I Never Thought I’d Like Vegan Mayo, but I Can’t Stop Eating This New Flavor

Mayonnaise is a star condiment in my kitchen. I love using it as an ingredient in dips and sauces, but most often I use it as is, either slathering it on a sandwich or dipping french fries into it. It’s creamy, tangy, and versatile — pretty much a perfect condiment, in my opinion. The main ingredients in mayo are oil and eggs, so you’d think a vegan version would be impossible. But thanks to a surprise ingredient, plant-based versions are becoming increasingly common in grocery stores.

I was curious to see how vegan mayos stacked up against the original, so I tried all four of Sir Kensington’s plant-based mayonnaise products. While I didn’t love all of them, one was so good, I’m counting it as my new favorite mayo ever.

Sir Kensington’s is a New York City-based condiment company that creates everything from ketchup to a gochujang-infused “everything sauce.” I already buy and enjoy many of their products (the spicy brown mayo is so good), so I figured if anyone could nail the vegan mayo thing, it would be them.

The four varieties of vegan mayo available from Sir Kensington’s are as follows: Classic, Chipotle, Special Sauce, and Avocado Oil, which are all available in 12-ounce glass jars. The replacement for the eggs in these vegan mayonnaise products is aquafaba, also known as “chickpea water,” which is prized for its vegan-friendly stabilizing powers (it’s helpful in plant-based baking recipes). 

For my taste test, I considered both flavor and texture. I ate a small dollop plain, then used each one as a dip for tortilla chips. After trying them all, there was a clear winner.

I actually really liked three of the varieties — Classic, Chipotle, and Special Sauce — because they had a velvety texture that was indiscernible from regular mayo. The special sauce could have been a cousin of that ubiquitous fast-food condiment, which made it a fun, nostalgic eat. The Avocado Oil version had a watery texture that had to be stirred (think: natural peanut butter), and a distinctly bean-y taste. If you’re looking for a basic mayo to cover all of your bases, I would go with the Classic, which has a more neutral flavor.

The real star of the show, however, was the Chipotle vegan mayo. To my palate, it delivered the perfect amount of smoky and spicy. It’s well-balanced, with coconut sugar, tomato paste, smoked paprika, garlic, cumin, and chipotle all bringing something different to the table. I kept going back for more after spreading it on my lunchtime chicken sandwich, and I’m only a little ashamed to admit that I licked the knife. 

You don’t have to be vegan to like this product. In truth, I would not be able to tell the difference in a blind taste test. And if the zeitgeist is any indication, vegan mayo is definitely on the rise. Pro chef turned TikTok star, @sad_papi, even recently partnered with Sir Kensington’s in a video that uses their Classic vegan mayo in a green chili sauce.

To wrap things up here, I’d definitely recommend Sir Kensington’s vegan mayo to plant-based cooks … but I’d insist that everyone try their Chipotle vegan mayonnaise.

Yay or nay to vegan mayo? Share your vote in the comments.