To make mayonnaise by hand, follow these steps:
- Prepare the base ingredients : In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks (or whole eggs), mustard, and seasoning (salt) until well combined and slightly thickened.
- Add oil very slowly : Start adding a light-flavored oil (such as light olive oil, vegetable oil, or groundnut oil) drop by drop while continuously whisking vigorously. This slow addition is crucial to form a stable emulsion. Once the mixture starts to thicken, you can add the oil in a slow, steady stream.
- Incorporate acidity : After the oil is fully incorporated and the mixture is thick and creamy, whisk in some acidity like lemon juice or vinegar to balance the flavor.
- Fixing a split mayo : If the mixture splits (separates), you can rescue it by whisking a fresh egg yolk in a new bowl and then slowly adding the broken mixture into it, drop by drop, while whisking
Tips:
- Use a light or neutral oil rather than extra virgin olive oil, as the latter has a strong flavor and can cause the mayo to split
- Whisking by hand requires patience and effort; it can take several minutes to get a thick, creamy consistency
- Season at the end with additional salt, lemon juice, or vinegar to taste
This traditional method yields fresh, creamy homemade mayonnaise using just a whisk and bowl, without any electric appliances
