Grandmother's Hand-Whisked Shallot and Parsley Mayonnaise
This is a thick, luxurious mayonnaise made completely by hand, the way French grandmothers have done it for generations. By whisking slowly and adding oil drop by drop, you create a creamy sauce with fresh shallots and parsley that's perfect for seafood, roasted potatoes, or steak. Takes about 20 minutes and makes 1 cup.
Recipe by Clara De Baere-Verburgh
Clara De Baere-Verburgh was a home cook and butcher shop owner who preserved traditional Belgian and Flemish recipes throughout her life. She owned and operated family butcher shops where she crafted homemade charcuterie and traditional meat preparations. Clara's recipes reflect generations of Flemish culinary heritage, emphasizing quality ingredients and time-honored techniques passed down through her family.
Traditional Home Cook & Butcher Shop Owner
Quick Info
Why Does Hand-Whisking Make Better Mayonnaise Than a Blender?
Traditional French technique shows that whisking by hand gives you complete control over how the oil and egg yolk come together. When you add oil too fast in a machine, the tiny droplets don't have time to coat themselves in egg proteins, and the sauce breaks into a greasy mess.
Food science shows that the vigorous whisking motion traps air bubbles throughout the sauce, creating a lighter, fluffier texture that machines can't replicate. Professional chefs call this 'heavy' texture—it's thick enough to stand up on a spoon but still feels silky on your tongue.
The shallots and parsley get folded in at the very end so they stay crisp and bright. Blending them would bruise the parsley and turn everything an unappealing green color, plus you'd lose that satisfying little crunch from the minced shallots.
Ingredients
Recipe yields 1 cup (about 8 servings) servings
| Amount | Ingredient | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 18 g (1 large yolk) | egg yolk | room temperature for better emulsification |
| 15 g (1 tablespoon) | Dijon mustard | acts as a secondary emulsifier and provides a sharp counterpoint |
| 220 g (1 cup) | neutral oil (grapeseed or sunflower) | provides the body without overpowering the aromatics |
| 25 g (about 1 medium shallot) | shallots | very finely minced (brunoise) |
| 10 g (2 tablespoons) | fresh flat-leaf parsley | finely chopped, leaves only |
| 15 g (1 tablespoon) | lemon juice or white wine vinegar | acid to brighten the fats and dissolve the salt |
| 3 g (½ teaspoon) | fine sea salt | to taste |
| 1 g (¼ teaspoon) | white pepper | ground finely to maintain a smooth appearance |
Instructions
Set Up Your Workspace
- 1
Stabilize Your Bowl (The One-Hand Trick)
Place your mixing bowl on a damp kitchen towel folded into a ring. This keeps the bowl from spinning around while you whisk with one hand and pour oil with the other—it's the secret to making this work without help.
- 2
Dissolve the Salt in Acid
In the bowl, combine the lemon juice (or vinegar) and the salt. Whisk briefly until the salt completely dissolves into the acid. This prevents gritty bits in your finished mayo and helps the flavors blend evenly.
Build the Emulsion
- 3
Prepare the Base (Get It Tacky)
Add the egg yolk, mustard, and white pepper to the acid mixture. Whisk until the mixture is slightly pale and tacky—about 30 seconds. This ensures the egg proteins are ready to grab onto the oil droplets and hold them in place.
- 4
Add Oil Drop by Drop (The Critical Phase)
Begin adding the oil literally drop by drop while whisking vigorously in a circular or figure-eight motion. This is the make-or-break moment—if you add oil too fast at the start, the emulsion will break and become greasy. You'll see the mixture start to thicken after about 2 tablespoons of oil.
- 5
Stream in the Remaining Oil (Build the Body)
Once the mixture thickens into a heavy paste, you can begin adding the remaining oil in a very thin, steady stream while whisking constantly. Keep whisking in that same circular motion—this traps air and creates that fluffy, luxurious texture that makes hand-whisked mayo special.
Finish and Rest
- 6
Fold in the Aromatics (Keep Them Fresh)
Switch to a spatula and gently fold in the finely minced shallots and parsley. Don't whisk them in—folding prevents the parsley from bruising and turning the mayo an unappealing green, and keeps the shallots crisp and crunchy.
- 7
Let It Rest (Mellow the Bite)
Let the mayonnaise sit for at least 15 minutes before serving. This allows the shallots to macerate slightly in the emulsion, which mellows their raw bite and lets all the flavors marry together beautifully.
Tips & Tricks
If your mayonnaise breaks and looks curdled or greasy: Don't throw it away! Take a clean bowl and a fresh egg yolk. Whisk the yolk with a teaspoon of mustard, then very slowly whisk your broken mixture into the new yolk, drop by drop, as if it were the oil. This resets the emulsion and saves your sauce.
If the mayonnaise becomes too thick to whisk before you've used all the oil: Whisk in a teaspoon of warm water to loosen the structure. The water thins it just enough to keep whisking comfortably, and you won't lose any of that creamy texture.
If all your ingredients are cold from the fridge: Let the egg yolk and oil come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before starting. Cold yolks are less elastic and more likely to cause the emulsion to fail—room temperature ingredients blend together much more easily.
If you want to use olive oil for more flavor: Use 75% neutral oil for the structure and add 25% extra virgin olive oil at the very end for flavor. Olive oil can become bitter when vigorously whisked, so this professional compromise gives you flavor without the bitterness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use shallots instead of regular onions?
Shallots have a higher sugar content and a more delicate, garlic-like flavor than standard onions. When finely minced in a fat-heavy sauce like mayo, they provide a sophisticated little crunch and a sweet-sharp finish that doesn't overpower the other flavors.
How long will this homemade mayonnaise keep?
Because it contains raw egg yolks and fresh aromatics, keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use it within 2 to 3 days. The shallots will release moisture over time, so give it a quick stir before using.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Partial—you can make the mayonnaise base up to 2 days ahead and store it covered in the fridge. Add the fresh shallots and parsley just before serving so they stay crisp and bright green.
What kind of whisk should I use?
Use a balloon whisk with many thin wires. This type incorporates the most air and creates the most stable emulsion. Avoid flat whisks or ones with just a few thick wires—they won't trap enough air.
Why does the recipe say to mince the shallots so small?
Large chunks of shallot will make the emulsion feel broken or grainy on your tongue. Mincing them as small as possible (brunoise cut) keeps the texture silky smooth while still giving you that little burst of flavor.
What can I serve this mayonnaise with?
It's perfect for chilled seafood like shrimp or crab, roasted potatoes, steak frites, or as a spread for sandwiches. The shallots and parsley make it fancy enough to serve at a dinner party but simple enough for everyday meals.