Upcycling aquafaba and liluva (food processing wastewater of legumes) into new value-added products

Aquafaba (chickpea cooking water) has been successfully commercialized as a clean-label emulsifier and egg replacer. It contains albumin, which incorporates air, and saponins that stabilize foams. Soluble protein, soluble fiber, and saponins emulsify oil in water emulsions. Liluva (processing water of legumes, including chickpeas) express comparable foaming ability to the respective legume flours, with higher emulsifying ability. Gluten-free bread formulated with liluva gained loaf volume, softness, and moistness. Sourdough fermented faster due to the prebiotic activity of oligosaccharides. In addition, aquafaba reduced syneresis in oat yogurt and modulated ice cream melting in a coconut dessert. Furthermore, the peptide defensin found in pea water exerted selected antimicrobial activity. While aquafaba is already successfully commercialized but with higher carbon footprint than egg white, liluva is an exciting opportunity: versatile, environmentally friendly alternative to hydrocolloids, and affordable. Concentration and drying technologies must be optimized to fully use these functional ingredients.