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Umami QP Mayonnaise

4.5

(2)

A closeup shot of mayonnaise in a bowl sitting on a purple background.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, prop styling by Graylen Gatewood

When Nguyen was developing her rendition of the cult condiment Kewpie, her husband saw how easy it was to make and dubbed it “quick prep” mayo, hence the homonym-acronym name “QP.” Use it in Nguyen’s Char Siu Tofu Bao Sliders or any dish that could use a swipe of mayo. The MSG gives it savory depth, but you can use 1 tsp. fish sauce or Marmite instead of the MSG or mushroom seasoning. The flavor will not be equal, but you’ll still get an umami boost.

*Raw egg is not recommended for infants, the elderly, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems…or people who don’t like raw eggs.

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    5 minutes (plus 30 minutes for resting)

  • Yield

    Makes about 1 cup

Ingredients

1 large egg, room temperature*
1 cup peanut or vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. (or more) fresh lemon juice or distilled white or unfiltered apple cider vinegar
1½ tsp. agave nectar or mild honey
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
¼ tsp. MSG or ½ tsp. Asian mushroom seasoning, pounded to a powder
A pinch of garlic powder or 1 small garlic clove, finely chopped
½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt; plus more (optional)

Preparation

  1. Blend 1 large egg, room temperature*, 1 cup peanut or vegetable oil, 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice or distilled white or unfiltered apple cider vinegar, 1½ tsp. agave nectar or mild honey, 1 tsp. Dijon mustard, ¼ tsp. MSG or ½ tsp. Asian mushroom seasoning, pounded to a powder, a pinch of garlic powder or 1 small garlic clove, finely chopped, and ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a small bowl with an immersion blender until thick and creamy. Blend in a little water if needed; you want mayonnaise to be spreadable. Taste and season with salt and/or add more lemon juice if needed. Cover and let sit 30 minutes before using. (Or, you can use a regular blender. Blend together all ingredients except oil; gradually add oil through a funnel with the motor running.) 

    Do ahead: Mayonnaise can be made 1 week ahead. Keep chilled.

The cover of the cookbook Ever-Green Vietnamese by Andrea Nguyen
Recipes adapted from ‘Ever-Green Vietnamese: Super-Fresh Recipes, Starring Plants from Land and Sea,’ by Andrea Nguyen. Published April 25, 2023 by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of The Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

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