Support the site — ☕ Buy me a coffee
Nutty mayonnaise
I ruined a batch of homemade mayonnaise once by rushing the oil too fast—it split into oily islands on my counter. That taught me to add the oil slowly enough that you can hear it whispering through the blender, and from then on I always keep a jar of this nutty version in the fridge because it's one of those things where you forget how much you need until you run out.I make it with walnuts toasted in a dry skillet until they smell like autumn, then blended with garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and just enough Dijon to keep everything from tasting too sweet. I use it as a sandwich spread for grilled cheese, fold it into tuna salad instead of plain mayo, or swirl it through grain bowls when I want something that tastes more thoughtful than what came out of the bottle.One thing I've learned: let the blended mixture rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour before using so the flavors have time to settle together. The walnuts release their oils and everything softens into a cohesive spread rather than tasting like separate ingredients.
Ingredients
Method
- Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and lightly golden at the edges, about 5 minutes. Spread on a plate to cool completely.
- In a food processor or blender, combine cooled walnuts, garlic cloves, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Pulse a few times to break up the walnuts into small pieces.
- With the motor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil through the feed tube (or just off-center of the bowl) until the mixture is smooth and emulsified, about 1–2 minutes. Scrape down sides as needed.
- Add water one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached—the mixture should spread easily but not run like dressing. Taste and adjust salt or lemon juice if needed.
- Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using so flavors meld together.
![](https://haleyskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/haleys-book-transp.png"){kind=spacer}
