Mayonnaise is a versatile ingredient that has found its way into many recipes since mayonnaise can either bind ingredients or enhance flavors and textures in recipes.
However, you may be struggling with a recipe if you do not have any mayonnaise on hand and need some mayonnaise substitutes. I did the research, and here are nine mayonnaise substitutes I found!
Mayonnaise Substitutes
1. Sour Cream
Sour cream makes a great substitute for mayonnaise because sour cream shares the color and creamy consistency as mayonnaise.
Moreover, sour cream is also fantastic because sour cream is tangy like mayonnaise but sour cream will have a slightly more pronounced flavor than mayonnaise.
However, if you use sour cream to bind other ingredients together like you would use mayonnaise, you may not notice a huge difference in flavor.
Since sour cream is very similar to mayonnaise, you can swap sour cream for mayonnaise in equal amounts. Additionally, sour cream can be used in most recipes for mayonnaise, working as a spread, binder, and more.
Keep in mind that sour cream may be the best option for dressings and savory sandwiches since sour cream may not mix well with sweeter recipes that require mayonnaise.
2. Greek Yogurt
While Greek yogurt is typically used for breakfast foods, Greek yogurt can easily replace mayonnaise in many recipes, especially if you need a creamier texture in recipes like egg salads, dressings, etc.
Depending on the brand, Greek yogurt tastes similar to sour cream, but most Greek yogurts will have a texture akin to cream cheese.
Generally, Greek yogurt will be best if you need a replacement for dressing since Greek yogurt may not fair well in a sandwich as a spread.
3. Eggs
You may use eggs to make homemade mayonnaise if you also got olive oil and lemon juice, but it will take a bit of time and effort to create.
To create a basic mayonnaise recipe, whisk one tablespoon of lemon juice and one egg yolk then slowly add one cup of olive oil in a stream, whisking well until the mixture emulsifies.
When your mayonnaise is finished, your mayonnaise should have a creamy and thick texture. When you lift your utensil, the mayonnaise should fall down slowly.
Ideally, you should choose pasteurized eggs to create mayonnaise because unpasteurized eggs could carry bacteria that could make people sick.
4. Mustard
If you want a condiment that is lower in calories, mustard can replace mayonnaise, especially if you need a spread for sandwiches and wraps.
Depending on the mustard you have, mustard has a tangy taste like mayonnaise, but mustard could also be sweet or spicy.
However, mayonnaise has a much stronger and more distinct flavor profile compared to mayonnaise, so mustard will only work in recipes like sandwich spreads that require a creamy consistency.
5. Pesto
While most people associate pesto as a basil-based sauce, pesto actually refers to any sauce that has been crushed but most pesto sauces are bright green sauces.
Generally, most people use olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, basil, and cheese to create pesto, but the most important ingredient in pesto is oil, especially if you want to use the pesto as a mayonnaise substitute.
Similar to mustard, pesto can make a great mayonnaise substitute for wraps and sandwiches but pesto will not work well in egg salads, dressings, etc.
Moreover, pesto has a stronger taste compared to mayonnaise, often tasting nuttier and basil-like depending on the ingredients.
6. Avocado
Mashing avocado can give you the same creamy texture as mayonnaise, making mashed avocado a good alternative to mayonnaise in salads, spreads, etc.
Generally, avocado has a somewhat mild taste, which is ideal if you want a mayonnaise substitute that does not overpower other flavors in your dish.
However, avocado has a fairly yellowish-green hue, which can change the color of your recipes if you do not want to change the recipe’s appearance.
7. Tahini
Normally, tahini is a ground sesame paste or butter that is popularly used in Middle Eastern cuisine, and tahini can quickly replace mayonnaise if you are in a pinch.
While tahini has a savory and earthy taste, tahini has a creamy consistency that can work as a mayonnaise substitute for salad dressing, particularly for leaf-based salads.
Additionally, you may opt to use tahini sauce as a spread for a wrap or sandwich, but tahinis flavor will stand out compared to mayonnaise.
8. Hummus
Hummus can also work as a replacement for mayonnaise, and tahini happens to be one of the ingredients in hummus recipes.
Hummus has a smooth and thick consistency like mayonnaise, but hummus is much denser than mayonnaise and features tangy and savory flavors.
Typically, it is best to use hummus as a mayonnaise substitute if you need a spread for wraps and sandwiches, especially if you are creating a savory sandwich or wrap.
However, hummus will not be ideal as a binding ingredient since hummus is not as creamy or sticky as mayonnaise.
9. Olive OIl
If you just need liquid for dressings, olive oil could replace mayonnaise in certain salad dressing recipes. Olive oil can work as a substitute for mayonnaise when you need a binder for ingredients to create a salad dressing.
However, trying to use olive oil as a spread, flavor enhancer, etc. instead of mayonnaise would not work well since olive oil is much more liquid and neutral-flavored compared to mayonnaise.
Moreover, you need to be wary of using too much olive oil because olive oil could dilute the flavor of the other ingredients.
Therefore, you may opt to use olive oil as a base instead of mayonnaise for certain salads, but keep in mind that you will not get the same creamy texture as mayonnaise.
Read our other articles to discover mayonnaise substitutes for tuna, mayonnaise substitutes for egg salad, and mayonnaise substitutes for coleslaw.
Conclusion
Mayonnaise is a versatile ingredient that can work in many recipes, but there are many substitutes you can use if you do not have mayonnaise available.
For instance, mashed avocado, Greek yogurt, sour cream, and more can replace mayonnaise in many recipes.