Easy Cashew Mayonnaise (Vegan, Oil-free)

5 from 11 votes

Easy Cashew Mayonnaise (Vegan, Oil-free)

Healthy, easy and amazing cashew mayonnaise! Made with 4 ingredients (plus water and salt), it is oil-free, vegan, and Paleo. Use it in any and all recipes calling for mayonnaise.

Prep Time5

Cook Time0

Course: Essential Basics

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cashews, easy, mayonnaise, oil-free, paleo, plant-based, vegan

Servings: cup (250 mL)

Author: Camilla

Ingredients

1 cup 4 oz/112 g raw cashews
1/3 cup 75 mL cold water (more, as needed)
2 tablespoons 30 mL freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt more or less, to taste

Instructions

Place the cashews in a mason jar or glass bowl. Add 2 cups (500 mL) boiling water. Let stand for 15 to 20 minutes until very plump. Drain and rinse the cashews.
In a small food processor or handheld blender (i.e., bullet-style blender), process the cashews, water, lemon juice, mustard, garlic powder, and salt.
Stop and scrape the sides and bottom of container multiple times until the mixture is very smooth creamy-looking, and the consistency of mayonnaise (be patient, this will take a good amount of stopping, starting, and scraping--about 3 to 4 minutes).
If desired, add more water for a looser mayonnaise. Taste the mayonnaise and add more salt, mustard, garlic power or lemon juice as desired.

Notes

Storage: Store the mayonnaise in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. Freezing is not recommended.

Overnight Soaking: If you prefer, soak the cashews in 2 cups cold water, at room temperature for 8 hours instead of using the quick soak method. Drain and rinse before using. I do not recommend soaking the cashews for longer than 8 hours (they can turn slimy).

Blending Tip: I specify a small food processor or blender because the small volume of mayonnaise is difficult to blend in a regular size food processor or blender. If you are making a large batch of the mayonnaise (e.g., double or triple), a regular size food processor or blender will work.

Fresh Garlic: I like the simplicity of using garlic powder, but fresh garlic can be used, too. I do not recommend using raw garlic; the flavor is too strong and grows stronger as the mayonnaise is stored. Instead, blanch the garlic in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes or roast the garlic. I recommend 1 to 2 cloves, to taste.

Nutrition