Vegan Mayonnaise: Here’s How To Prepare It
Vegan mayonnaise is an excellent option to flavor your dishes. Not only because it has a light texture, but also because of its high nutritional value. Additionally, vegan mayonnaise does not raise bad cholesterol (LDL) or gain weight.
Traditional mayonnaise can accompany various recipes, such as fried chicken wings or baked potatoes. Without a doubt it is a salty complement that brings a little more flavor and delicacy to the dish.
Starting from the traditional mayonnaise recipe you can prepare other types of sauces and, of course, also a pleasant-tasting vegan mayonnaise.
The origin of mayonnaise
The mayonnaise is said to have been created on the island of Menorca, more specifically in the city of Mahon.
In any case, it is considered that the origin of this sauce dates back to approximately the middle of the 19th century. Since then it has often been used in the kitchen to accompany a large number of dishes.
An emulsion?
Yes, mayonnaise is an emulsion. Emulsions are homogeneous and stable mixes between two liquid elements. This means that one of the two elements is dispersed into the other in the form of small drops. In doing so, the product acquires a stable structure.
Being an emulsion, mayonnaise comes from the dispersion of oil in a liquid, aqueous medium. This is because egg white contains an emulsifying factor, namely lecithin.
The lecithin present in the egg white surrounds the small drops of oil which are divided while the egg is beaten. In this way the lecithin allows the egg to reunify.
Well, how to prepare a vegan mayonnaise if this type of cuisine is characterized by the exclusion of foods such as eggs?
Veganism and vegan mayonnaise
It must be remembered that veganism is a philosophy based on respect for animal life. Therefore, it does not approve of the consumption of animal meat or of any type of derivative.
Which products are therefore excluded from the diet? Meat, fish, seafood, milk, eggs, bee honey and all other products of animal origin.
Logically, therefore, the vegan diner opts not to consume certain foods, such as common mayonnaise. In its place, it substitutes some ingredients for plant-based alternatives.
How to prepare a vegan mayonnaise?
The process of making vegan mayonnaise is not very different from that of traditional mayonnaise. Furthermore, as with the classic recipe, other flavors can be added.
To make a vegan mayonnaise, you need these basic ingredients: vegetable oil along with some other type of drink (also of vegetable origin). To them you need to add a little salt and lemon or vinegar.
To avoid problems it is important that all the ingredients of this preparation are at room temperature. If the oil is at room temperature and the soy drink is cold, it is very likely that the mayonnaise will not mount and remain liquid.
Ingredients
- 1 pinch of salt.
- A few drops of lemon (less than 3ml).
- ΒΌ cup of vegetable drink (preferably soy milk).
- 1/2 cup vegetable, olive or sunflower oil (180 – 190 g approximately)
Preparation
- Add the vegetable drink together with the lemon to a blender.
- Blend all the ingredients.
- Lower the intensity of the blender and pour the oil gradually, little by little.
- Gradually the mix will acquire the desired consistency and, once this happens (depending on the amount of oil), add a pinch of salt.
- Store in a container, preferably glass. Try to consume before 3 days.
This is the basic recipe for making vegan mayonnaise. You can add other ingredients, to vary a little, depending on the dish you want to accompany it with.
For example, you can add garlic, coriander or parsley. This will give you a much tastier mayonnaise.
You can also make it tastier through an infusion process. In this way you will be able to acquire new flavors that we will transfer to the final preparation.
As you may have seen, mayonnaise is a very versatile and useful condiment in the kitchen. The vegan version is not the exception to the rule.
