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    Oh My Veggies » Vegan Recipes » Vegan Sauces, Spreads and Condiments

    How to Make Cashew Mayonnaise

    Published: Jun 7, 2019 · by Nicole · Updated: Jan 19, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Cashew mayo is a great vegan alternative to both traditional and soy-based mayonnaise. In this post, I'll show you step-by-step how to make your own!

    How to Make Cashew Mayo
    Jump to:
    • Step 1 - Soak the Cashews
    • Step 2 - Blending
    • Step 3- Add Mix-Ins
    • Step 4 - Serving it!
    • What else can you make with raw cashews?
    • Hot Question: Are Raw Cashews Poisonous?
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    I feel like I need to clarify the title of this post a little bit. Maybe it would be better if I called it "How I Make Cashew Mayo." I don't make cashew mayo the traditional way, so this isn't THE definitive cashew mayo recipe. It's MY cashew mayo recipe. It's a little bit different from others because:

    1) A lot of cashew mayo recipes are raw. Mine is not.

    2) My recipe isn't technically raw because I use vegetable broth in it. This adds a little boost of extra flavor.

    3) I don't add anything to sweeten my cashew mayo.

    See? It's different. And I can't promise you that it tastes exactly like real mayo (because it was the 80s when I last had real mayo), but it makes a mean sandwich spread and it's great on crackers or as a dip for veggies too.

    Are you ready to get started? Here's how to make cashew mayo!

    Step 1 - Soak the Cashews

    Soak the Cashews

    Put one cup of raw cashews (I like this brand.) in a bowl and cover them with water. Let them sit for a few hours--about two to four is a good amount.

    Step 2 - Blending

    Blend the Cashews

    Drain and rinse the cashews, then pop them in your blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice, and ¼ cup of vegetable broth. Blend everything until it's completely smooth, scraping down the sides of the blender or food processor as needed.

    You can add more broth or water if you want a thinner mayo—I usually add an additional tablespoon or two of water. After you're finished blending it, taste it and season with salt, if needed.

    Step 3- Add Mix-Ins

    Add Fresh Herbs

    I like to add fresh herbs to my cashew mayo. If you want to give that a try, chop up whatever you have on hand (I'm using dill, tarragon, thyme and rosemary here) and stir about a tablespoon into the blended mayo. Other good additions are pesto, roasted or freshly minced garlic, or hot sauce.

    Step 4 - Serving it!

    Cashew Mayo

    Your cashew mayo is done! Wasn't that easy? Now you can put it on burgers and sandwiches and do other mayo-y things with it. I personally love it on this vegetarian banh mi sandwich and on vegan black bean burgers.

    What else can you make with raw cashews?

    If you don't eat dairy, but you're not a fan of soy-based substitutes, cashews are a great alternative. When they're soaked, they blend up much more smoothly than other nuts. I also use them in my Chocolate Chip Cheesecake-Stuffed Strawberries and in this Cinnamon Vanilla Cashew Milk recipe.

    Cashews are also a fantastic base for making your own vegan cheeses such as this 15 minute cashew cheese spread, this sliceable cashew cheese, or this vegan cream cheese.

    Hot Question: Are Raw Cashews Poisonous?

    I get this question a lot, so wanted to throw in a quick note to clear up this issue. Truly raw cashews - as in, cashews you just harvested - do indeed contain a toxin called urushiol in their shell.

    However, the "raw cashews" you buy at the grocery store have been shelled and heat treated, making them safe for consumption. (I buy this brand of raw cashews.)

    Recipe

    vegan cashew mayo

    Vegan Cashew Mayo

    This homemade vegan cashew mayo is a great alternative to traditional and soy based mayo!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    3 hours
    Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
    Course: Sauce, Sauces, Dips & Dressings
    Cuisine: American, French
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: how to make cashew mayo, vegan cashew mayo
    Servings: 8 2 tbsp servings (approximate)
    Calories: 90kcal
    Author: Oh My Veggies

    Equipment

    • Blender or food processor

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup raw cashews
    • 2 tbsp lemon juice
    • ¼ cup vegetable broth
    • salt optional, to taste
    • fresh herbs such as dill, tarragon, thyme, or rosemary optional, as desired
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Soak the cashews: Place the raw cashews in a bowl and cover with water. Allow them to soak for 2-4 hours. More time is better - you will get a creamier result.
    • Drain and rinse the cashews.
    • Place the cashews into a food processor or high speed blender. Add the lemon juice and vegetable broth. Blend until smooth, scraping the sides as needed.
    • If the consistency is too thick for your liking, add 1-2 tbsp of additional broth or water. Taste and season with salt, if needed.
    • Optionally, you can can mix in some minced fresh herbs for additional flavor. Other tasty mix-ins are pesto, roasted garlic, or hot sauce!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 90kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 31mgPotassium: 110mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 16IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg
    Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
    « Creamy Veggie Scrambled Eggs
    Cinnamon Roll Mug Cake »

    Cooking Tips & Hints, Sauces, Spreads and Condiments, Vegan Recipes, Vegan Sauces, Spreads and Condiments, Vegetarian Recipes cashews, gluten-free

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says

      June 12, 2013 at 11:52 am

      I should do this because I HATE regular mayo!

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 13, 2013 at 7:30 am

        Me too. Nastiness.

        Reply
      • Emeralde says

        September 10, 2016 at 3:27 pm

        Soaking the cashews overnight will make a heavenly creamy mayo than just soaking them 2 to 4 or 6 hours.

        Reply
    2. Hazel @ fresherfood says

      June 12, 2013 at 12:53 pm

      I had no idea that soaked cashews would blend so beautifully smooth. I really dislike regular mayo so this looks perfect 🙂

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 13, 2013 at 7:30 am

        They do! It's incredible. They make a great substitute for dairy!

        Reply
    3. Cassie says

      June 12, 2013 at 4:07 pm

      Cannot wait to try this. I love the way you do cashew mayo, Kiersten!

      Reply
    4. Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says

      June 12, 2013 at 5:38 pm

      What an awesome idea for a homemade mayo! I bet the flavor is unlike anything I've had before. I love it!

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 13, 2013 at 7:29 am

        It's tangy like mayo, since there's lemon in it. 🙂

        Reply
        • LYDIA says

          May 22, 2016 at 6:06 am

          I also add a teaspoon of dijon mustard and some white pepper and sometimes to the prepared mayo I add minced onion garlic and parsil

          Reply
    5. dishing up the dirt says

      June 12, 2013 at 10:19 pm

      I CANNOT wait to try this!!!

      Reply
    6. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

      June 12, 2013 at 11:25 pm

      LOVE cashew sauce and other nut-based sauce. I use it in place of cream in my recipes. So delish!

      Reply
    7. MAGGIE VALERA says

      June 13, 2013 at 7:33 am

      How do I store it and how long does it keep for?

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 13, 2013 at 7:54 am

        Store it in a container with a cover in the fridge. It will last for 3-4 days.

        Reply
    8. Samantha says

      June 13, 2013 at 9:25 am

      I haven't put mayo in anything for so long and now I can make this and start using it again! Thanks Kiersten.

      Reply
    9. angela @ another bite please says

      June 13, 2013 at 1:40 pm

      cashew mayo...haven't heard of before...i've used cashew's for the "cheese" in some dairy recipes and LOVE it...so know this will be a new fav to try!

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 14, 2013 at 6:46 pm

        Well, if you like cashew cheese, you will like cashew mayo too. 😀

        Reply
    10. Genevieve says

      June 13, 2013 at 2:24 pm

      I've had trouble blending cashews in the past, but adding vegetable broth sounds like a good idea both to add flavour and make the mixture more smooth. I don't eat mayo much anymore, and the vegan brands have so many processed ingredients in them, that this definitely sounds like a healthier option!

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 14, 2013 at 6:44 pm

        It does take patience! And I've also noticed that blending a larger amount helps. I often want to just make 1/2 cup of cashew cream or mayo, but it never works out--the blender just flings it to the side of the container and it never gets blended.

        Reply
    11. Shannon says

      June 13, 2013 at 5:36 pm

      wow i really have to try this, I don't care for regular mayo because I hate the eggy flavor but I like everything in this recipe. And it doesn't use tofu like alot of other vegan mayo recipes. I tried your cashew cheesecake recipe though, adapted it slightly and now I use it in like everything I would use regular cream cheese in, I even made vegan cheesecake brownies. So I'm betting this will be really tasty too, thanks for the creative recipes 🙂

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 14, 2013 at 6:39 pm

        Ooh, cheesecake brownies are my favorite dessert ever! I'm going to have to try using cashew cream in them. 🙂

        Reply
        • Shannon says

          June 15, 2013 at 12:47 am

          just so you don't have a baking disaster if you do try this, i should mention i add a ton of other stuff like sugar, flour, raspberry puree when i make them into brownies. I have no idea how it would turn out without all the added stuff. might still be good, but less sweet definitely

          Reply
          • Kiersten says

            June 18, 2013 at 9:28 pm

            Ooh, raspberry puree. That sounds even better! 😀

            Reply
    12. Lisa @ Greek Vegetarian says

      June 13, 2013 at 11:10 pm

      I do love regular mayo but this sounds like a really cool alternative. Love that photo from above the vitamix!

      Reply
    13. mjskit says

      June 13, 2013 at 11:55 pm

      Oh I love this idea! What a great alternative to egg based mayo. Thanks!

      Reply
    14. Heidi @ Food Doodles says

      June 14, 2013 at 7:23 pm

      Oooh, this sounds wonderful! Far more appealing than regular mayo!

      Reply
    15. Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says

      June 16, 2013 at 11:07 am

      What a fun twist on mayo. Can't wait to try this! I have a bag of cashews just waiting to be used up too!

      Reply
    16. [email protected] eco friendly homemaking says

      June 16, 2013 at 10:20 pm

      Okay I am off to the kitchen to soak some cashews! Going to make this tomorrow.

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 18, 2013 at 9:26 pm

        I hope you enjoy it! 😀

        Reply
    17. Shirley says

      June 16, 2013 at 10:37 pm

      First cashew milk, and now cashew mayo -- I'm always learning about interesting things at OMV! Do you happen to know how the nutrition stats stack up against traditional mayo? Also like the sound of adding garlic or hot sauce.

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 18, 2013 at 9:25 pm

        I'm not sure off-hand. The cashew mayo would have good fats, while regular mayo probably has more sat fats with the egg...

        Reply
    18. Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says

      June 18, 2013 at 12:55 am

      Tee hee, I love mayo. LOVE IT! This recipe is pretty dang neato. I seriously love how creative it is and for some reason it makes me think of tzatziki. No Idea where that is coming from.

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 18, 2013 at 9:12 pm

        You know, I have been wondering if it's possible to make a tzatziki with cashews. Maybe with lots of lemon for the tanginess?

        Reply
    19. Brenda Williams says

      July 06, 2013 at 8:39 pm

      When I get my cookbook I am going to write "and all the things I never knew" under the title...LOL...you have opened up a whole new world to me and I love it!

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        July 13, 2013 at 5:10 pm

        Well, necessity is the mother of invention and I hate regular mayo so I had to come up with an alternative! 😀

        Reply
    20. Dani says

      January 15, 2014 at 12:01 pm

      Thanks so much for this recipe! It was a great use of the last of our veggie broth! My SO (who isn't a vegan but has been eating less and less dairy since we started dating) said that it tasted like celery/french onion dip. I think I am going to try and use this as a base for a french onion veggie dip in the future!

      Reply
      • Kiersten Frase says

        January 15, 2014 at 8:36 pm

        I've been thinking about trying to make this into a vegan French onion dip! I need to get on that. 🙂 I think it would be good as a base for spinach artichoke dip too.

        Reply
    21. Gira says

      June 08, 2015 at 11:09 am

      I use this all the time now for making chickpea "chik'n" salad! Thank you so much for sharing!

      Reply
    22. Rosy Young says

      August 01, 2015 at 2:30 pm

      Really great Kiersten -This sounds super easy and super nutritious - fab - making it today!... Will have to use a lime as have not got lemon. Thank you. Rosy.

      Reply
    23. leanne says

      November 17, 2019 at 12:39 am

      Thanks..Love,love love!!!

      Reply
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    Nicole is a life long vegetarian and the author of the popular vegan cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. She loves sharing her recipes and showing the world just how easy and delicious meatless meals can be!
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