Mayonnaise, informally mayo,[1] is a thick cold sauce or dressing commonly used in sandwiches, hamburgers, composed salads, and on French fries. It also forms the base for many other sauces, such as tartar sauce, remoulade, salsa golf and rouille.[2]
It is a mix of oil, egg yolk, and an acid, either vinegar or lemon juice;[3] there are many variants using additional flavorings. The color of mayonnaise varies from near-white to pale yellow, and its texture from a light cream to a thick gel.
Commercial egg-free alternatives are made for vegans and those who avoid chicken eggs or dietary cholesterol[4] as well as people with egg allergies.
Mayonnaise is used commonly around the world, and is also a base for many other chilled sauces and salad dressings. For example, sauce rémoulade, in classic French cuisine, is a mix of mayonnaise and mustard, gherkins, capers, parsley, chervil, tarragon, and possibly anchovy essence.[43]