluten fibres in the breadcrumbs, and as such it can make your meatballs softer. Apart from that, plain yogurt helps your meat mixture develop a delicious brown colour. It is best to add plain yogurt, because the flavourful and sweet varieties can alter your meatball recipes’ flavour. In addition, the glucose in sweetened yogurt can be converted to lactic acid, resulting in your meatballs’ developing a sour taste without the eggs. To substitute plain yogurt for eggs in your meatballs use a quarter cup (60 grams) of plain yogurt in place of one egg.
Ricotta Cheese
Another great substitute for eggs in meatballs is ricotta cheese. Ricotta cheese is a type of cheese that originates and is produced in Italy. You can purchase it easily at almost every local grocery store. In fact, ricotta cheese is a popular ingredient that is used in most Italian dishes from ground beef like lasagne or pasta with marinara sauce. The cheese is fresh and not greasy like other types of cheese, and that makes it one of the best substitutes for egg replacement in meatballs. Also, ricotta cheese is delicious with a moderate fat, and tastes great with pork. Another good thing about ricotta cheese is that it has a high amount of water that helps retain a certain amount of moisture in vegan meatballs. In addition, ricotta cheese also works like baking powder and nutritional yeast since it contains air bubbles that expand and puff your dish. Based on the amount of meat you will use, you need to use the right amount of ricotta cheese in order to achieve the standard flavour and colour you may desire for your meatballs. There are exceptions to this. Most often a meatball without eggs may require 50 grams of cheese in place of one egg. However, you can use more or less as long as you feel like it tastes delicious.
Unsweetened Applesauce
Applesauce is also a great vegan egg substitute for meatballs. It is ideal for creating super moist, soft, and moderately delicious meatballs. Since applesauce is a product that is made from cooked apples it is often sweet or flavoured with other spices such as cinnamon, brown sugar, as well as nutmeg. Also, apples are gluten and dairy-free, making them a great choice for those who are lactose intolerance or who have egg allergies. To replace eggs with applesauce in meatballs add three tablespoons of applesauce to replace an egg in your recipes. It would be ideal to use unsweetened applesauce to reduce the sweetness and not affect the flavour of your dish. When cooking, you may need to mix your applesauce with a little bit of olive oil in order to keep the breadcrumbs and other ingredients from falling apart.
Mashed Banana
Mashed banana is a popular alternative for eggs in meatballs. However, your finished product may have a mild banana flavour. Other puréed fruits such as pumpkins and avocado work well and may not affect the flavour of your meatballs or other dishes as much. Whichever fruit you decide to use, you can easily replace each egg with about 65 grams of purée. Keep in mind that baked products made with puréed fruits will not brown as deeply, but they will be very dense and moist. Substituting mashed banana or any other fruit will work best in cakes, muffins, brownies, and quick breads.
Commercial Egg Replacer
You can easily use an egg replacer in your meatballs. There are a number of commercial egg replacers on the market. Egg replacers are made from potato starch, tapioca starch and leavening agents. They are suitable for all baked goods and should not affect the flavour of your finished product. Each commercial egg replacer comes with its own instructions, but you can combine 1.5 teaspoons (10 grams) of powder with 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 grams) of warm water to replace one egg.
