Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is a thick, creamy emulsion of oil, egg yolk, and acid. It tastes rich and tangy with a silky, spoon-coating texture. It binds salads, anchors sandwiches, and forms the base for dressings, dips, and sauces like tartar or remoulade. Sold in jars or squeeze bottles as regular, light, and flavored styles.

Likely developed in 18th-century western Europe, with origins claimed by Menorca and France. It spread through European and American cookery and became a staple once commercial production standardized the emulsion.