Japanese Spicy Mayo

It’s no secret: Japanese spicy mayo elevates quite literally any dish it’s paired with. Whether you mix it with sushi (think: tuna, yellowtail, scallops), drizzle it over your poké bowl, or use it as a dip for your meat or fish, this creamy and savory treat is one you won’t want to skip out on.

Spicy mayo isn’t just reserved for Asian cuisine, however, as it’s been known to mesh well with fries, burgers, sandwiches, and so much more. If you’re looking to add a little spice (pun intended) for your next dish, this is it.

The best mayonnaise to use for this is Japanese Kewpie mayo, which has a more umami (savory) flavor compared to regular mayo, and can be found at your local Asian grocery store. If you don’t have access to Kewpie or if you are looking to make this vegan, then regular mayo or egg-less mayo will work just as well. So, are you wondering about the creepy doll that Kewpie uses as its logo?

“The Kewpie doll was created in 1909 by American illustrator Rose O’Neill. It’s not entirely clear why Nakashima (the founder of Kewpie mayonnaise brand) chose the Kewpie doll as the logo, but it was likely due to the fact that the doll was popular at the time.

– Mashed, 2022

According to Kewpie’s website, their founder travelled to the UK and the US in the 1910s on business for Japan’s Department of Agriculture and Commerce, and became enamored with the flavors of orange marmalade and mayonnaise while abroad. When returning to Japan, he sought to adapt the recipe of mayonnaise to appeal to the Japanese people by making it with a higher amount of egg yolks, using a blend of rice vinegar and other vinegars, and adding MSG. My deduction is that the Kewpie doll symbolized classic Americana culture at the time, where Nakashima got his inspiration for the mayonnaise.

Watch my video on how to make this recipe by clicking here.