Easy Vegan Mayonnaise (2024)

This thick and creamy vegan mayonnaise is an excellent egg-free substitute for regular mayo. You can use vegan mayo for sandwiches, as a base for dressings, and in salads.

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Easy Vegan Mayonnaise (1)

You can make vegan mayo in two ways: using soy milk or with aquafaba. I’ve included tips for both below!

Our vegan mayo recipe is easy, tastes incredible, and lasts in the fridge for 2 weeks.

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Key Ingredients

  • Soy milk or aquafaba:Our vegan mayonnaise recipe works well with soy milk or aquafaba. If I had to pick one, I would lean towards soy milk. If you cannot eat soy or have a can of chickpeas lying around, my recipe below works well when made with aquafaba (here’s my ultimate guide to aquafaba).
  • Oil:Just like when making regular mayonnaise, you must stream in oil to thicken the mayonnaise. I use a neutral oil like safflower or vegetable oil. Olive oil is an option, but your mayo will pick up the flavor of your olive oil, so I recommend a lighter, fruitier bottle.
  • Vinegar:Red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar adds tanginess. Vinegar livens up all the other ingredients and makes it taste delicious.
  • Salt: As with most recipes, salt is essential in making the mayo taste good. So, add a pinch more salt if your mayonnaise doesn’t pop in flavor. I bet it will fix it!
  • Dijon mustard:Mustard is another emulsifier and adds extra tanginess. When making our egg-based recipe, we add mustard and love it, so it is perfect for adding here.
  • Lemon juice: We list fresh lemon juice as an optional ingredient, but I always add some when I have lemons.
  • Sweetener: I typically do not add any sweetener, but it does an excellent job balancing out the vinegar. You can add maple syrup, brown rice syrup, and even cane sugar.

How to Make Vegan Mayonnaise

When making the more traditional egg-based mayo, oil is slowly whipped or blended into the egg. By doing this slowly, the mixture emulsifies. That’s why mayonnaise is thick, white, and creamy.

When making vegan mayo, the method is no different. In the egg-based recipe, the egg is what aids in the emulsification process. Whereas, in the vegan recipe, soy milk or aquafaba do the heavy lifting.

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A food processor is my device of choice when making vegan mayo. Whenever I use it, the recipe always works. Mayonnaise is an emulsification, meaning the oil is suspended in the soy milk (or aquafaba), making a thick and creamy mixture.

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Using a food processor makes it easy to add the oil slowly.When you make mayo, you want to add the oil drop by drop at first. I know it takes time, but trust me, adding the oil slowly helps the emulsification process. Add it too quickly, and your mayonnaise may never thicken, leaving you with a mess.

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You can also use an immersion blenderto make this vegan mayo recipe. Use a tall jar, and remember to add some air towards the end of making the mayo. I do this by slowly moving the blender up and down. As you do this, you will notice that the mayonnaise gets thicker.

Regular blenders are not as foolprooffor this recipe. It’s possible to make this recipe using your blender, but we have not had as much success with it as with the food processor and immersion blender.

You can also make it by hand, but it will take some time and elbow grease. I highly recommend the food processor or immersion blender.

Ways to Use Vegan Mayonnaise

Homemade vegan mayonnaise isn’t just for sandwiches! Use it to make one of these delicious salads: We love using it to make ourpotato salad, ourcreamy coleslawor ourbroccoli salad.

It’s absolutely perfect for making tuna Salad or chicken salad. If you don’t eat seafood or meat, simply substitute the tuna or chicken for mashed chickpeas like we do for this smashed chickpea salad.

You can also turn mayo into your own creamy salad dressings! Try this simpletartar sauce.

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Vegan mayonnaise is an excellent egg-free substitute for regular mayonnaise. We use it for sandwiches, as a base for dressings, and in salads. Below are methods for making vegan mayo in a food processor and using an immersion blender. We have not had as much success with a regular blender.

For the best results, use room-temperature ingredients.

Makes 1 1/2 cups

Watch Us Make the Recipe

You Will Need

1/2 cup (120ml) soy milk, at room temperature

1 tablespoon red or white wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste

1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, optional

1 cup (236ml) neutral oil like safflower oil or vegetable oil

Pinch cane sugar or maple syrup, optional

Directions

  • Using a Food Processor
  • 1Add the soy milk to a food processor bowl. Process for 1 minute or until the liquid begins to thicken.

    2Add the vinegar, salt, mustard, and lemon juice, and process for another 30 seconds until well blended.

    3Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl. Then, with the food processor running, slowly add the oil in tiny drops until about a quarter of the oil has been added (slowly adding the oil is critical for proper emulsification).

    4When you notice that the mixture is beginning to thicken and emulsify, you can be a little less strict. Continue to add the oil slowly, but increase to a thin stream instead of drops of oil.

    5After adding all the oil, scrape the bowl and then process for 10 seconds.

    6Taste the vegan mayo, and then adjust with more salt or a sweetener if you feel it needs it.

    7As the mayonnaise sits in the fridge, it thickens even more (after 3 to 4 hours). If the mayonnaise is too thin, you can blend more oil. Do this slowly.

  • Using an Immersion Blender
  • 1Add the soy milk, vinegar, salt, and mustard to a tall glass jar or cup with an immersion blender.

    2Blend on high with an immersion blender until the mixture begins to thicken.

    3With the immersion blender on high speed, slowly add the oil. This will take one to two minutes. Adding the oil slowly helps the mayonnaise emulsify and thicken.

    4As you finish adding the oil, move the immersion blender up and down to introduce some air.

    5As the mayonnaise sits in the fridge, it thickens even more (after 3 to 4 hours). If the mayonnaise is too thin, you can blend more oil. Do this slowly.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

  • Storing: Store vegan mayo in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. As it sits, some liquid might pool at the top. However, I’ve found that it mixes back with a spoon with no issues. I do not recommend freezing.
  • Substitute soy milk with aquafaba: Use 1/4 cup (60ml) of aquafaba. The aquafaba whips up to a larger volume, so we use less than when making this recipe with soy milk. The other ingredients listed in the recipe do not need to change. Since we use less aquafaba, there may not be enough liquid for the processor blades to blend at first. Once you start adding the other ingredients, you should be okay. I’ve had the best results with aquafaba from canned beans. Before opening the can, vigorously shake it so the aquafaba becomes extra starchy from the beans.
  • The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. Calculations are for mayonnaise made with soy milk and no added sweetener.

Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1 tablespoon / Calories 82 / Total Fat 9.2g / Saturated Fat 1.2g / Cholesterol 0mg / Sodium 58.4mg / Carbohydrate 0.1g / Dietary Fiber 0g / Total Sugars 0g / Protein 0.1g

AUTHOR: Adam and Joanne Gallagher

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Easy Vegan Mayonnaise (2024)

FAQs

How to thicken homemade vegan mayo? ›

A mix of sunflower and olive oil is by far the best combination of oils we have tested to make vegan mayo for texture and taste. Thicker mayo: if you want a thicker mayonnaise, add 2 to 3 more tablespoons of oil. Thinner mayo: if you want a thinner mayonnaise, add 1 to 3 more tablespoons of unsweetened soy milk.

What is vegan mayonnaise made from? ›

To make homemade vegan mayonnaise, add the aquafaba, lemon juice, mustard, sugar, and salt to a blender. Before you add the oil, whirr these ingredients together. This allows the aquafaba to start to whip up and become foamy. With the blade running, slowly drizzle in the sunflower oil, and blend until thickened.

Why isn t my vegan mayo emulsifying? ›

I love to use it in potato salad, dressings, on sandwiches, and in Chickpea Mayo Salad. Why isn't my vegan mayo emulsifying? If your mayo isn't thickening up as expected, try adding some more oil.

Is Hellmann's vegan mayo healthier than normal mayo? ›

Vegan mayo is generally a bit healthier than egg-based or non-vegan mayo, containing less saturated fats and Vegenaise contains almost no cholesterol, which can't be said in the case of an original jar of Hellman's.

Why is my vegan mayo runny? ›

When you make mayo, you want to add the oil drop by drop at first. I know it takes time, but trust me, adding the oil slowly helps the emulsification process. Add it too quickly, and your mayonnaise may never thicken, leaving you with a mess. You can also use an immersion blender to make this vegan mayo recipe.

How healthy is vegan mayonnaise? ›

Nutritional Value of Vegan Mayo

Vegan mayo is generally lower in calories and fat than traditional mayo, as it is made without egg yolks. One tablespoon of vegan mayo contains around 90 calories and 10 grams of fat, compared to traditional mayo—which has about 100 calories and 11 grams per tablespoon.

Does vegan mayonnaise taste like real mayonnaise? ›

Vegan mayo is a helpful, healthy alternative to the classic, and I really do stand by my assertion that the taste is almost exactly the same. You'd need some super-human taste buds to tell the difference. Or an egg allergy, I guess. Breaking out in hives would certainly give it away pretty quick, come to think of it.

What is Hellmann's vegan mayonnaise made of? ›

NUTRITION. Canola oil, Water, Vinegar, Modified potato starch, Sugar, Salt, Modified corn starch, Natural flavour, Concentrated lemon juice, Sorbic acid (maintains quality), Spice, Calcium disodium EDTA (maintains flavour).

What is the best emulsifier for mayonnaise? ›

Egg Yolks, the Emulsifier. Add egg yolks and salt; pulse to combine. Egg yolks contain lecithin, which resembles both oil and water molecules and can connect to both. The salt boosts flavor and makes eggs more viscous, which helps prevent separation.

What oil is best for mayonnaise? ›

Safflower, canola, grapeseed and peanut oil all do nicely. Just make sure the oil is at the same temperature as the egg. You can use cold oil and cold eggs, but I found room temperature eggs and oil to be the easiest to work with.

Why can't vegans eat mayonnaise? ›

Because mayonnaise has egg in it, it's not vegan. A food product that's vegan is made without any animal products. Instead of eggs, commercial vegan mayonnaise brands may use aquafaba, which is the thick liquid from cooking or soaking chickpeas.

Is vegan mayo anti-inflammatory? ›

It also contains a little vitamin E and K, as well as a monounsaturated fat called oleic acid, thought to have anti-inflammatory properties. Using aquafaba may make your vegan mayo slightly healthier.

What do vegans eat instead of mayonnaise? ›

Homemade avocado “mayo”

This substitute for mayo is vegan and contains lots of healthy fats from the avocado and olive oil. Add the avocado, olive oil, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard to a food processor and blend until it reaches the consistency you want.

What is the healthiest mayo alternative? ›

1. Reduced-Fat Greek Yogurt. Reduced-fat Greek yogurt has the thickness needed to hold your ingredients together, without the fat content of oil-based mayo. A cup of reduced-fat plain Greek yogurt contains 4.7 grams of fat — less than half the fat content in a single tablespoon of mayo.

How do you thicken runny homemade mayonnaise? ›

The easiest way to thicken mayonnaise is to add a cooked egg yolk or two. This will give your mayonnaise a richer flavor as well. There are a couple of other ways that involve either adding extra oil or another way is add flour or cornstarch which I have never tired or done myself. I prefer the cooked egg yolk.

How to thicken up a vegan sauce? ›

Adding a roux—a mixture of flour and butter—is a classic way to thicken dishes ranging from gravies to stews. While you can't add butter to vegan dishes, you can still use flour to add some substance to watery sauces. All types of flour work well for thickening, including wheat flour, coconut flour, and chickpea flour.

How do you fix homemade mayonnaise that is too thin? ›

On the contrary, if your mayonnaise is too runny or doesn't set because you've added cold ingredients, simply add another egg yolk, strictly at room temperature. In this case too, the process for fixing your mayonnaise is linear.

How do you thicken homemade plant based milk? ›

The natural oils and fats in almonds contribute to the thickening process, resulting in a creamy and satisfying beverage. Another natural thickening option is the use of potato starch or cornstarch, which can be mixed with a small amount of water before adding it to your almond milk.

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