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!
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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
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
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
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!
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
Equipment
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
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!
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch says
Great idea! I bet this tastes yummy!!! Thanks for sharing!
Kare @ Kitchen Treaty says
I spy awesome yellow nails along with delicious-looking cashew mayo! LOVE that color. And now I want to try cashew mayo immediately. The fresh herbs clinched it.
Kiersten says
Yes, they are yellow! And out of focus because they were starting to chip. 😀
Martina says
This looks fab! I'm actually not a massive fan of mayo so I quite like finding interesting alternatives.
Cheers
Martina
http://snapshotsandwhatnots.typepad.com
JulieD says
Love this, Kiersten! I LOVE cashews!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
Seriously, how amazing are cashews?? They make "cheese" and now mayo?? Yum, yum! I will definitely have to give this a try :).
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan says
I love love love cashews! What can't they do? I've been searching for a non-jarred vegan mayo and girl you got it!
Kiersten says
Yeah, I'm not a fan of the store-bought options. :/
Alissa N says
This looks amazing, you make me feel like I can actually make cool cashew things. I think I would put cashew mayo on everything, and would go perfectly with my current veggie burger obsession!!
Kiersten says
You can make cool cashew things! 😀 DO IT!
Jackie @ The Beeroness says
I love this. I just had some amazing smashed potatoes at an event in Austin. I asked the chef what he did to them, and he said they were vegan. He uses cashew butter that sounds a lot like this. I totally want to make it now, they were so great and completely vegan.
Robyn B (Modern Day Missus) says
Yum, what a great idea. I love the sound of this cashew mayo, and to serve it with smashed potatoes sounds delicious!
I think this will make a debut at dinner tonight.
esther says
I don't care if this is not how you're "supposed" to make it - it sounds deelicious!!!!!
Suzanne says
I love cashews! Last week I blended them up with some nooch, water, lemon juice, and dijon and plopped it on a pizza. Yum!
Kiersten says
I was thinking about doing something like that! Some kind of alfredo pizza, with cashews...
suzi says
this sounds great! how long will it keep in the fridge do you think?
Kiersten says
I wouldn't keep it more than 3-4 days.
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ says
I never heard of cashew mayo! Another surprising post, I'm learning a lot from you!
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
Color me intrigued! 🙂
Maria Tadic says
I will definitely have to try this - my husband is freaked out by regular mayo (amongst many other things). How long do you think this will stay good in the fridge?
Kiersten says
Mayo freaks me out too! I would try to use this within 3-4 days. Cashew creams don't last a super long time in the fridge.
Grace @ Earthy Feast says
Golly, I could eat this stuff with a spoon! I always end up adding garlic and curry to mine, mmm. The hardest part about this dish is trying to lick the blender clean, lol!
Emily says
Thanks for the tip - I think I'll make this in the food processor, since it's hard to lick the blender clean. I don't want to run into that problem!
Kiersten says
I've done garlic before, but I've never added curry--I'm going to have to try that!
Emily says
Oh. My. Gosh. Thank you {again} for the gazillionth recipe that has me licking my lips. Making this right away.
Ronnie Fein says
Always looking for good, non-soy, non-dairy substitutes. This looks good and easy to make. I can understand why you also use it for cakes -- cashews are kind of sweet. Thanks!
Caitlin says
so simple! and i love the minimal ingredients. love!
[email protected] says
Cashew mayo, such a unique idea! I'm loving the possibilities with adding fresh herbs!
[email protected] n Dishes says
While I do indeed eat real mayo; I like to shake things up little, this is such a yummy & rich alternative to top off my sammies or veggie burgers!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
I've made cashew cream for pasta before and wasn't too crazy about it but it didn't have vegetable broth so I'll have to give your version a try. I wish I didn't love dairy so much so that I could go vegan but options like this make giving it up seem so much easier!
Kiersten says
I eat dairy, but I try to cut down where I can. I'm not a fan of a lot of dairy subs, but I love using cashews to mimic the creaminess of dairy.
Ashley says
I am so intrigued by this - I really need to give it a try! I kinda like mayo but kinda not - if that makes any sense : )
Kiersten says
Yeah, I have some foods like that too. 🙂 But for me, mayo falls into the definitely do not like category!
dixya| food, pleasure, and health says
this will make such a delicious sandwich spread. yum yum yum
[email protected]'s Recipes says
I have made this nut mayo before, so I know this is HEALTHY and DELICIOUS!
Kiersten says
Isn't it so good? I love it!
Connie says
Wow, I'm surprised at how creamy it looks. And I like the idea of using it both for sandwiches and as a base for dips.