I never was a big fan of mayonnaise growing up, but I really loved Miracle Whip. It always made good sandwiches even better. But now that I have left both of those behind as a green monster, I had to seek an alternative to give me that sweet, savory flavor. I got it about a year ago when I discovered Follow Your Heart’s Vegenaise product. Vegenaise is a creamy, delicious, and versatile sort-of mayo alternative that is chock full of flavor and it is also quite good for you. It’s gluten, dairy, and cholesterol-free, kosher, and also free of GMOs. “The Federal Standard of Identity states that mayonnaise must contain eggs. Since Vegenaise is egg-free, it actually falls under the FDA category of Dressing and Sandwich Spread.”
The main ingredients of Vegenaise include mustard, some kind of oil, apple cider vinegar, soy protein, brown rice syrup, salt, and lemon juice. Vegenaise comes in several varieties that mostly differ in the types of oils used: Original uses canola oil, Organic uses soybean oil, the Reduced Fat and Soy-Free versions use organic, expeller-pressed safflower oil, and finally there’s Grapeseed Oil. All recipes are 100% vegan, and most versions have less than 90 calories per teaspoon. Because of the oils used to make Vegenaise, it is also low in saturated fat. Since 1971, Los Angeles, CA has been home to Follow Your Heart’s market and cafe, where Vegenaise is happily offered as an option for their sandwiches and as a dressing for their salads.
Cooking With Vegenaise
I could gush about how fantastic this stuff is, but instead I will present you with 10 ways you can use and love it!
1. Roasted Vegetables
Tossing your veggies in oil and sea salt all the time can get old and samey after the first one hundred times. Try tossing them in a bit of vegenaise instead. You can try this with mushrooms, potatoes, squash, and much more. It’ll give them a bit of a zesty taste, and you might even cut down on your sodium intake this way too! Vegenaise contains merely 80 milligrams of sodium per serving.
2. Quick Lemon Custard
Take 1 Tbsp of Vegenaise and mix it with a cup of soy lemon-flavored soy yogurt. Then proceed to watch as it instantly turns into a light yellow, creamy dessert, with an almost custard-like flavor. Feel free to try this with any flavor of soy yogurt.
3. Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Grilled cheese sandwiches are simple and quick to make and perfect for lunch. Instead of using Earth Balance butter on the tops and bottoms of your grilled cheese, spread some vegenaise on them. The bread will toast quite nicely and come off with a nice, creamy mayo-like taste that might cause you to remember your younger days.
4. Mac & Cheese
When making your favorite kind of vegan macaroni and cheese, mix in a little bit of vegenaise into the final product. The sauce will give your cheesey pasta a creamy, shiny glow and will add a nice kick of flavor.
5. Tempeh Dip and Saute Add-In
Add in a bit of Vegenaise to your pan while sauteeing various veggie proteins such as seitan, tofu, and tempeh. It’s also great when dipping tempeh cubes or strips into a single dollop.
6. Muffin Spread and Sandwich Topping
Vegenaise goes great as a spread on toasted muffins, and in a quick morning sandwich with vegan sausage and your choice of lunch veggies. Vegenaise goes great with tomatoes!
Satiate your craving for a baked potato by adding Vegenaise and a few pinches of freshly-chopped chives to your foil-wrapped Idaho delight. Also, spice up a roasted potato with harissa and add a dollop of Vegenaise to even things out.
8. “Sour Cream”
Hosting a Mexican potluck with some friends and you’re out of sour cream? Bring some added flavor to your dish by adding some Vegenaise to your burritos, tacos, and enchiladas!
9. Vegenaise Frosting
Here is a simple recipe to make some yummy vegan cream cheese frosting: 1 container of vegan cream cheese, 1/4 cup of maple syrup, 2 Tbsp of vegan buttery spread, 1 heaping Tbsp Vegenaise, and a pinch of salt. Blend well and toss in the fridge to chill. The Vegenaise will add an extra kick to your frosting and give it a nice flavor.
10. Everyone Else’s Favorite Way To Enjoy It
Eat it right out of the jar with a spoon! If you prefer, scoop some into a bowl and eat it from there. Don’t be afraid to indulge every once in a while!
Here are some recipes:
1. Toasted Quinoa Vegetable Stacks with Green Goddess Dressing
3. Vegan Chik’n Salad with Cranberries and Pistachios
Have a great vegenaise recipe of your own? Share it with us!
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