So much depends upon mayo. If you think that’s an exaggeration, try eating a dry sandwich or a tempeh salad with nothing but lemon juice to moisten it. For omnivores, the solution is easy: Grab a jar of egg-based mayonnaise off any supermarket shelf. For vegans, it’s a little more difficult; oil-based Vegenaise* and soy-based Nayonaise* aren’t exactly everywhere, but people in larger towns and cities should be able to track them down. However, for those of us who avoid added oil, there’s only one packaged option, the strange-tasting, not-very-mayonnaisey Fat Free Nayonaise*. Well, I say “Nay” to Nayonaise. Make your own mayo!
Tofu-based mayonnaise recipes abound–FatFree Vegan Recipes has some here, here, and here–but most are too sweet and all taste too much like blended silken tofu for my family’s tastes. My husband and daughter have gotten used to the not-fat-free stuff in the jar, and when our local stores recently stopped carrying the brand we use, I knew I had to create something that they would like as much or more.
We’ve never met a cashew-based dressing or sauce that we didn’t like, so I combined the fluffiness of silken tofu with the flavor (and a little fat) of blended cashews to come up with a mayo that somehow manages to be lighter than regular Nayonaise and much, much better than FatFree Nayonaise. Even with the fat from the cashews, a tablespoon of my mayo contains only 15 calories and less than a gram of fat. You can use it on sandwiches, in salads, even in cooked dishes–anywhere you’d use mayo. You can also use it instead of oil in any oil-based salad dressing, instantly transforming it into a creamy dressing. Try blending a couple tablespoons of it into my Balsamic-Raisin Dressing. Or mix it with sweet relish to make a tartar sauce perfect for serving with Jackfruit “Crab” Cakes. Yum!
Tofu-Cashew Mayonnaise
This recipe makes a pint of mayo. If you’re not likely to use that much within two or three weeks, consider making a half batch or freezing what you can’t use right away.
Ingredients
- 1 12.3 ounce package firm silken tofu (see note)
- 1/2 cup raw cashews (about 2 ounces)
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard, any variety
- 1/8 teaspoon granulated onion powder
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Drain water from tofu and place it and all other ingredients except salt in a high-speed blender. Blend at highest speed until light and creamy. Add salt to taste and blend again. Seal tightly and keep refrigerated. Stir before each use.
Notes
I recommend either Mori-Nu Organic Silken Tofu or Mori-Nu Lite Firm Tofu. Both are non-GMO, though the Lite uses Isolated Soy Protein.
Variations
To make this in a food processor or regular blender, use 1/3 cup of cashew butter instead of cashews and process until smooth.
Preparation time: 5 minute(s) | Cooking time: 0 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 32
Nutrition (per tablespoon): 15 calories, 7 calories from fat, .88g total fat, 0mg cholesterol, 12.4mg sodium, 20.1mg potassium, <1g carbohydrates, <1g fiber, <1g sugar, 1.1g protein, 0.4 points. (Sodium depends on the amount of salt used.)
Vegenaise Original has 90 calories and 9 grams of fat per tablespoon. Regular Nayonaise has 35 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. Fat Free Nayonaise has 10 calories and 0 grams of fat.
Update: I tried freezing and then defrosting the mayo, and it came out a little less fluffy but still tasting the same.
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{ 148 comments… read them below or add one }
This is very intriguing! I like the flavor of Vegenaise, but I don’t use it very often because it’s not the healthiest of spreads. How long do you think your mayo will keep in the refrigerator?
I’m experimenting with it now to see how long it will last, but my guess is just 2 or 3 weeks since there are no preservatives in it. It’s easy to halve the recipe, so I recommend doing that if you won’t use it up that quickly.
I made this a few days ago. The whippy texture is so lovely and the flavor is the perfect canvas for sandwiches. I love having an oil-free alternative to Vegenaise! Thanks!
How long it will keep was the first question that popped into my head! Halving the recipe is a good idea
People say it freezes well, but I haven’t tried it.
Susan, I love you.
Thank you for this recipe. No exaggeration, I think you just saved my summer.
Hello Susan! I’m very excited about trying this mayo recipe, but since I don’t have a high speed blender or cashew butter, would it work to soak the cashews over night and then blend in a standard blender or food processor? Thanks.
Sara, I think it will work. Enjoy!
I was just going to ask the same re soaking the cashews. Can’t wait to try this recipe. Thanks.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! I am so going to try this the next time when I would have passed by a recipe because it has mayo in it. No longer!
We are just beginning to leave behind dairy, fat, meat, etc. and I am loving your web site. I’ve already tried a number of recipes. This will be one I try very soon because my favorite sandwich (since childhood) is peanut butter and mayonnaise and I’ve been a little whiny about giving it up. I’m assuming this will go well with almond butter (my fav). Thanks!
I have a jar of Veganaise in my fridge, but don’t use it very often. It’s just a jar of fat in my book. This looks like an delicious alternative for making chickpea salad sandwiches and the like. I’m going to give this a try! Thanks!
Such a great idea to include cashews! Cashews magically make everything better.
This looks awesome – great idea!! I have been buying Vegenaise, but I love the idea of making my own healthier version.
How funny that you posted this recipe! Just yestersay I was thinking of vegan mayo substitudes. Too bad my son has an allergy to nuts…
Check out the recipes I linked to in the second paragraph. They all use tofu but no nuts.
Thank you!!!
You can also try tahini paste (ground sesame seeds), if they’re okay for your son. Oddly enough, this afternoon (before reading this post) I decided to try another vegan mayo recipe, too, mixing silken tofu (fresh in a tub kind), hummus with tahini in it, and more lemon juice & mustard, & it’s great! Can mix with a fork and wire whisk, if you’re not set on a perfectly even texture.
Oh, my, I’m totally going to make this!
hi. Do you think the mayo can be frozen? Thanks for all the great recipes Susan.
I haven’t tried freezing it. Give me a few days to try it, and I will get back to you.
Any word on how it worked frozen?
Freezing works! No difference in taste or texture, though perhaps a little less fluffy.
Really creative! Any other nuts that you can suggest using? Would almonds would work as well?
Cashews are much creamier than almonds, so they are what I recommend. But you can always experiment with other nuts and see what happens.
Ah OK, good to know, thanks! I might try with walnuts because I’m not a huge cashew fan.
Aren’t cashews amazing! I LUV them. They are a vegans dream. Thanks for the recipe, your pictures are always so lovely.
That is brilliant! I love vegenaise, but have been trying to make a mayo without oil, to use for sandwiches and dips and that still tastes good and will work with the “eat to live” diet. This looks like it will fit the bill exactly! Thanks!
Would you consider posting some simple dressing recipes using this new vegan mayo. Maybe a creamy “honey” mustard or thousand island?
Thanks for the recipe
Also, thanks to your blog, I’ve been vegan for almost two years now. I’m a life time vegan
I like Vegenaise but I’ve never tried a homemade version! This sounds perfect.
How about coming up with a recipe that doesn’t contain soy products since some of us are allergic?
Thank you,
Testarosa
Testarosa,
Just leave it out and double the cashews….I have made mock mayo using only soaked cashews (makes them softer- soak overnight), plus the lemon juice, mustard, salt, onion powder and I add garlic because I love it. You could also throw in a couple of good chopped olives (not canned ones)
Thank you for your suggestion Val – I will try it and let you know!
Val – just to follow up on my I-will-try-it-and-let-you-know post: I doubled the cashews as suggested and left the rest as is. I discovered that there wasn’t enough “liquid” to allow the nuts to smooth out so I added some unsweetened almond milk until it reached the right consistency. After it looked okay, I tasted it and discovered the lemon juice was a bit over powering. I think I would at least triple the amount of cashews or more if I were going to keep the other ingredients the same. I wondered about making the “liquid” half lemon juice and half Braggs Cider Vinegar or maybe all cider vinegar. I didn’t want to add garlic this time but once I get it worked out, I will probably try it because I bet it would be a nice addition! All in all a great effort and a wonderful idea so I’m thrilled…thanks to all for your input.
There are PLENTY of recipes on this website that are soy free. And last time I checked, this wasn’t soyfreevegan.com so maybe a little less snark on a website packed with FREE recipes that plenty of people are excited about.
I didn’t consider the person with food allergy asking for a recipe on a basic condiment like mayo to be insulting but I thought Jessicas was towards her was. Mayo isn’t just any recipe. It is one of the basics to be able to have in the kitchen. Living with allergies is very difficult and frustrating. By asking, the girl was able to get some suggestions that she could use. Good for her. As frustrating as the allergies are is the lack of understanding that some people have about them.
Thank you so much for this! I am on a fat-restricted diet at the moment, and as a new vegan, I am missing mayo terribly. It sounds delicious and so easy to make.
Wow! this looks awesome!
Thanks so much for the post – can’t wait to try it!
This website is amazing! Im such a vegan junk food addict and your recipes are sooo helpful! Thanks a ton for your delicious ideas
I can’t wait to try this – it couldn’t have come at a better time because the only store nearby that stocked unsweetened plain soy yoghurt just stopped, and I used that for making a really good Ranch dressing – since the recipe calls for vegan mayo or yoghurt, I can try this! Thank you!
Thank you for this rccipe!
I’ve been using Vulcan Fire salt on my salads, etc and its great, Thanks for the tip. I have to be careful to use sparingly and not overdo it like I did the other day when my salad was way too hot to eat!
Oh Susan Thank you so much for this fantastic recipe! I have never tasted a nearly fat free mayo as good as this one. For lunch, I made a sort of Waldord salad with celery, apples,walnuts and a little of this mayo and it was so good, like in the days when I made recipes with the real mayo. For dinner, I could not resist and made a couscous salad with Trader Joes Chickenless strips, tomatoes, olives, cucumber and a little avocado, with some lemon juice and 2 Tbsp of mayo. With a small slice of freshly baked wholemeal bread, again a real winner! I also like the idea of making a tartar sauce with some pickles and mixing it with your balsamic raisin dressing. Once again thank you for all your wonderful recipes.
What a fabulous idea, combining cashew and tofu to make mayonnaise!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU I LOVE THIS RECIPE!
Thank you so much for this recipe Susan! We recently moved to Vietnam and I can’t find any of my vegan products
I will try this recipe (even though nuts have been difficult to come by in our area).
Do you have any suggestions for a ‘buttery’ spread? I used Earth Balance back in the states but can’t find anything like that out here.
Here is a link to Bryanna Clark Grogan’s “Buttah” recipe. I don’t know how available the components are in Vietnam, but it’s worth a shot.
http://vegan.com/recipes/bryanna-clark-grogan/bryannas-vegan-butter/
Thanks Kelli! I just checked it out. A few of the ingredients seem a bit difficult to find out here, but well worth trying to!! Hopefully I will be able to try this recipe out
Thanks again!
Thank you so much for this recipe, Susan! I’m an almost-vegan, and I’ve been miserable at not being able to make coleslaw, potato salad, and egg salad the way I like for my summer picnics. (I know, eggs are clearly not vegan. That’s why I’m an “almost” vegan–but I *only* eat eggs from my home-raised, free-range, organically fed chickens!).
Anyway, back to the point. I was every excited to make this today. I didn’t have any cashews so I used some slivered almonds (will try cashews next time since you said they’re creamier). At first, I still wasn’t quite happy with the taste as I still tasted too much tofu, so I decided to make it a spicy flavored mayo. I added two cloves of garlic, 3 spring onions, and 1 jalpeno pepper (cored and de-seeded). It is AH-MAZ-ING!
Then I turned right around and took one cup of the mixture and made a creamy balsamic salad dressing (which I’ve also been missing because I try to avoid the processed foods and the calorie count is too high). I just took about a cup of the mayo mixture, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, a little more lemon juice, about a teaspoon each of black pepper, oregano and thyme, and a little salt substitute and bam! Wonderful, healthy salad dressing!
Thank you so, so much!
Hi Susan,
Great website! Feel like supporting for effort. Didn’t notice any tabs for that.
God bless,
Greg
Tried this mayo today for the first time, used it in a salad and it was great!
Yay!! I am so excited to try this. And I think I have all the ingredients. I am soaking some cashews already to make your Hidden Cashew Ranch Dressing. Now to have a dressing and a spread. Yum!
I agree that Mayonnaise plays a big role in the world of food and Tofu-Cashew Mayonnaise is much healthful than the usual mayonnaise. I’m wondering how long is the shelf life of this mayo?
Awesome recipe! I have always hated mayo. This is so good. Just starting my plant based life. Thank you for such a good blog.
Wow, I will have to try this! Thanks for providing a blender version. A vita is on my “someday” list, but I don’t have it quite yet.
So funny you should say this. My husband just commented on this today that what people REALLY enjoy about sandwiches is the mayo. And when you’re oil free vegan like we are a sandwich is just not the same as the tofu or tempeh can be quite dry. So the solution is usually hummus, guacamole, a lot of dijon mustard or something like that.
Cashew mayo is probably the best tasting. I can’t stand the taste of Veganaise myself. I do like to put mustard, barbecue sauce and relish on a burger instead of just mayo and ketchup though.
This was amazing. I am trying to find creative ways to reduce calories….My husband and I love bánh mì sandwiches, but are no longer eating bread or mayo. I came up with a bánh mì salad, and this ‘mayo’ mixed with sambal oelek and a little tofu water to thin the consistency is the perfect dressing!!! I don’t have a vitamix, so I crushed the cashews with a mortar and pestle before putting it in the blender, and it did take me awhile to blend it. It came out more the consistency of hummus, but it’s really good. The Vitamix is on the list for my birthday!
Made it! LOVE IT! Now I can eat healthy and delicious coleslaw a few nights a week. Thank you so much Susan!
YUP!!!! Me too!!!
Does anyone know how many tablespoons this recipe makes?
32
32, duh!
I am getting twice the calories over at livestrong.com, though.
That’s strange! I just checked my calculations, and they’re correct. I even tried weighing the cashews, which came out to be between 2 and 2.5 ounces in half a cup. Even using 2.5 ounces, I get only 16 calories per tablespoon.
I wonder if I used a different tofu on the site? Will try again.
I am getting pretty much the same thing, even when I specifically put Mori-nu Firm in. Even using lite didn’t change it much.
It’s still awesome, but man. If I can get it down to 15, I wanna!
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 tbsp
Amount per Serving
Calories 28
Calories from Fat 17.6
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 1.96g
3%
Saturated Fat 0.61g
3%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 25.22mg
1%
Total Carbohydrate 1.13g
0%
Dietary Fiber 0.16g
0%
Sugars 0.25g
Protein 1.52g
3%
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/recipes/tofu-cashew-mayo/#ixzz1tCYUFXs0
Are you sure they’re using raw, not roasted, cashews to do the calculation? I just did it by hand and came up with about 16 calories. The main contributors are the tofu (200 calories for the lite) and cashews (155 per ounce for 2 ounces= 310. So 510 calories divided by 32=15.9375. You can check these amounts at http://www.nutritiondata.com.
Yes, raw cashews. I think that is where the problem is. They are saying that 1/2 c is 660-ish calories and 54 g of fat.
My package says 190 cal and 15 g of fat in 1/4 cup (28 g). I think LS was having trouble with the 1/2 cup amount. When I use grams on LS, it comes out to 310. Thanks for helping me to figure it out!! And thanks for the awesome recipes. We are not vegan, but it never hurts to eat vegan part of the time. Looking forward to trying your quiches!
So much depends
upon
A dollop of
mayo
From cashews and
tofu
Blended in my Vita-
mix
Fabulous! I love it when people get my allusions!
I made this recipe and it is wonderful. I don’t think we will have any problem using the entire recipe within 2-3 weeks. Now I am actively looking for way to use it since it tastes so good!
This is delicious!!! You can put big spoonfuls on your salad for a wonderful creamy dressing.
I love your recipes!
Great recipe as usual! Thank you Susan!
Susan, you are truly my hero. I was hesitant, I will admit, but this really is wonderful!! I am ready to make my 2nd batch!!! Really nicely done!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!
Susan, any updates on the freezing experiment? By the way…I agree with all the others who claim you are the summer saver!!! This really is delish!! I used it in a chickpea artichoke salad (from Evelyn’s blog) and it couldn’t be anymore delicious….thank you, thank you, thank you…..
I’m freezing some now so I should have some results to post in a few days, so check back. Glad you liked it!
Freezing works! There was no difference in taste or texture, though perhaps it was a little less fluffy.
Susan your recipes are delicious and inspiring! I knew this was going to be good and once I tasted it I was blown away! So good and a great alternative to the reduced fat Vegenaise I’ve been using which comes in at 45 calories/tbsp. Thank you so much!
I have to try this! My husband and I just started a plant based diet and his biggest complaint lack of dressings on salads. This will be perfect to mix with other dressings to make them creamier…. Thank you!
I tried this today, and tasting it right after making it, I wasn’t convinced. Then I put it on a “chicken” club sandwich and it was AMAZING! Thank you for the great recipe!
I am on my second batch…the first one, made with a regular blender and a mortar and pestle (for the cashews), knocked my husband’s socks off. So much so he bought us a high-speed blender! Woo-hoo! Thanks again!
Yay! a fat free mayo recipe! I’m looking forward to trying it…but I also wanted to share what I currently do when I want a creamy spread:
Creamy Cauliflower Spread
chunk up a head of cauliflower and boil until very soft
good mustard, about 2 TBSP
salt if wanted
put all ingredients in food processor and blend until smooth. this stuff is great for sandwiches and as a base for creamy salad dressings.
Do you think this would work with almonds?
Husband is allergic to almost all nuts and coconut, but does okay with almonds
I’ve heard this works with almonds but that you need to soak them in water overnight to get the skins off and also to soften them up a bit, since they are more dense than cashews.
Thanks Jacqueline I will give that a try!
I just tried the tofu-cashew mayo recipe. Add a mashed up chickpea’s, lettuce, tomato, and onion to a high protein bread for a truly amazing sandwich!
Dear Susan,
I would like to make a Waldorf Faux Chicken Salad and what a beautiful recipe this will be for the mayo.
Question – if you were to come up with a recipe for the salad, would you use tofu? Frozen or not? Or would you use something else like the vital wheat gluten type of meat replacement?
I have a great idea. How about if you come up with the recipe for me??? Hee hee! Pretty please?
I’m looking forward to trying the mayo recipe.
Hugs,
Laina
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. As a McDougaller trying to lose a LOT of weight, I really appreciate this low fat recipe. I made it today and this is the first time in nearly a year (since going vegan) that I have been able to have mayonnaise. I used my food processor and I ground the nuts up into a fine powder before adding the other ingredients. It worked beautifully. I have never had mayonnaise taste so good that I could lick it right off the spoon. For the mustard, I used Grey Poupon Country Dijon. Within a couple of hours, I was whipping up a batch of old-fashioned potato salad. This is something I thought I would have to do without and now I don’t have to. It was so good I think I could bring it to a family picnic!
I made this yesterday, but wasn’t thrilled with how hard it was to make or the taste, at first. After reading some comments below, I realize I would have had much more success if I had ground the cashews into a powder first. This morning I cooked up a single serving size of veggig rotini and stirred some of the mayonnaise into it. Brought it to work and set it in the refrigerator until lunch time. The only thing I would change is that next time I will add more of the mayo to the pasta and probably let it cool some before I dump it into my closed container. That will probably avoid the “clump” of pasta in the middle of the dish! I was surprised at how good it tasted. I’ve decided that part of the key to successful vegan eating is in the brain. Once my brain decides that a food is going to taste somewhat different (either in flavor or in texture) than it’s counterpart from my previous life, then my taste buds seem to be better able to get with the program and enjoy the food. I’m still loving this website!
Why doesn’t everyone soak the cashews for a few hours first? Gets around the grinding to a powder business.
I just wanted to say thank you! I’ve been making Bryanna Clark Grogan’s low-fat vegennaise for years now, but it takes time to set, so it requires a bit of planning. The other day, though, i didn’t have time to let a mayo set, and having read your recipe and the comments, I decided to give it a try.
I’ve been wary of tofu-mayos because they taste too much of tofu for my taste, but this one doesn’t! Admittedly, I added two tablespoons olive oil a clove of garlic and a bit more dijon than what your recipe called for, but it turned out beautifully! A really yummy mayo, and the texture, is better than Bryanna’s (otherwise delicious mayo!).
With my additions, Livestrong calculates the calories to 25 per Tbsp.
Totally yummy, and still fairly low in fat! Thank you again!! (maybe next time I’ll try it without the extra olive oil too and save those calories)
Thanks for the cashew/tofu mayo recipe. I have been looking for one that i like and the cashews appeal to me. Let you know how it turns out!
This looks like a wonderful recipe. I use the commercial vegan mayo’s, however, I am trying to get away from processed vegan foods as much as possible. This recipe sounds delicious. This is a great site and has helped me with my relatively new vegan lifestyle. Thank you.
can not wait to try. have been a long time vegetarian 18 yr. just recently became vegan miss the mayo like flavor for my sandwich’s.
This is a wonderful concoction. It’s great to have potato salad and coleslaw that’s creamy and low fat. “Saved my summer” is right! And if that weren’t enough, it means I’ve got something to lug to potlucks that not only looks-like but * is * old fashioned comfort food – so far as anybody can tell! Thanks for dreaming this up!
This looks great. Looking for a good vegan spread to give a go.
YOU ARE A GENIUS!!!! I can eat tomato sandwiches and coleslaw again. Thank you so much.
I am ner to the tofu choices. Is there a reason you use the shelf type in this recipe? I have only used the “fresh.” Thanks!
Yea! A yummy tasting mayo that is low in fat! I try to cut my grocery bill by making my own condiments and vegan foods. After several trials and blunders with other mayo recipes, I found your recipe for the cashew mayo. Delish! I appreciated the calorie and nutrition info after the recipe too. Since I am the only veggie in the house, I will freeze some of this to make it more economical. Thanks for sharing!
How can I print the photo with the recipe
The site doesn’t have a feature for printing the photo with the recipe, but if you select the photo and text in your browser, you can use the “print selection” function.
I made this for guests and used it as a salad dressing last night, it was great! I did add some more mustard/other spices for some kick, but I highly recommend this recipe; it was my first time using tofu in a long time (I had never used silken tofu before – only firm tofu which I would cook), and I loved it. Will be using for various sandwich spreads/salad dressings in the near future.
“I recommend either Mori-Nu Organic Silken Tofu or Mori-Nu Lite Firm Tofu. Both are non-GMO, though the Lite uses Isolated Soy Protein.”
The regular firm I bought lists isolated soy protein too, what does this mean?
Anyway, it was really good. We like miracle whip so I added a teeny amount of a stevia sweetener. I just used some straight from the blender for a lettuce sandwich on Ezekiel bread along with a sprinkle of dill. Mmm-mm! I miss creamy dressing (ranch was always a favorite) so I look forward to using some that way. I also am going to make potato salad with potatoes and fresh dill I got from my co-0p box.
I tried your recipe today. I did it in a small food mill since thats all I had and it did for a second look really watery. But it did firm up as you said after resting in the fridge and it was delish!! Tofu and cashew do make a wonderful combination. I also added a touch of ground black pepper and a few pinches of thyme for an accent. Good wholesome stuff that beats conventional mayo anytime I’d say!
Thank you for this wonderful game-changer recipe. I actually double it for my tribe and still have to make it weekly!
Made this mayo today using cashew butter and used some for potato salad. It turned out really good! Thanks!! So much better than nayonaise. I’m going to use it for cole slaw next and also make your tofu “chicken” salad soon.
Hello Im interested in knowing how long it lasts in the fridge, I know the comment said 2-3 weeks but wanted to know if that still stands as your comment said your experimenting with that. Thank You again for all your beautiful and delicious looking Vegan recipes!!
I still think 3 weeks is the longest I would keep it in the fridge. You can freeze it, though, and it defrosts just fine.
Hi Susan, I’ve been following your recipes for a couple of months (tried the pumpkin chili, yum!). I found you through the “Forks Over Knives” book. I tried your Tofu-Cashew mayo yesterday. I liked it particularly since you don’t use oil. I reduced the lemon just a little (two tablespoons or about a half lemon) and added a little bit of ketchup along with the mustard. It was a little bit lemony for my taste. BUT, what I really liked was using it with tomatoes for a creamy tomato based sauce. And, I like the idea of using it with vegan burgers. I’m trying the beet and tofu burger today. My husband and I are still vegan newbies…five months and counting. Thanks!
Oh my goodness, my site was mentioned in the Forks Over Knives book? I had no idea! I will definitely have to order a copy.
I use homegrown Meyer lemons, which tend to be milder than regular ones, so I can see why you might find it too lemony. I like the idea of a little ketchup. Add a little relish to it and it could be a 1000 Island type dressing!
This is FANTASTIC – it’s the ONLY mayo I’ll be using from now on!
Thank you so much for this website, Susan! I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis a few weeks ago and have been researching the Swank and McDougall diets. Though I’ve been Vegetarian for years, it became apparent I needed to return to a Vegan diet and severely limit fat intake. I ate a Vegan diet for awhile, but do not like processed alternative foods and this turned me off. Your recipes are showing me how to make these things myself and have fresh food – and save money!
Thank you again! Good health to you!
Peace
Hi Susan,
and this recipe has proven that no one has to suffer in achieving this goal. I didn’t have onion powder so I grated ~ 1 t of yellow onion into the blender jar. I also used soaked raw cashews as I don’t have a Vitamix. It’s chillin in the fridge right now but the little tastes I took while adjusting salt blew my mind, THANKS THANKS THANKS!! I’m currently eying my little stash of fingerling potatoes and fresh dill from my CSA box. They are about to meet again in the most fantastic way! Out of the box, into the bowl, next stop our tummies!
I just want to add my thanks for this recipe. I have been moving steadily toward 100% plant-based fuel for my “temple”
I have been using Vegenaise up to this point, but would love to find a way to reduce calories/fat. But I have never used tofu packaged in aseptic boxes because I’ve heard it doesn’t taste as good as the fresh tofu (sold in the refrigerated case at most grocery stores). So I’ve always purchased the latter. Can you use fresh tofu in this recipe?
If it’s fresh silken tofu, it should work just as well. But regular tofu will be grittier, less smooth.
Hi Susan,
I used your “mayonnaise” in place of the 2/3 cup of olive oil called for in another vegan chef’s pasta salad recipe and it’s DELICIOUS. It made a creamy tomatoey sauce for the pasta. Thanks!
Has anyone tried adding some roasted garlic? I bet it would be amazing!! So excited to try this recipe today
I tried this recently and it is delicious. So much tastier than fat-free Nayonaise. It opened up a world of possibilities…could make so many types of salad dressings with it. I used it in pasta salad….wonderful.
I was excited by finding salad dressing recipes at this site, but was sort of disappointed to see how much fat most of these recipes have! For example, this recipe is 53% calories from fat!
A lot of the recipes have nuts and avocado, etc. While I appreciate the effort I wonder how you can justify listing them on a “fat free” vegan site.
Thanks,
doug@looking for really low fat fat vegan recipes, especially salad dressings
Doug…from Susan’s About Me page:
“What’s this “fatfree” business all about?
In general, I don’t cook with refined fats (oil, margarine, and shortening). This simply means that instead of sautéing in oil, I use water or broth. In baking, I substitute apple sauce or flax seeds or some other substance for margarine, butter, or shortening. I do use a little sesame oil now and then because a little bit imparts a lot of flavor. And once in a very long while, I go crazy and make something with a little olive oil in it, but this is rare, and I don’t use whole heaping gobs of it.
Wait a minute…I saw a recipe with coconut milk…and another with walnuts. Those aren’t fat-free ingredients!
You’re very observant! Yes, I sometimes use lite coconut milk (though I’m trying to cut down), and I do include avocados, nuts, and seeds in my diet as forms of healthy, unrefined fat. This blog probably should have been called “Oil-Free Vegan Kitchen,” but I didn’t like the way that sounded. Whenever a recipe gets more than 15% of its calories from fat, I add the tag “Higher-Fat” to it, which you can see at the end of the blog post.”
My personal opinion is that the idea that fats are bad is pretty ridiculous. Fats satiate us and make us feel full more quickly than gobs of refined flours and sugars. I personally avoid those things and embrace natural, unrefined fats like those in nuts, avocados and in nut and olive oils. Just another point of view.
I long does the Tofu-Cashew mayonnaise keep in the refridgerator?
So yummy!!!! love it!!!! My 1 year old just love it as a dip for his veggies
Since becoming vegan, I’ve not had the opportunity to try other vegan mayo’s. However, when I’ve made sandwiches, I’ve used hummus as a condiment. I actually stole the idea from Rip who created the Engine 2 Diet.
Wow, I am not a huge tofu lover and I despite all Nayonaise! This is a totally awesome low fat substitute. I only had salted cashews and no onion powder so I subbed 1 tsp dried minced onion and a half tsp of garlic salt. I think I like it as much as any full-fat mayonaise.
Going to try it with pureed kalamata olives, a lot of roasted garlic, and a little lemon. This is a dip I’ve made with regular mayo that is so ridiculously high fat that it takes the fun out of it. We will enjoy a version made with this tofu-cashew mayo. Thanks!
This is fantastic! It opens up great new sandwich options for us. The first time I made it, I set aside half of the recipe and added Chipotle powder (mine was from Penzey’s). Had both plain and Chipotle versions on whole wheat toast and tomato sandwiches. Both were great but especially loved the Chipotle “mayo”. Today I used plain to make an adapted version of your chickpea “tuna” salad” with Old Bay type seasoning. Another hit. ***Hint: don’t panic, like I did, thinking that Mori-Nu Silken tofu (shelf stable) was no longer being carried by my grocer. They have changed the package labeling and the brand Moringa is more prominent on the package….but the words Mori-Nu are still present in smaller lettering****
Hi, I have just been told that I cannot have any soybean products at all, and have to cut out ‘all’ fats from my diet. I am wondering if I can substitute tahini for the tofu or veganaise. Salad dressings without oil are a challenge. Trying to have a varied and tasty diet and follow Dr’s orders are driving me mad!
I made this tonight, with raw almonds (soaked) and I used garlic powder because I had no onion powder.. simply amazing. Thank you.
I have been looking for an oil-free vegan mayonaise for a while now!! Thanks for posting this!! I can’t eat soy, is there anything I can use instead of tofu? Or do you know of any soy-free oil-free vegan mayonaise recipe that work for us with soy allergies? Thanks : )
I just made this! I love my condiments so I don’t see there will be any left by the end of the week
I think I overdid the onion powder.. the only thing I didn’t measure..and I think a teaspoon went in, yikes! Thank you for this dairy free, oil free alternative.
I keep a batch of this in the fridge at all times since I discovered it mid-summer. I love it and use it for many things. It is a great sub for mayo or veganaisse. I really like it as a sauce for artichokes. I spread it on warmed corn tortillas for a quick snack. It’s great in home-made salad dressings. My favorite lately has been a poppy seed dressing. My husband (transitioning to a plant-based diet) likes “that white sauce” on his lentil enchiladas. I usually add a small clove or two to the recipe for a little flavor boost. Thanks for a great recipe!
Hi Susan,
I love your recipes! So much better than Dr. Fuhrman’s. I am thoroughly confused about using ‘high speed blenders’. (re: your recipe for Tofu-Cashew Mayo). Why don’t food processors do the same thing?
Thanks,
Diane
Thanks, Diane! I don’t know the exact mechanics of it, but I think the shape of the blender container concentrates the ingredients in the area of the blender’s blade. That combined with the higher horsepower of the blender enable it to blend things much more smooth than a food processor can. I never thought hummus could get any better than my food processor makes until I got a Vitamix.
Hey, I’m really not a fan of mustard- do you have any suggestions to substitute in place of it, or is this still tasty without it? Could you use garlic and make it more of an aioli type thing?
You can leave the mustard out or use less of it. It doesn’t really give it a mustard taste that you can discern, just adds flavor. And yes to the garlic idea. It makes a great base for aioli!
This mayo is delish! I only have a regular blender, so I went to Whole Foods and bought fresh cashew butter from the self grinder they have in the bulk section. Oil free! Worked perfectly and blended smooth when I mixed it with the other stuff. I also boiled the tofu for a couple of minutes and then ran it under cold water. This helps get rid of any lingering beany taste. I will definitely make this over buying veganaise from now on. So excited to make chickpea “tuna” salad with as well as FFV “chicken” salad, which I have made before and was mega delish. Thanks for the great, simple recipe!
This is quite tasty! I generally don’t like tofu-based spreads, only because it has a somewhat chalky and dry flavor to me. I had to grind the cashews in a food processor, then transfered everything to my blender and pureed it. I added a spoonful of coconut oil to see if it gives a firmer texture. Needless to say, I won’t be making soy milk canola mayo anymore!
This is excellent and came out just right. Great news on the freezing update. I made more than I could eat so will now try to freeze.
This is intriguing as heck, but I have a child with a tree nut allergy. Which is frustrating since most cream sauce recipes I’ve run into require cashews.
He does well with almonds, interestingly. Will blanched raw almonds work in this recipe? They seem harder than cashews but I have the killer blender. What are your thoughts?
I believe if you look through the comments, you’ll find someone who has made it with almonds. Good luck!
Sure enough- that’s what I get for finding this recipe so late in the day compared to everyone else! Sorry about that
Time to start blanching…
Could I use almond butter instead of cashew butter? It’s what I have on hand. No cashews or cashew butter at the moment.
Someone in the comments above made it with soaked almonds, so I think almond butter would work equally well.
Great! I’ll give it a go. My husband loves macaroni salad and I refuse to buy miracle whip. I’m trying to find the perfect substitute. I hope this is it!
I’m vegan and gluten/soy sensitive. What can be used instead of tofu? Vegannaise is off the list for the same reason.
Oh I like that you froze it and it was still good! We don’t eat much mayo, but it’s still something I like to have around. Will for sure be making a batch of this and freezing some. I am a fan of any creamy goodness made with cashews so I am very excited to try this!
I’ve been using Trader Joe’s low-fat mayo (it’s vegan) but I love having a no-oil alternative! thanks, Susan!!!
Thank you, thank you!!! I have tried SO many posted recipes for vegan mayo and always ended up with oily “glop”… This one had my teenage vegan finger cleaning the magic bullet cup!!! Finally the creaminess, lemon zing, mustard tang of my used to be homemade mayo…(with eggs and oil, then it was divine now it just sounds yuck)… I’m blown away!!!
This mayo is so good. I don’t mean good as in “this is an acceptable substitute for something else I like.” It’s better than anything I’ve had from a jar. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love this recipe.
could you make this with regular tofu as around here you can’t get silken tofu?
I haven’t tried it with regular tofu, but it may work if you just blend it very well. It may need a little added water to get smooth.
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