Japanese Mayo Substitute (Kewpie Mayo Alternatives & Recipes)

Japanese mayo or Kewpie mayo is an incredibly amazing condiment that is thicker, creamier, and tastier than regular mayonnaise. It is such a luxurious preference that it’s all time available in the refrigerator. But if it’s not on hand in any case, can you use something else a Japanese mayo substitute or a kewpie mayo substitute?

Well, Kewpie is a popular brand producing Japanese mayonnaise that is delectable and preferable over other regular mayo versions.

Japanese mayo is a beloved staple that becomes everything for a mayo lover ranging from a rich dipping sauce and dressing to seasoning and topping. Not just this, its umami flavor and mouthfeel also look challenging to replace.

Thereby, you need the closest alternative for Japanese mayo to get similar creaminess and flavor richness in your food recipes. Here are some great replacements you need to try when you’re out of this yummy recipe-essential.

Japanese (Kewpie) Mayo Substitute

Japanese lovers never get bored with their tasty condiment because of its umami flavor notes that stimulate taste buds differently every time.

So, there’s are a couple of reasons why people looking for a Kewpie mayo substitute. Firstly, they’re simply out of it and don’t find it in the fridge at the time of making a recipe. Secondly, they are diet conscious and want to cut down on calories in their food items.

However, it might be possible that someone needs a vegan alternative to Japanese mayo to enjoy an extra mayo oomph using vegan ingredients.

So, you need to choose a substitute that can work great in your way. Whether you’re looking for a vegan alternative or something closest to Japanese mayo, we’ll cover you in both ways here.

Pick Up The Best Japanese (Kewpie) Mayo Substitute!

Considering the flavor complexity and versatility of Japanese mayo, it looks pretty hard to replace it in your foods. And choosing the best kewpie mayo alternative is another tedious hassle.

If you are still confused and unable to pick up the one go-to substitute, check out the following factors. If your pick meets all these factors, it’s the best one.

Texture And Consistency: Japanese mayo is uniquely perfect in its texture and consistency. It gets its silky-smooth and creamy texture from egg yolks. The consistency is not so thicker or runnier yet generously balanced. In terms of similar texture, cream cheese and regular mayo are the best.

Flavor: The ultimate flavor profile of Kewpie mayonnaise is quite far from the regular mayo versions. Japanese mayo packs a perfect balance of sweet and tangy hints and offers a complex savory richness to the palate. It’s hard to achieve the exact kewpie mayo flavor but you can do things comparable. So, understand the ingredients of this staple and simply upgrade your regular mayo.

Dietary Preferences: Japanese mayo is not for vegan guys as it contains egg yolks. Feeling sad? Not more. There are a lot more vegan substitutes for Japanese mayo you can try or can make your own.

1. Regular Mayo – Best Possible Substitution

Regular mayonnaise is the best and closest alternative for Japanese mayo. You just need to upgrade the flavor by inducing some tanginess and sweetness to it.

But the question comes here how to make regular mayo taste like kewpie mayo? It looks pretty simple and easy to make.

Add some rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar with a bit of white sugar and blend it until a smooth spread forms. It’s ready to replace Japanese mayo in your classic recipes.

Which One You Should Buy? Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise is a gluten-free mayo that can transform your ordinary recipes into hearty meals. Give a generous dollop to your burgers, savory wraps, and sandwiches using uber delicious and real mayo, and enjoy.

2. Cream Cheese – Similarly Creamy

Cream cheese is another versatile condiment and spread that you can use as a substitute for Japanese (Kewpie) mayo. It’s soft, sweet, creamy, and slightly tangy to taste and pairs well with sweet and savory creations.

You can use cream cheese in place of kewpie mayonnaise by adding some apple cider vinegar and olive oil to it. After that, blend the mixture to get a smoother and creamier mayo-like spread.

Use it in sandwiches, burgers, barbecues, and savory rolls where its flavor gives an extra oomph similar to Japanese mayo.

Which One You Should Buy? Happy Belly Cream Cheese is the best option to go with. It can give a similar creamy mouthfeel and a comparable tang to your recipes without overpowering the dish.

3. Cottage Cheese – Full Of Tasty Savor

Cottage cheese is also a good kewpie or Japanese mayo substitution which people never think of even once. Are you worried about the runnier texture of cottage cheese as compared to mayonnaise?

Don’t worry, it’s not a huge task now. Remove the liquidy whey from cottage cheese and blend it with a vegetable oil splash. You can also drive its flavor profile from mild tone to tangy and sweetish, just like mayo.

Serve this smooth, light-colored condiment as a side dish with roasted meat, vegetables, and omelette.

Which One You Should Buy? Good Culture Cottage Cheese is organic, gluten-free, and healthy condiment with a thick creamy texture and mouthfeel. Introduce this default creamy staple to your fried dishes, sandwiches, and other savory creations.

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4. Homemade Japanese (Kewpie) Mayo

If you’re not satisfied with any replacement given on the top, it’s best to make your own Japanese version of mayo. This way, you can easily get a desirable flavor and mayo consistency per your liking.

For this purpose, you need some ingredients such as pasteurized egg yolks, vegetable oil, coarse salt, and rice vinegar. The optional ingredients are dashi, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard.

First of all, take egg yolks, vegetable oil, mustard, and salt in a food processor and blend smoothly. Then, add rice vinegar and lemon juice to attain consistency like your ideal kewpie mayo and blend a bit more. Add brown sugar in a pinch if you want slight sweetish notes.

Vegan Substitute For Japanese (Kewpie) Mayo

If you have heard a lot about kewpie mayo, the most popular Japanese mayo, you probably know that it gets its umami flavor from egg yolks. And now, you can also enjoy the same Japanese mayo flavor using vegan ingredients.

Here, we’ve some options for you that can give a closer flavor profile, like kewpie mayo.

1. Vegan Mayo – Easy Substitution

Nowadays, vegan versions of mayonnaise have also become the first choice of many people. But you can also make your own vegan mayo using tofu and aquafaba, which is a healthier, lighter, and creamier spread.

You can also use tofu substitutes if you’re run out of this vegan staple. Add tofu, lemon juice, rice vinegar, and olive oil into the food processor. Blend it to get a smooth paste. After that, add aquafaba to make it creamy, like Japanese mayo.

Which One You Should Buy? Hellmann’s Vegan Mayo is a rich creamy spread with a similar kewpie mayo flavor and is entirely plant-based. Try this staple and you will definitely fall in love with it.

2. Avocado Mash – Healthier Option

Avocado mash is a workhorse ingredient in the kitchen, and if it’s on hand, you can also prepare vegan avocado mayo. This vegan version of mayo is rich in essential nutrients and good fats.

Avocado mash is a good vegan substitute for Japanese mayo in classic salads and sandwiches. You can prepare it by blending ripe avocados with vegetable oil, rice vinegar, Dijon mustard, and other seasonings.

3. Hummus – Similarly Versatile

Another vegan substitute that is quite common among vegan guys is hummus. Hummus is an incredibly versatile, delicious, smooth, and creamy spread.

One can also substitute kewpie mayo with hummus if craving something healthy and nutritious. It can work the same way in savory wraps, rolls, and sandwiches, like mayonnaise.

Which One You Should Buy? Amazon Kitchen, Classic Hummus is the best vegan condiment you can introduce to your salads, sandwiches, savory rolls, and anything you are going to make next.

In short, there are several different ways to substitute kewpie mayo or Japanese mayo for both vegan and non-vegan guys. So, try them and enjoy your substitute cooking.