This work describes the production of novel gel (products 1–5, Table 1) and foam textures (product 6, Table 1), with multiple applications in daily and haute cuisine, through the enzymatic hydrolysis of egg proteins (from whole egg, egg yolk or egg white) using a food grade aminopeptidase.
Product 1 was obtained by hydrolysis of egg white. Before enzyme inactivation, sugar and lime–lemon liquid extract were added and, following centrifugation and separation of the supernatant, it gave a very creamy dessert with flavor and texture similar to lemon cream, without including fat or fat-replacing additives. Fig. 1 shows a photograph of this product, with an appearance similar to a custard cream (Fig. 1A), that can also be frozen to give appealing ice-creams (Fig. 1B). Product 2 was obtained by hydrolysis of egg white with the addition of salt before enzyme inactivation, giving an egg-based product with a taste and mouthfeel similar to fresh or cottage cheese, but fat-, milk protein- and lactose-free, whose moisture content and resulting texture can be regulated by controlling the extent of centrifugation or manual draining (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3B). In the case of product 3, sugar and a liquid honey extract were added before enzyme inactivation and the gel was not centrifuged, so the resulting product had a flavor and texture comparable to those of junket, a dairy dessert made by enzymatic milk coagulation, but somehow lighter and smoother (Fig. 3A).