There’s no better way to spend a Sunday than by cooking up a hearty roast dinner. From the maple syrup-glazed parsnips to the crunchy nut loaf, all drizzled with a generous serving of vegan gravy, a Sunday lunch with all the trimmings is quite simply a plate of joy. And, there’s one ingredient we just couldn’t do without – a vegan Yorkshire pudding!
Yorkshire puddings are one of Britain’s tastiest delicacies. Fluffy on the inside and perfectly crispy on the outside, these savoury treats are the crème de la crème of Sunday lunches. They’re typically made from a batter containing egg and milk, but we’ve found five deliciously vegan ways to make this British staple without a single animal product. Enjoy!
How to make the best vegan Yorkshire puddings
As previously mentioned, Yorkshire puddings are traditionally made with eggs and milk, along with plain flour and oil. Despite the simplicity of their ingredients, Yorkies can be difficult to get right! Nevertheless, it’s certainly possible to make a mouth-watering vegan version that will leave everyone reaching for a second helping.
Milk may be an easy ingredient to replace (we recommend using soya or oat milk in savoury dishes), but finding great egg alternatives can be a little more challenging. Below, we look at five of the most popular ways to make Yorkshire puddings with and without egg replacements.
Cooking with aquafaba
Ever wondered what the gloopy mixture at the bottom of a can of chickpeas is? This leftover liquid is aquafaba – and it’s soon to become your next must-have cooking ingredient! When it’s whipped, aquafaba offers a creamy consistency that makes it a fantastic vegan egg replacement in both sweet and savoury dishes, such as meringues and Yorkshire puddings.
To use aquafaba in your next Sunday dinner, simply find a traditional Yorkshire pudding recipe and swap out the eggs. Did you know that three tablespoons of aquafaba offer the same binding effect as one egg? This handy tip is certainly one to keep in mind!
Cooking with chickpea flour
Most Yorkshire pudding recipes suggest using plain flour. However, if you’re not using egg or an egg replacement, you’ll want to use flour with a little more binding power. Chickpea flour, for instance, isn’t just packed with protein and fibre – it’s also naturally thicker and denser than many other alternatives. This makes it an effective binding agent and the perfect substitute for plain, wheat or self-raising flour for people with a gluten intolerance.
When cooking Yorkshire puddings with chickpea flour, we recommend incorporating baking powder into your recipe. This will help your puddings to rise, even without eggs.
Cooking with self-raising flour
Self-raising flour may not have the same nutritional benefits as chickpea flour, but it’s still a useful ingredient when it comes to making fluffy Yorkies without eggs. What’s more, you’ll most likely have self-raising flour in your cupboard already. If you’re not in the mood to scour the supermarket for brand new ingredients, such as aquafaba, this option may just be the one for you!
If you only have plain flour, you can give your puds a little more lift by adding half a teaspoon of baking powder and half a teaspoon of baking soda per 150g of flour.
Cooking with xanthan gum
Xanthan gum, a food additive with thickening properties, is another useful ingredient to keep on your shelves when modifying egg-based recipes. You’ll also find xanthan gum in a wide range of inedible products, such as industrial liquids, but don’t worry – it’s perfectly safe to eat in small quantities! It’s also naturally gluten-free, making it an effective egg replacement for vegans with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance.
When it’s added to flour and your plant milk of choice, xantham gum will help to bind the ingredients and give your Yorkshire puddings the ultra-light texture you’re looking for. Plus, there’s no preparation needed to use xanthan gum – you can simply sprinkle it into your batter and whisk away.
Cooking with a vegan Yorkshire pudding mix
Don’t worry if you’re not exactly the most confident chef in the kitchen. There’s another way to make sure you can still enjoy Yorkies every weekend – with a vegan Yorkshire pudding mix!
Unfortunately, these pre-mixes are few and far between; Free and Easy’s vegan Yorkshire pudding mix is one of the only options available here in the UK. Thankfully, it’s the only mix you’ll ever need!
This chickpea flour-based mix promises 12 irresistible vegan Yorkshire puddings and is also gluten and nut-free. Look for this mix in your local supermarket’s free-from section or click here to buy it directly from the Vegan Kind Supermarket.
The best vegan Yorkshire pudding recipes
We’ve listed some of the most popular egg replacement methods for vegan Yorkshire puddings, but making sure you’re following a tried-and-tested recipe is also key to success. After all, you want to be sure that you won’t end up with a tray of soggy batter!
Below, check out some of the plant-based Yorkshire pudding recipes with the best reviews.
This recipe only uses five ingredients and promises to give you light and fluffy Yorkies with just a few minutes of preparation time!
This is another simple recipe with just a few staple ingredients, and is easily modifiable depending on the type of flour you have available at home.
This recipe is slightly more complicated than the others, but it’s worth it! These Yorkies are stuffed with seasonal vegetables and tofu for a hearty alternative to the traditional roast dinner.
If you’re planning to make your own Yorkshire puddings, there’s one key tip you need to remember: heat the oil in your tray before scooping in the mixture. Cool oil will only leave your Yorkies limp and lifeless.
Here at Vegomm, we’re passionate about connecting the vegan community to the most up to date plant-based news, advice and updates. Whether you’re looking for vegan restaurant recommendations or searching for vegan sweet treats, we’ve got you covered! Check out our vegan food section for your go-to guide to all things cruelty-free.