Vegan Cashew Mayo

This vegan cashew mayo is creamy, rich, and delicious. It’s easy to make and can be used in a variety of recipes, from sandwiches and salads to dips.

Looking for a healthy mayo alternative? Give this cashew mayonnaise a try! It’s made by blending raw, soaked cashews with water and a few other flavorful ingredients. It’s simple, yet satisfying, and is sure to become a new staple in your kitchen!

Mayo is my absolute favorite condiment – I can’t imagine life without it! Although I enjoy Vegenaise as a vegan option, as a mayo enthusiast who craves it daily, discovering healthier substitutes was essential. This cashew mayo, along with tofu mayo, is my top pick! It’s simple to prepare and great for everyday use.

While this alternative mayo may not taste or feel exactly like the traditional one due to using different ingredients, it still has an amazing flavor and texture. It’s rich, tangy, creamy, and truly delicious.

Jump to:

• Why you’ll love this cashew mayo
• Ingredients you’ll need
• How to make cashew mayo
• Recipe video
• Serving suggestions
• Variations & additions
• Storage tips
• Recipe

Why you’ll love this cashew mayo

• It’s got the perfect smooth, thick, creamy texture and tangy flavor that you crave in a mayo.
• It’s incredibly easy to make! You only need cashews, a handful of other pantry staples, a blender, and less than 10 minutes of your time to whip up this mayo alternative.
• It’s made from wholesome ingredients, making it a nutritious mayo substitute ideal for daily consumption.
• It’s versatile and can be used in any recipe or dish where traditional mayo is called for.
• It’s customizable, allowing you to add different seasonings, herbs, or spices to change up the flavor as desired.
• Despite using cashews as a base, it’s much cheaper than store-bought vegan mayo. Just for your reference, I spent about 2 dollars to make this recipe.
• Great for meal prep, as it can be stored in the fridge for a week and used in a variety of ways.

Ingredients you’ll need

• Cashews: Raw cashews (unsalted and unroasted) are the perfect base for this mayo alternative, thanks to their creamy texture once soaked and blended. Additionally, their mild flavor makes them versatile and perfect for adding your desired seasonings and spices.
• Lemon & Vinegar: To give the mayo a tangy flavor, I use a combination of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar in this recipe. It’s best to use freshly squeezed lemon juice instead of bottled lemon juice to achieve the best taste.
• Olive Oil: I prefer to add a teaspoon of olive oil to this mayo recipe for added creaminess and flavor. However, if you prefer an oil-free cashew mayo, feel free to omit it.
• Seasonings: For seasoning, we use a blend of salt, garlic powder, mustard powder, and nutritional yeast flakes. While nutritional yeast is optional, I personally enjoy its flavor and usually include it in the recipe

Full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions are located in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. This section covers notes on ingredients and possible substitutions.

How to make cashew mayo

Many people find making traditional mayo challenging because it can be difficult to achieve the right consistency. However, this cashew mayo alternative is one of the simplest recipes you’ll come across! It only requires two easy steps.

Step 1: Soak the cashews

The first step to make cashew mayo is to soak raw cashews in room temperature water for about 4 hours or overnight. This will allow the cashews to fully soften.

For a quicker method, you can pour boiling water over the cashews and let them soak for about 10 to 15 minutes. It’s okay if you forget about them and let them soak longer.

Soaking the nuts is an essential step in making cashew mayo, and though it requires some planning, it makes the nuts softer and easier to blend. This results in a smoother, creamier mayo that’s well worth the effort. Even with a high-speed blender, don’t skip this step for the best results.

Step 2: Blend soak cashews with other ingredients

Once you’ve soaked the cashews, drain and rinse them thoroughly. Add them to a blender along with filtered water and the remaining ingredients from the recipe.

Blend on high speed for 1-2 minutes, until you get a smooth and creamy mixture. You may need to scrape the sides down once or twice to ensure everything is well-blended.

Next, taste the mayo and adjust the seasoning as needed. If you desire a more tangy flavor, add a little extra lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.

There you have it, a simple recipe for vegan mayo that’s both delicious and nutritious!

Note: After blending the mayo, it will have a looser consistency compared to traditional mayo. However, it will thicken up as it sits in the fridge.

Equipment note

I usually use my Nutribullet to make this recipe as it’s convenient and ensures a smooth consistency with minimal effort.

However, most blenders will work just as well. While a high-speed blender like a Vitamix is great for achieving a smooth texture, a regular blender should work fine. Just make sure to blend thoroughly until the mixture is completely smooth.

I do not recommend using a food processor for this recipe as it may not achieve a completely smooth texture.

Recipe video

Watch how to make this recipe:

Serving suggestions

You can use cashew mayo in any way that you would use regular mayo! We love it as:

• A spread for sandwiches or wraps.
• A topping for veggie burgers, such as our vegan lentil burgers.
• A dressing for salads or grain bowls.
• A condiment for tacos or burrito bowls.
• A dip for raw veggies, chips, roasted potato fries, meatballs, and even sushi rolls.
• A topping for baked potatoes or roasted veggies.

Cashew mayo can be a healthier substitute for regular mayo in recipes such as potato salad, pasta salad, egg salad, and more.

Variations & additions

There are many variations that can be made to cashew mayo to customize its flavor and texture. Here are a few ideas:

• Spicy Cashew Mayo: Add a hot sauce, like Sriracha, or cayenne pepper to give your mayo a spicy kick.
• Garlic Cashew Mayo: Roast some garlic cloves and blend them into the mayo for a rich and savory flavor.
• Herbed Cashew Mayo: Blend in some fresh herbs such as basil, dill, or parsley for an herby flavor. If you prefer a more refreshing taste, you can try adding mint.
• Cilantro Lime Cashew Mayo: For a bright and tangy twist, substitute lime juice for lemon and blend in fresh cilantro
• Chipotle Cashew Mayo: Add some chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a smoky and spicy flavor.

Storage tips

You can store your cashew mayo in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

The mayo will thicken up as it chills, and you may notice some separation. Just give it a good stir before using it again.

Avoid freezing cashew mayo, as the texture may change and it may not be as smooth when thawed.

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Recipe