How to Make Gourmet Mayonnaise

There's no doubt that creamy, delicious mayonnaise adds to the enjoyment of your favorite sandwiches. Jarred, commercial mayonnaises will do in a pinch, but there's nothing the equals the taste of freshly prepared mayonnaise at home. Would you like a quick and simple mayonnaise recipe your family will enjoy?

The process of making mayonnaise is fairly simple and it's not as unhealthy as its reputation might imply. Mayonnaise actually has little egg in it, being composed mostly of heart healthy canola oil. If used sparingly it can provide just the right amount of satisfying fat without an excess fat or calories. When you know how to make mayonnaise, you can also add ingredients of your choosing to create specialty mayonnaises that really add to the flavor of your foods.

If you have a blender or food processor, the process of making mayonnaise will be much quicker and simpler. Here's what you need to do:

1. Add 4 egg yolks, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, 1.5 teaspoons of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of sugar to a small bowl. The lemon juice helps to keep the mayonnaise fresh longer by preventing overgrowth of bacteria and help to give it a nice flavor.
2. Beat the egg yolks along with the above additions until they are thick.
3. Add a touch of cayenne pepper to taste.
4. Place the mixture into your blender and blend at a low speed.
5. While blending, slowly add 1/2 cup of olive or canola oil to the blender, at a very slow speed. When I say slow, I mean drop by drop.
6. Add 2 teaspoons each of lemon juice and warm water. You can speed up the process of adding the oil as the mayonnaise starts to thicken.
7. Beat in another 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and water and add an additional cup of oil while maintaining the blender on a low speed. You may need to add up to 3 cups of oil to get a nice, thick emulsion.
8. After the emulsion has thickened, you can add additional salt and pepper to taste.
9. This should yield about 3 cups of delicious mayonnaise.

You can create some interesting mayonnaise variations by adding additional ingredients to your mayonnaise recipe to create some tasty variations.

1. Add 2 teaspoons of Grand Marnier to your completed mayonnaise recipe to give a delicious orange flavored sandwich spread.
2. Add ketchup and relish to taste to create a delicious thousand island spread.
3. Add 2 teaspoons of curry powder to create a delicious curry mayonnaise for chicken salad.
4. For a spicy mayonnaise with a bit of kick, add grated horseradish to taste.
5. Try adding some flavored mustard of your choice to your mayonnaise. Adjust the amount to suit your taste. There are so many variations of this!
6. Add flavored fruit jellies and jams to your mayonnaise for a uniquely sweet mayonnaise recipe.
7. Use your imagination and I'm sure you'll come up with lots more variations!

Now that you know how to make mayonnaise, you can explore the different options and variations in your kitchen and create mayonnaise recipes of your own.