Each year on the second Friday of October, much of the world celebrates World Egg Day. This is a day established by the International Egg Commission (IEC) in 1996 to help promote the sale and consumption of eggs. The IEC wants people to know how healthy they think eggs are and that “when you factor in convenience and terrific taste, there is just no competition.” In fact, the IEC and the American Egg Board (AEB) are so sure about eggs being irreplaceable that when companies come up with eggless products, they sit back and laugh. Then they promote smear campaigns, lawsuits, and even threats.

Well, we are celebrating too but not eggs. No, we are celebrating all the dishes we can make even better without eggs. We are celebrating that we can cook and bake without eggs by using ingredients like flaxseeds, chia seeds and pureed fruit and veggies for binders and leavening agents.

We are celebrating that eggs are no longer necessary to make fluffy meringues for macarons, marshmallow fluff or custards. Now we can use chickpea brine, known in the culinary world as aquafaba. Check out All About Aquafaba: 13 Amazing Recipes Made with Chickpea Brine.

We are celebrating the fact that we can make incredibly delicious dishes where eggs are usually the main ingredient completely egg-free. That includes dishes like omelets, frittatas, quiches, and crepes. See Who Needs Eggs? Here’s How to Make Vegan Omelets, Frittatas, Quiches and Crepes for all the details on making eggy dishes eggless. Then take a look at these 20 Egg-Centric Dishes Made Without Eggs. And we have even more because really, who needs eggs when we can make these 21 dishes without them? Take that, egg industry!

1. Easy Garden Veggie Protein Crepes

The star ingredient in these gluten-free, grain-free, vegan Easy Garden Veggie Protein Crepes is chickpea flour.  Fill these savory crepes with fresh-from-the-garden (or farmers market) veggies and fresh herbs and you’ve got a filling, protein-packed, fiber-rich, gourmet-looking, breakfast, brunch, or lunch in under a half hour. No eggs necessary.

2. 3 Ingredient Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse

You are just three ingredients away from indulging in this Chocolate Mousse. It’s a vegan and healthier version of the classic recipe. Aquafaba, or chickpea brine, works exactly as whisked egg whites do, creating the light and airy texture of this mousse.

3. Chickpea Omelet Bake

Chickpea flour has this unexpected eggy flavor, which makes it great for replacing the eggs in all sorts of recipes. This Chickpea Omelet Bake, which is a bit like Socca, is a typical flatbread you find in Nice. Add any veggies you like to make a healthy and delicious meal.

4. Sugar-Free, Wholemeal Banana Pancakes

You don’t need eggs to get light, fluffy pancakes. These Wholemeal Banana Pancakes are not only egg-free but sugar-free. They get their sweetness from the bananas that, along with flax seed, also act as the egg replacer. Top them with homemade chocolate sauce for an incredible dish any time of the day.

5. Chocolate-Dipped Maple “Meringues”

Meringues are delicious, and these Chocolate-Dipped Maple “Meringues” are extraordinarily good. They use maple syrup instead of icing sugar for a richer flavor. Aquafaba replaces eggs to make a compassionate, healthier dessert.

6. Spanish Potato and Chorizo Omelet-Style Quiche

Imagine a quiche with the flavors of a Spanish potato omelet (called a tortilla) with chorizo. One that is easily cut and consumed while still warm from the oven, rather than having to wait for it to cool first. This Spanish Potato and Chorizo Omelet-Style Quiche is that imagining brought into reality. It makes a delicious dinner with a big green salad. The filling is smooth and creamy, with just enough spicy contrast from the sausage.

7. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Balls

These Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Balls score high marks as the closest tasting to cookie dough you want to eat raw so don’t even bother putting them in the oven. Flax replaces eggs, and they are super easy to make. Have a bunch ready whenever you’re hungry and need a high-energy snack

8. Potato Gnocchi

Many fresh pasta dishes including gnocchi usually require eggs. Not this delicious Potato Gnocchi. It’s easy, filling, and so good. Serve with your favorite pasta sauces like marinara, pesto or even a vegan alfredo. The sky is the limit with these pillow-soft and totally comforting dumplings of joy.

9. Baked Spinach and Herb Frittata (No Tofu Required)

This egg-less Baked Spinach and Herb Frittata gets mixed in a bowl, poured in a pan, and baked until crispy and golden. Filled with veggies and completely versatile, it’s the ultimate vegan breakfast. It’s good hot, warm, room temperature and cold. It’s flavored with simple but key spices, and brightened by fresh herbs.

10. Raspberry Rose Macarons (With Aquafaba)

Macarons have taken the world by storm and they are pretty tasty when done right. Now with aquafaba, the brine from chickpeas that replaces egg whites in plant-based baking recipes, you can enjoy these Raspberry Rose Macarons. These are slightly floral, fruity and creamy – everything you want in a good macaron.

11. Vegan Fried ‘Chicken’

This Vegan Fried ‘Chicken’ is made with texturized vegetable protein slices wrapped in rice paper wrappers which makes an awesome crispy skin. No need for eggs because these beauties are dredged in a flaxseed mixture with black salt for that “eggy” flavor and aroma.

12. NOT Smoked Salmon Scramble

You’ll be amazed by just how much these smoked carrot slivers look and taste like smoked salmon. This NOT Smoked Salmon Scramble will be your new favorite breakfast dish. This sort of dish shows that we can create appetizing, tasty and healthy vegan dishes that stand up to any non-vegan version.

13. Strawberry Cheese Blintzes with Strawberry-Basil Compote

The filling in these Strawberry Cheese Blintzes is a vegan ricotta with a sweet side.  is easy – it’s vegan ricotta with a sweet side. The crepes are gluten-free and egg-free. It’s topped with strawberry-basil compote for a dish that’s tasty and pretty in pink.

14. Nigerian Yam and ‘Egg’

Yam and egg is a staple in most Nigerian households. This vegan Nigerian Yam and ‘Egg’ is an easy as pie dish that is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Anything really is possible in the world of vegan cooking and with a touch of adventure and experimentation in the kitchen, there’s no reason to miss out on anything.

15. Egg-Free Cookie Dough (It’s Ok to Lick the Bowl)

We all know that cookies are delicious, but sometimes the best part of baking cookies is eating the cookie dough itself. If you share this love of mine, satisfy your sweet tooth with this guilt free, egg-free Cookie Dough Dip – it’s sweet, creamy and quite a treat. Now it’s okay to lick the bowl!

16. Scrambled Tofu Fried Rice

No more picking the egg out of your fried rice. This Scrambled Tofu Fried Rice is a quick and easy dish that tastes great and will keep you full for hours. The combination of spicy, sweet and salty flavors combine into a fabulous flavored dish that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

17. Egg-Free Fortune Cookies

These vegan Fortune Cookies are the perfect way to finish up your favorite Chinese carry-out type meal. You can insert your own fortunes for your friends, family, and colleagues too. Not only are they completely vegan, they’re also naturally colored with beet juice.

18. Savory Spinach Quiche

Miso paste is the secret to making delicious vegan cheese, and one of the main ingredients used to prepare this egg-free Savory Spinach Quiche. The base is largely spinach and silken tofu, but the miso is what gives it that really cheesy flavor.

19. Portuguese Custard Tarts

These Portuguese Custard Tarts have a crispy and flaky shell filled with creamy, bright yellow custard laced with a bit of vanilla, cinnamon, and a distinctive egg-like flavor. You won’t believe these healthy custard tarts contain no eggs at all.

20. Toad-in-the-Hole with Rosemary

Traditionally, toad in the hole is sausages baked within a Yorkshire pudding base. This vegan Toad-in-the-Hole with Rosemary has red onions, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms added in with the sausages. Rosemary in the batter adds an herbal note. Traditionally, Yorkshire pudding batter is made out of eggs, flour, and milk but this version is completely vegan and gluten-free!

21. Frittata with Swiss Chard and Red Pepper

This Frittata with Swiss Chard and Red Pepper is the perfect consistency between a quiche without crust and an omelet. Instead of egg, it is made with extra firm tofu and filled with deliciously fresh ingredients bursting with flavor and benefits for the body.

These delicious recipes and the fact that we can make them all without eggs is definitely a reason to celebrate.

Lead image source: NOT Smoked Salmon Scramble