Japanese Kewpie Mayonnaise

If you have never heard of Kewpie mayonnaise, it is the brand name for Japanese mayonnaise by Ajinomoto.  As you might imagine, there is a cute drawing of a Kewpie doll on the package. It has been popular in Japan since 1925.  Compared to American mayonnaise, it has a lighter texture and has a more complex taste.  It has been gaining popularity in the US recently, and more and more people recognize the name.

Since this mayonnaise contains MSG and other seasonings, It is very difficult to make a similar mayonnaise from scratch at home.  This recipe is as close as it can get to Kewpie mayonnaise, and I think it tastes pretty good unless you literally compare them side by side.

To simplify, you could omit dashi powder if you are not looking for this depth of flavor.  It is also probably not very critical to use the two kinds of vinegars as well.  I do recommend not to skip oriental mustard, but if you don’t have it, you can substitute Dijon mustard.  But if you substitute Dijon mustard for oriental mustard, it might get too spicy. Oriental mustard is Japanese mustard by S&B, and most Asian markets carry it; it is packaged in a tin can as a powder. Mix the powder  with water to use.

If you don’t want make completely from the scratch, try to add extra vinegar, mustard, sugar and salt to typical U.S. mayonnaise.  It will be a little closer to Japanese mayonn