Learn how to make homemade olive oil mayonnaise with just 4 simple ingredients. It’s rich, creamy, flavorful, preservative-free, and ready in minutes.
Homemade Olive Oil Mayonnaise – Rich, Pure and Naturally Golden
There’s something quietly luxurious about making your own mayonnaise.
Not the squeeze-bottle kind. Not the shelf-stable, overly sweetened kind. But real, homemade olive oil mayonnaise, silky, golden, and deeply flavorful in a way that surprises you from the very first spoonful.
This isn’t just a condiment. It’s an ingredient upgrade.
Why Make Homemade Olive Oil Mayonnaise?
Most store-bought mayonnaise is made with refined seed oils, stabilizers, and preservatives. When you make mayonnaise at home, you control every single ingredient, and the difference in taste, purity, and color is unmistakable.
With fresh eggs, good olive oil, and a splash of lemon juice, you create a creamy emulsion that tastes clean, bright, and rich without being heavy.
And that color, oh, that color! Instead of pale white, homemade olive oil mayonnaise turns a soft, natural golden hue, thanks to vibrant egg yolks and the green-gold tint of quality olive oil. It looks alive. It tastes alive.
The Taste of Homemade Mayonnaise Wins You Over
Olive oil gives mayonnaise depth and character. Depending on the oil you choose, you can create something delicate and buttery or slightly peppery and bold.
Fresh lemon juice or vinegar brightens the richness.
A touch of salt sharpens the flavor.
The egg yolk creates a texture so smooth it feels almost whipped.
Just one taste is all you will need, to know.
Ingredients for Homemade Olive Oil Mayonnaise
2 Egg Yolks – Egg yolks provide richness and act as the emulsifier that binds the oil and lemon juice together, creating the creamy texture homemade olive oil mayonnaise is known for.
1 Teaspoon Fresh Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice adds brightness, balances richness, and helps stabilize the mayonnaise while enhancing flavor. Also the citric acid of lemon juice lowers the pH in the raw egg making it safe to consume.
1/4 Teaspoon Salt – Salt sharpens the flavor and brings all the ingredients into balance.
1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Olive oil provides richness, body, and a fresh, fruity flavor that makes homemade olive oil mayonnaise superior to store-bought versions.
Simple Tools You’ll Need for Homemade Mayo
Blender or a Medium Mixing Bowl and Whisk – You have two options: a blender if you want speed and reliability, a blender creates a perfectly thick, creamy olive oil mayonnaise in under a minute, a bowl and a whisk if you prefer the traditional technique.
Measuring Tools – Precision matters when emulsifying. Accurate measuring spoons and cups ensure the right balance of egg yolk, lemon juice, and olive oil.
Citrus Press – Fresh lemon juice makes all the difference. A simple citrus press helps extract clean, bright juice without seeds or excess pulp.
Glass Jars with a Lid (For Storage) – Once your mayonnaise is thick and golden, transfer it to a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
How to Make Homemade Olive Oil Mayonnaise
Step 1: Combine the Base Ingredients
Place the egg yolks, lemon juice, and salt into a blender or medium mixing bowl.
Whisk until the ingredients are fully blended and slightly thickened.
Featured Snippet Tip: The egg yolks are the foundation of the emulsion, so begin with a smooth, uniform mixture.
Step 2: Slowly Add the Olive Oil
Begin adding the olive oil one drop at a time while whisking constantly.
Continue whisking vigorously as the mixture starts to thicken.
How slowly should you add olive oil to mayonnaise?
For the first few tablespoons, add the oil very slowly. This creates a stable emulsion and prevents separation.
Step 3: Continue Whisking Until Thick and Creamy
Once the mayonnaise begins to thicken, continue drizzling the remaining oil in a thin steady stream.
Whisk continuously until all the oil is incorporated and the mayonnaise becomes thick, glossy, and creamy.
Step 4: Taste and Adjust
Taste the mayonnaise and add additional salt or lemon juice if desired.
Transfer to a clean airtight container.
Step 5: Refrigerate
Store in the refrigerator and use within 3 to 5 days.
Summertime Needs Homemade Mayonnaise
While growing up, I seem to remember only one brand of mayonnaise. Did I know what was in it? No, we never read ingredients labels until the 80’s.
Summertime needs mayonnaise for all those yummy sandwiches and cold salads we will be eating. After all, Potato Salad just screams for good mayonnaise, as do my Crab Towers and Crab Cakes!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my homemade olive oil mayonnaise separate?
The oil was likely added too quickly. Start with a very slow drizzle while whisking constantly to create a stable emulsion.
Is Olive Oil Mayonnaise Dairy-free?
Yes. There is no dairy in real mayonnaise.
How long does homemade olive oil mayonnaise last?
Because it contains fresh egg yolks and no preservatives, it is best consumed within 3 to 5 days when refrigerated.
Professional Chef Olive Oil Mayonnaise
Just so happens, my son is a professional chef. I asked him if he made mayo. He said, “ma, of course, it’s the easiest thing to make yourself”. I asked if I could make it with olive oil. He said, “what else would you use, of course”!
Gosh I love my brilliant kids!
Can Other Oils Go Into My Homemade Mayonnaise?
The range of oils we each prefer has become endless, therefore these oils can also be used to make mayonnaise.
- Avocado oil – An oil extracted from the pulp of avocados, great for high heat cooking yet not much in the way of flavor.
- Coconut oil – A high saturated fat content with many antibacterial properties, great from many uses yet not everyone wants the high fat content for eating.
- Sesame oil (untoasted) – Not high in many nutrients, yet many enjoy its flavor.
- Sunflower oil – A beautiful oil in vitamin E, yet there are issues with its potential excess inflammation in the body.
Why Mayo Breaks
Mayonnaise is an emulsion, a delicate mixture where tiny droplets of oil are suspended in egg yolk and acid. Because it’s a balance of fat and water, it can “break” if something goes wrong during mixing. Common causes include:
- Adding the oil too quickly: Pouring in too much oil at once overwhelms the egg yolk’s ability to emulsify.
- Temperature issues: Eggs and oil that are too cold or too warm can prevent proper emulsification.
- Improper whisking or blending: Not giving the mixture enough energy to combine the oil and egg can cause separation.
When the emulsion fails, the result is thin, greasy, or curdled mayonnaise.
How To Fix Broken Mayonnaise
Here’s a foolproof fix:
- Start with a fresh yolk: Place one egg yolk in a clean bowl or blender.
- Slowly add the broken mayo: Whisk or blend the broken mayonnaise into the fresh yolk slowly, a little at a time. The new yolk acts as a “magnet,” drawing the oil back into a smooth emulsion.
- Adjust seasoning if needed: Taste, then add a little salt or lemon juice if the repair diluted the flavor.
Alternative method: If you’re using a blender, you can add a teaspoon of warm water to the broken mixture while blending slowly, this helps re-emulsify the oil droplets.
Homemade Olive Oil Mayonnaise
Equipment
- Blender or whisk
- Airtight container
Ingredients
- 2 Egg yolks
- 1 tsp Lemon juice fresh
- 1/4 tsp Salt or to taste
- 1 cup Olive oil extra virgin
Instructions
- Place the egg yolks, lemon juice and salt in a medium bowl, or the blender. Whisk until it the yolks and juice are blended.
- Slowly, very slowly trickle a little olive oil while whisking vigorously. Continue to drizzle the oil in while whisking until all of the oil is added and the mixture becomes thick and creamy.
Notes
- If the oil is added too quickly, the mixture will break and you will have a liquid sauce and not an emulsification.
Have you ever made your own mayonnaise from scratch? I’d love to hear how you use this Homemade Olive Oil Mayonnaise in your kitchen. Leave a comment below and share your favorite sandwich, salad, or summer recipe that deserves a spoonful of fresh homemade mayo.
I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.
The BEST mayonnaise I’ve ever tasted!