aquafaba

noun

aqua·​fa·​ba ˌä-kwə-ˈfä-bə 

: the liquid that results when beans are cooked in water

Note: Aquafaba is used especially in vegan cooking as an egg white substitute.

As the experiments continue, novices are advised to use three tablespoons of aquafaba to equal one egg. The bean juice seems to work equally well whether it comes from a can or from a fresh batch of homemade cooked beans, and it can be frozen for later use. Although most any beans will do, including black, kidney and soy, chickpeas (a.k.a. garbanzo beans) tend to be the preferred variety for their milder, less "beany" flavor.

—Kristen Hartke

Whatever the reason, aquafaba delivers. Dump a can of chickpea water into a mixer, and it froths instantly, like bubbles in a bath, and whips into stiff, glossy peaks. It retains a slight beany aroma in the bowl, but that disappears when cooked. There is no residual flavor, and few calories.

—Jane Black

Examples of aquafaba in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For those needing a java fix, the Root ($8) consists of coffee, vanilla, hibiscus, espresso and aquafaba. —Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 8 July 2024

Those martinis are a combination of espresso syrup, foamy aquafaba, and brûléed brown sugar worked up by alcohol-free mixology wizard Derek Brown. —The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 28 June 2024

The liquid in canned chickpeas, also known as aquafaba, is absolute liquid gold according to our experts. —Audrey Bruno, SELF, 5 Apr. 2024

Shake well to combine all the flavors and achieve a nice froth from the aquafaba. —Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2024

There’s also the addition of aquafaba for a velvety texture. —Aly Walansky, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

Sometimes eggs are great for binding (like flaxseed, psyllium husk or starches), whereas other times they’re needed to leaven the dough (like aquafaba or baking soda). —Charlotte Druckman, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024

The egg whites in this mezcal blackberry sour create a nice fluffy texture, but if eggs aren’t your thing, whip up some aquafaba instead — the vegan-friendly ingredient adds the same lightness when shaken with the other ingredients. —Lanford Beard, Peoplemag, 2 Dec. 2023

Along with opening a new sit-down location, Boneshaker quietly pivoted to become an all-vegan shop in 2019, swapping out eggs and butter for aquafaba or chickpea water, oil, and margarine. —Vivian Song, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Latin aqua "water" + faba "fava bean" — more at island entry 1, fava bean

First Known Use

2015, in the meaning defined above