Creole Mayonnaise

The secret of a successful home cook is to have your fridge and pantry always ready for action. This means having prepared and frozen dishes ready to be heated up for a last-minute meal, having plenty of canned and dry goods ready for quick meals, and having at hand jars of pasta sauce and low-sodium broth. It also means having in the fridge lots of tasty sauces and dips that can transform an everyday meal, like humble chicken nuggets, into a delicious and unexpected source of culinary pleasure. Enter our Creole mayonnaise. Made with bold and spicy flavors, this mayonnaise is easily used in many recipes, from sandwiches to seafood, and can be your new favorite shortcut from woeful to wonderful. Crabcakes, peel-and-eat shrimp, chicken tenders, fried foods, egg or chicken salad, or even a plate of vegetables each will make a mouthwatering offering when served with a dollop of this sauce. Mix in 5 minutes and keep at hand in your fridge because once you've tried it there's no going back to plain mayo.

A mixture of mayonnaise and Creole mustard, this sauce doubles as a dipping sauce, and triples as a salad dressing if thinned out with olive oil and a touch of white wine vinegar. The vibrant flavors of Creole mustard get a lift from dried herbs and lemon juice. If you've never had Creole mustard, you're missing out! Born in Louisiana and a product of the region's mixture of culinary customs, including French, African, Spanish, and local traditions, the mustard is, in general, a grainy mix of Creole seasoning (paprika, cayenne, onion, garlic, oregano, basil, and seasonings), horseradish, molasses, and hot sauce, but takes on many variations depending on the area and cook. This strong mustard adds to the creamy mayo flavor, making the perfect combination of heat and smoothness. The lemon juice adds some tang that makes it perfect for seafood (fish sticks, fried fish fillets, breaded calamari, grilled octopus) but also wonderful on other meats like roasted beef or pork.

This mayonnaise mixture also makes a flavorful dip for crudités, empanadas, samosas, or fried cheese sticks. Mix it with canned tuna, chopped hardboiled eggs, or both to make a creamy and spicy salad to spread on bagels or sliced bread. Use it on cooked pasta or cubed cooked potatoes for a cold picnic salad or smear it on your favorite bread adding cold cuts, cheese, pickles, and vegetables for a make-your-own sandwich. If you need this to be an egg-free preparation, use vegan mayo instead of regular mayo.