NPR News

Shirley's Canola Oil Mayonnaise

NPR

Published November 18, 2010 at 2:39 PM EST

To be absolutely safe, I heat the egg to prevent salmonella.

Water and sugar help prevent the egg from coagulating when carefully heated. You can skip this step if you use pasteurized eggs. I like to add a little minced jalapeno and ginger root to make a chili-ginger mayonnaise, but other spices or herbs can also be added to make different kinds of flavored mayonnaise.

1 large egg

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon water

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 scant teaspoon salt

Pinch of cayenne, optional

1 cup canola oil

1. Beat egg well with lemon juice, 1 tablespoon water and sugar. Heat mixture in a small skillet over very low heat, stirring and scraping bottom of pan constantly with a spatula. When bubbles appear around edge of pan, or at the first sign of thickening, remove pan from heat but continue stirring.

2. Dip pan bottom in a large pan of cold water to stop cooking. Scrape contents into a blender, blend for a second or so and then let stand, uncovered, at least 5 minutes to cool.

3. Add dry mustard, salt and cayenne, if using, and cover. With blender running, drizzle in oil, very slowly at first and then a little faster until combined.

4. Transfer mayonnaise to a clean container and chill immediately. It will keep 7 days covered and refrigerated.