Carnivore Diet and Mayonnaise: A Guide to Carnivore-Friendly Mayo

The carnivore diet is a restrictive dietary approach that involves consuming exclusively animal products. This includes meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and animal-derived fats like butter and lard, while completely excluding plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and plant-based oils. One intriguing component of this diet is carnivore mayonnaise, a delicious and versatile condiment that can elevate your meals while adhering to the strict guidelines of the carnivore lifestyle.

What Is Mayonnaise?

Mayonnaise is a common dressing or sauce made by mixing oil with egg yolks, adding an acidic ingredient like vinegar or lemon juice, and seasonings like salt and mustard. It is an emulsion, meaning tiny droplets of oil are suspended in water from the egg yolk and vinegar or lemon. The egg yolk contains lecithin, a natural emulsifier that keeps the mixture stable and prevents it from separating. Many people love mayonnaise because it is smooth, rich, and creamy with a mild and slightly salty taste, making it a delicious sauce for sandwiches, a base for dressings like ranch or aioli, a dip, and a component in salads like potato or tuna salad.

Regular Mayonnaise and the Carnivore Diet

Regular mayonnaise is typically not allowed on a carnivore diet due to its plant-based ingredients, particularly the oils used. The carnivore diet excludes all plant-based foods, so industrial mayonnaise is generally off-limits. The main issue with plant oils, especially canola or soybean oil, is that they can contain toxins and may cause inflammation. Modern science suggests that industrial vegetable oils can cause inflammation and negatively affect hormone signaling, potentially leading to serious health issues such as all-cause mortality, obesity, cancer, heart disease, mental illnesses like depression, and brain disorders like Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.

Types of Mayonnaise

Each type of mayonnaise can be suitable for a specific group of individuals, depending on their diet, lifestyle, and preferences. Different types of mayo include:

• Traditional Mayonnaise
• Light or Reduced-Fat Mayonnaise
• Olive Oil Mayonnaise
• Vegan Mayonnaise
• Avocado Oil Mayonnaise
• Flavored Mayonnaise
• Japanese Kewpie Mayonnaise
• Carnivore Mayo

Traditional mayonnaise is the classic version made with oil, egg yolks, vinegar or lemon juice, and seasonings, making it creamy and rich, suitable for various dishes and sandwiches. Light mayo is made with less oil than traditional mayonnaise or sometimes a mix of oil and other ingredients like water or yogurt to reduce fat and calories, making it more suitable for those watching their calorie intake. Olive oil mayonnaise is made with olive oil instead of traditional vegetable oils like soybean or canola oil, giving it a different flavor and a slightly different texture. Vegan mayonnaise substitutes eggs with ingredients like plant-based oils, starches, and emulsifiers, such as pea protein or soy protein, making it suitable for those following a vegan diet or individuals allergic to eggs. Avocado oil mayonnaise is made with avocado oil instead of traditional oils, making it oilier than other mayos and giving it a special flavor. Flavored mayonnaise includes varieties like garlic, chipotle, sriracha, guacamole-flavored, barbecue-flavored, and herbal mayonnaise, which can be suitable for those who follow plant-based diets or relaxed keto diets. Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise is a popular Japanese mayonnaise, very creamy and made with egg yolks and a mix of rice vinegar and apple or malt vinegar, giving it a slightly sweeter taste than traditional mayonnaise. Carnivore mayo is a mayonnaise that includes only carnivore-friendly ingredients, like egg yolks and animal fat.

Read also: Chicken Salad for Weight Loss

Carnivore Mayo: A Diet-Friendly Alternative

Carnivore mayo is a mayonnaise made with only animal-based ingredients, making it suitable for those following a strict carnivore diet. Store-bought mayo is often not allowed on the carnivore diet if it contains plant-based ingredients, but homemade or specially sourced carnivore mayo allows you to enjoy this condiment without compromising your dietary restrictions.

Health Benefits of Carnivore Mayo

Carnivore mayo is not only allowed due to its animal-based ingredients but also due to its potential health benefits:

• Healthy Fats: Carnivore mayo uses healthy, animal-based fat sources to help induce ketosis and provide steady energy.
• Anti-Inflammatory: It is free from seed oils, which can cause chronic inflammation.
• Hormone Health: Cholesterol and saturated fats in carnivore mayo support hormone production.
• Gut-Friendly: Animal-based mayo is easier to digest than store-bought mayo, which often contains emulsifiers and additives.
• Nutrient-Dense: Depending on the fat used, carnivore mayo can provide vitamins like A, D, E, and K.

Best Animal Fats for Carnivore Mayo

The best carnivore mayo is made with high-quality animal fats. Consider mixing fats, such as half tallow with half lard, to balance taste and texture.

Carnivore Mayo Recipes

Here are three easy and quick recipes for making your own carnivore mayo:

Carnivore Mayo Recipe 1

Ingredients:

• 1 whole egg
• 1/2 cup of chicken fat
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp mustard (optional)
• 1 tsp lemon juice (optional)

Instructions:

1. Separate egg yolks from whites and place them in a bowl.
2. Melt fat on the stove or in the microwave.
3. Add the lemon juice, mustard, and salt to your egg yolk mixture (if using).
4. Mix the yolk mixture until frothy.
5. Slowly add the melted fat to the yolk mix and blend for about 5 minutes until creamy.
6. Add the egg white to the mixture and mix for about 10 seconds.
7. Place the mixture in the fridge for about an hour.

Macros: 1007 calories, 9.6 g protein, 109 g fat, 0.7 g carbs

Read also: Choosing Keto Mayonnaise

Carnivore Mayo Recipe 2

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of pork fat
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Place egg yolks in a large bowl.
2. Add the apple cider to the yolks and whisk.
3. Melt pork fat, add it to the yolk mix, and mix slowly.
4. Add salt.
5. Refrigerate it for an hour to become solid.

Macros: 1950 calories, 6.0 g protein, 217 g fat, 1.2 g carbs

Carnivore Mayo Recipe 3

Ingredients:

• 150 g sour cream
• 75 g cream cheese
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 tsp lemon juice (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix the sour cream and cream cheese.
2. Add salt and lemon juice (if using) and blend well using a mixer/ blender.
3. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.

Macros: 546 calories, 8.1 g protein, 54 g fat, 10 g carbs

Troubleshooting Carnivore Mayo Recipes

• If mayo is not emulsifying, add fat slowly while whisking to let yolks absorb it.
• If mayo is too runny, refrigerate it longer or add extra melted fat.
• If its flavor is too strong, blend it with different fats to mellow the taste.
• If it is too oily, add a little sour cream or cream cheese to stabilize.
• If you are using an immersion blender, you probably did not trap the egg yolk down properly and therefore the oil was added too quickly.

Storage and Shelf Life of Carnivore Mayo

Homemade carnivore mayonnaise is fresh and doesn’t contain preservatives, so it needs to be stored carefully. Store homemade carnivore mayo in a sterilized glass jar, keep it refrigerated at below 40°F (4°C), and consume it within 3-5 days, depending on the ingredients used. If the mayo smells sour, separates, or changes color, discard it. Homemade mayo will last as long as your eggs would have lasted.

How to Use Carnivore Mayo

Carnivore mayo can be used in various ways:

• As a dip for steak bites, grilled chicken, or burger patties
• Mixed into ground beef to keep burgers juicy
• As a binder for tuna, chicken, or egg salad (Carnivore Egg Salad)
• Spread over carnivore bread or egg-based buns
• Added to scrambled eggs for extra creaminess

Carnivore Mayo Variations

If you find making carnivore mayo tricky or don’t like the challenge, consider these variations:

Read also: Is Mayonnaise GOLO-Friendly?

• Bone Marrow Mayo: Mix roasted bone marrow with egg yolks for a nutritious mayo.
• Butter Mayo: Use melted butter as the fat base for a light, creamy mayo.
• Bacon Mayo (Baconnaise): Mix bacon grease with egg yolks for a smoky, salty mayo perfect with beef.

Baconnaise AKA Bacon Mayo Recipe

This is a super easy Carnivore/Keto Baconnaise aka Bacon Mayo recipe and one of my personal favourites. It is super easy and very delicious! There are a couple of variations that can be done with this recipe if you want it more tangy mayo or plain mayo.

Ingredients:

• bacon grease
• egg yolks
• apple cider vinegar
• salt
• mustard (optional)
• egg whites (optional)

Instructions:

1. Slightly warm the bacon grease in a saucepan and melt over low heat. Do not let it get too hot! It needs to be relatively room temperature!
2. While the fat is warming, separate your egg yolks from the whites placing the yolks in the bottom of the wide mouth jar. (Save the egg whites for adding back to the mayo to make it softer and easier to spread once refrigerated.)
3. Add your apple cider vinegar, salt and mustard (if using) to the egg yolks.
4. Blitz the yolk mixture with the immersion blender until combined.
5. Once the grease is melted and cooled, slowly pour a small amount of bacon fat into the yolk mixture while blitzing with the immersion blender (about 30 seconds) moving the stick blender up and down and around to ensure ingredients are well combined. You will notice that it immediately begins to emulsify. This is what you want!
6. Continue to run your immersion blender while slowly slowly adding the cooled, melted bacon grease until completely combined. EXPERT TIP: Work your stick blender up and down to incorporate the melted butter and to ensure proper emulsifying.
7. Once all the bacon grease is added, you can choose to add the egg whites (this results in a softer, spreadable mayo when it is refrigerated) continue to blend for another 45-60 seconds moving the stick blender around to insure all ingredients are incorporated.
8. Use warm or seal with the lid and store in the fridge for 3-4 weeks (if it lasts that long!)

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