Recipes Using Japanese Mayonnaise

Learn how to make Japanese style or ‘Kewpie’ mayonnaise with this fool proof step by step recipe! This vegan kewpie mayo is rich and creamy with the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. The umami flavour is what makes this mayonnaise so delicious and popular! (Egg free & allergy friendly)

If you’ve been following along on my mayo-making journey over on instagram, you’ve probably seen how many times it has failed or not thickened up to my expectations. Growing up, we only ever used Japanese mayonnaise and it was one of my absolute favourite condiments to dip and drizzle on EVERYTHING… so I take my mayo very seriously. After going through almost 1 1/2 litres of oil… I finally came up with a recipe I can proudly say has the texture and tastes JUST LIKE store bought Japanese Mayo. It’s beautifully thick, rich, creamy and packed with the perfect amount of sweet, tangy and umami flavour. Not to gas myself up or anything… but it’s so good that my family stopped buying it and requested I make it for now on 😅.

Japanese Mayo, often referred to as Kewpie Mayo is just a type of mayonnaise seasoned differently. Kewpie mayo is just one brand of Japanese mayo but all mayo in Japan is sold in a clear tube with a finer tip making it easy to drizzle over dishes like okonomiyaki, takoyaki and various rice bowls. Kewpie mayo is defiantly a pantry staple in majority of Japanese households because of its versatility.

What Is Kewpie Mayo And How Do You Cook With It, According To Chefs

Japanese mayo is sweeter, tangier and has umami to it thanks to the added MSG. It also has a slightly more egg-y taste to it because only whole yolks are used instead of a whole egg.

Japanese mayo is thicker, creamier and richer… yet has a light mouthfeel so it. It’s also slightly more yellow than regular mayo because it uses whole egg yolks only instead of a whole egg. Additionally, Japanese mayo is made with rice vinegar rather than distilled vinegar so the ‘tang’ is softer but more prominent.

Egg allergies have increased significantly in Japan so the demand for egg-free products have also become more popular. It is relatively easy to come across vegan egg free mayo in Japan but much more difficult here in North America. In fact, I haven’t been able to find it anywhere which is what inspired me recreate this vegan, egg free homemade Kewpie mayo.

Ebi Mayo (fried Shrimp In Mayonnaise Sauce)

I’ve tested eggless mayonnaise with both soy milk and aquafaba and (IMO) aquafaba is much better if you want thick and creamy mayo. There are so many soy milk brands with all different percentages of soy that it is not as consistent.

Plus, it’s a great way to use up aquafaba which is often tossed anyways so why not use it to make some delicious mayo? 🙂 Another trick I picked up from Serious Eats is to use whole chickpeas which really helps thicken it up for those perfect mayo peaks. So, here’s what you’ll need:

The process of making eggless mayonnaise and relatively quick and easy. The ‘difficult’ part of making mayo is ensuring that the ingredients are emulsifying properly. As long as you follow the steps and tips below, you should achieve a delicious thick and creamy vegan mayo.

Kewpie Mayo · I Am A Food Blog

Transfer the mixture with a sterile spatula into a clean air tight container or squeeze bottle. Homemade mayonnaise will last about two weeks in the fridge.

After testing this recipe several times, I’ve picked up some key points and tips along the way to make perfect thick and creamy eggless mayo (so you don’t have to go through a litre of oil 😂😭):

If your mayonnaise is not emulsifying don’t quit! Keep the original mixture and place it into the fridge for 10-15 minutes or until cool again.

Japanese Mayonnaise: Simply Tastier

To a new narrow jar, add the aquafaba, rice vinegar, lemon juice, dijon, chickpeas and salt, and then blend it until smooth. Very slowly, pour the original mixture along the immersion blender and continue until it thickens.

This ‘cheats’ or shortcut version of Kewpie Mayo using store bought regular mayo is what I’ve been using before coming up with this recipe. I definitely prefer the homemade version but this quick version is great in a pinch! All you need is:

Kewpie mayo is so versatile and can really be used for anything and everything! If something calls calls for mayo, swap it with this vegan kewpie mayo and you’ll know what I mean by it’s a flavour bomb. You can also mix it with other condiments like soy sauce, miso paste, sesame oil, sriacha and more for various dips and dressings. Here are some of my favourite dishes to use it in:

Everything You Need To Know About Japanese Mayo

If you recreate this Vegan Japanese Mayonnaise recipe let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and rating below or by tagging me on Instagram @, I love seeing all of your tasty recreations!

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I'm Lisa, a home cook, recipe developer and founder of Okonomi Kitchen. Here, you'll find a mix of classic and modernized Japanese recipes, and creative, plant-forward meal inspiration using seasonal ingredients. I hope to share more about Japanese cuisine and culture through food and recipes.Kewpie mayo is the perfect partner to your favourite home-cooked meals, from Japanese and Korean to a few surprise ideas in between! Here’s our top picks for the BEST Kewpie mayo recipes so you can use up that bottle to the very last squeeze.

Homemade Japanese Mayonnaise

Kewpie mayo is one of our favourite Japanese condiments along with okonomiyaki sauce and creamy sesame goma dare sauce. Similar to regular mayonnaise, but with a depth of flavour and unique tang all of its own!

As a condiment it pairs amazingly well with so many meals, from homemade creations through to your favourite takeaway treats like fish and chips or fried chicken.

As an ingredient it’s perfect to add to homemade sauces and savoury dips as well as slathered in your favourite burgers or potato salad.

Why Kewpie Mayo Ramen Is Amazing?

Whether you prefer the original or your own homemade Kewpie mayo, you’ll always want to keep a batch in the fridge ready to go when you need it most!

Kewpie Mayonnaise is a Japanese-style mayonnaise made with egg yolks instead of whole eggs for extra creamy texture and flavour. It’s seasoned with rice wine vinegar and often contains MSG, giving it a rich umami flavour very different from western-style mayonnaise.

It comes in soft plastic squeeze bottles with a special nozzle to let you create those ultra fine lines of mayo across dishes like okonomiyaki pancakes and takoyaki.

Best Kewpie Mayo Recipe

The easiest and tastiest homemade Japanese mayonnaise recipe – ready in under a minute. Learn how to make Kewpie mayo at home and never buy store bought again!

Kewpie is becoming more widely available over time. Look for it in the Asian aisle of major supermarkets, from Asian groceries or import stores, or buy it online if you can’t find it locally.

Unfortunately no, store-bought Kewpie mayo bottles aren’t recyclable and must go to landfill, which is why we now prefer to make our own Kewpie-style mayo at home.

Best Japanese Mayonnaise Recipes

Whether homemade or store-bought, Kewpie mayo should always be stored in the fridge to maximise its shelf life. Store-bought Kewpie can last for 10-12 months before opening, then should be used up within one month. Homemade Kewpie is made without preservatives, so will last around 2 weeks in the fridge if stored in an airtight container.

Use it anytime you would reach for a bottle of regular mayonnaise! It pairs perfectly with goma dare in a homemade coleslaw dressing or creamy sesame dressing, drizzled over a chicken salad, tucked inside sushi hand rolls or slathered on top of a sushi bowl.

A creamy, nutty, Japanese sesame sauce known as Goma Dare. It's perfect for dipping pork and veggies in shabu shabu hot pot, drizzling over crisp salads or freshly cooked noodles.

Do The Japanese Put Mayo On Sushi?

Turn up the heat with the ultimate homemade sriracha mayo recipe! This incredible creamy hot sauce is ready in minutes, perfect for dunking crispy fried chicken or slathering over burgers, veggies or rice bowls.

A tasty spicy dipping sauce you can whip up in 2 minutes flat. Just 4 ingredients and you'll be ready to dip just about anything in this quick gochujang mayonnaise!

This easy homemade sriracha aioli is ready to amp up your favourite chicken, fish and burger recipes. With just four simple ingredients, get ready to dip into this super simple homemade sauce in less than a minute! 

Japanese Style (kewpie) Mayo Recipe

Grab your hot chips, burgers or sushi bowls – it’s time to slather them in Sarah’s Creamy Sesame Dressing. Whipped up in a minute, this versatile Japanese sauce is SO necessary with your next meal!

Okonomiyaki are Japanese savoury pancakes packed with flavour and SO easy to make! Ready in less than 30 minutes, these 'as you like it' pancakes are sure to be the new family favourite.

A quick and easy takoyaki recipe you can cook

Skinnyasia: Creamy Japanese Mayonnaise + Wasabi Aioli, Sriracha Mayo