Print

Mayonnaise Substitute: 3 Ways!

Cashew cream | How to make cashew cream
Save Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Checked the cupboard and there’s no mayo? Or doesn’t fit your diet? Here’s the best mayonnaise to use in all your cooking.

Ingredients

Scale

For the cashew cream

For the aioli

  • 1 small garlic clove (1/8 teaspoon finely minced)
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/3 cup olive oil OR 3 tablespoons olive oil plus 2 tablespoons neutral oil*

For the avocado mayo

  • 1 ripe avocado*
  • 1 small garlic clove
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons aquafaba (liquid from a can of chickpeas)

Instructions

  1. For the cashew cream: Place the cashews in a bowl and cover them with water. Soak for at least 1 hour. For preparation in advance, you can soak the cashews overnight, which is even better. Drain the cashews. Add the cashews, broth or water, and salt to a blender, then blend on high for 1 minute. Stop and scrape, then add additional liquid if necessary to come to a creamy consistency. Blend for several minutes until creamy and smooth. (Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for several months.)
  2. For the aioli:  Place a medium flat-bottomed bowl on top of a folded dish towel to keep it secure while whisking. The size of the bowl is important; it must be large enough to allow for whisking vigorously. Add the garlic, egg yolk, white wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard to the bowl and whisk until thick and creamy. Pour the olive oil into a liquid measuring cup. Starting one drop at a time, slowly add the olive oil into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Allow the olive oil to become completely incorporated before continuing to add more olive oil; the drizzling can become gradually faster as you add more oil. Whisk until all of the oil is fully incorporated and the aioli is thickened. Store the leftover aioli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks; bring to room temperature before serving.
  3. For the avocado mayo: Pit the avocado. Add all ingredients to a small blender, small food processor, or cup of an immersion blender and blend. If you don’t have a small blender, you can make a chunkier version of the sauce by grating in the garlic and then whisking very vigorously to get it as smooth as possible. You also can use a standard-size blender or food processor, but you’ll need to make double the mayo to get it to blend. Store 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator and place plastic wrap pressed onto the surface of the mayo to prevent browning. If the very top layer does get browned, you can simply scrape it off.

Notes

*Using a mix of neutral oil and olive oil the smoothest flavor and lighter, creamier look. Using all olive oil is brighter yellow and has a hint more bitterness (but is just as tasty!).