What Is Aquafaba and How Do You Use it to Make Cocktails?

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

Aquafaba. “Aqua, who?”. No, no it’s not the name of the latest comic superhero. Although when it comes to Egg White substitutions and creating an irresistible foamy head on your cocktails, you could say it’s kinda like a superhero in the cocktail world.

In this article, we’re going to explain what Aquafaba is and how to use it in your cocktails.

What is Aquafaba?

Aquafaba is an Egg White substitute that is used in cocktails and baking. But for the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on how to use Aquafaba in cocktails. 

In short, Aquafaba produces a delightful foamy head in cocktails, much like Egg Whites do. So, then, what exactly is Aquafaba?

Aquafaba is made from the water or brine produced from cooked Chickpeas. Or as Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan – Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador – explains, “Aquafaba is quite simply the cooking liquid from cooking Chickpeas.”

Where can you buy Aquafaba?

Anywhere that sells Chickpeas (raw, canned or in a carton). The easiest place to find Chickpeas is, of course, the supermarket. 

Is Aquafaba vegan?

A very common question about Aquafaba is whether or not it’s vegan. The answer? Yes – it most certainly is. Chickpeas are 100% natural and plant-based.

How to make Aquafaba

Simply strain canned chickpeas and save the water or brine and you’ve got Aquafaba in an instant. Oh! And don’t forget to whip up some delicious hummus with those leftover Chickpeas.

Of course, you can also prepare and make your own Aquafaba. Don’t miss the video where Rico shows you how to soak, prepare and cook Raw Chickpeas to make your own Aquafaba from scratch. Now that’s a great cocktail tip!

“Just like when you’re cooking them for food, you’ll need to soak them in water overnight, which is going to hydrate them,” explains Rico. “Once you’ve let these soak overnight, get rid of all the water – that’s the soaking liquid and we don’t want that.”

“Next you want to cook your Chickpeas. Once they’re done, you want to strain the Chickpeas and that’s going to leave you with the cooking liquid. Then put that cooking liquid back on heat and you want to reduce it by half then you’re going to have Aquafaba.” Just like magic.

Got questions? Watch this video!

How long does Aquafaba keep?

Before you start making your Aquafaba, you’re probably wondering, “How long will Aquafaba keep in the fridge?”. You can keep Aquafaba in the fridge for 5-7 days. We recommend storing it in a Glass Jar with a lid. 

But we hear you – you were probably hoping your freshly made Aquafaba would last a little longer. So, can you freeze Aquafaba? Yes, you can! Aquafaba can be stored frozen for about 3 months.

How to use Aquafaba in cocktails

Now for the real reason you’re here, how do you use Aquafaba in cocktails? You can use Aquafaba to make a cocktail just as you would use Egg Whites. Yep, you’re gonna be amazed. Aquafaba will give your drink a wonderful frothy head much the same as Egg Whites.

So, when it comes to Aquafaba cocktails, one of the most shining examples is the Whiskey Sour. See the video above.

To make a Whiskey Sour, first pour all of your ingredients into a cocktail shaker minus the Ice. You’ll first want to do a dry shake followed by a wet shake. Rico shares, “I like to do my wet shake first and dry shake second. We really want to emulsify the proteins in there to get that texture really velvety, really thick, really creamy with a nice head”.

A wet shake means shaking first with ice. You’ll see from the condensation on the shaker when you’ve got a nice chill. Next, using a Hawthorne Strainer, strain to remove all the Ice. Already at this stage, you’ll see that you’ve got a nice froth just as if Egg White was in there. Now, it’s time to give it a second shake, this time without ice. Now, you’re ready to serve your drink!

Why does Aquafaba work in cocktails?

That’s a great question! Rico? “The reason why it works is because the complex proteins that you find in Egg White, you will also find in Beans and their cooking liquid. All those proteins end up in here and once you reduce them you have that same effect.”

However, Aquafaba has more purposes than just cocktails. “It’s perfectly good as a vegan and dairy free substitute for Eggs when you’re baking. Don’t try and make omelets with it – it’s not that type of Egg substitute,” explains Rico.

Now it’s time to start mixing some delicious cocktails with Aquafaba!