Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Chocolate Brownies

This week I was invited to attend an event by Hellmann’s who want to inspire us with simple recipes using Hellmann’s Mayonnaise as an ingredient in cooking.

When I think of Hellmann’s, my immediate thought is that of a large dollop (or two) served with some lovely chips. I am also slightly in love with mayonnaise with pizza (am I strange?!)  However, Hellmann’s are keen to demonstrate that their mayonnaise is not just a condiment – it is a versatile ingredient to cook with too…even in chocolate brownies!

Posh Brownies – Photo Hellmann’s

But surely loads of mayo can’t be healthy?! Well actually, Hellmann’s are also keen to point out that since their ‘Real’ mayonnaise is made with free range eggs, vinegar and rapeseed oil (which naturally contains Omega 3 and mono and polyunsaturated fats) if you use Hellmann’s in place of butter you can reduce the saturated fat content of a recipe.

For example, thinking of the family favourite ‘mash potato’, you can cut up to 85% of the saturated fat if you swap any butter you would have added with a dollop of Hellmann’s.  Interestingly, using the mayo in brownies (also in place of butter) reduces their saturated fat by 55%. Bonus.

So, to inspire people to get creative with their mayo, Hellmann’s have devised some easy-to-make recipes for you to try, which are all available at http://www.hellmanns.co.uk/ along with all the nutritional values and information.

On the night in question, the recipes were prepared by food stylist and cook Genevieve Taylor.  We tried the Lemon and Garlic Roasted Salmon with Colcannon Mash and the Smoked Haddock Cakes with Mustard Mayo.  I really enjoyed both the savoury dishes, the topping on the salmon was yummy and my kids would love the haddock fish cakes. I will definitely be trying all the recipes at home (see below).

Lemon & Garlic Roasted Salmon with Roasted Tomatoes – photo Hellmann’s

“Loved Up” Mash – Colcannon – photo Hellmann’s

Smoked Haddock Cakes with Mustard Mayo – Photo Hellmann’s

Hellmann’s also gave us a huge pink mixing bowl full of all the ingredients for their ‘Posh Brownies’ so I gave them a go at home to see how they turned out (well, it would have been rude not too since I had all the ingredients to hand!)  They were, indeed, simple and quick to make and I can’t say that swapping the butter for Hellmann’s was bad at all!  They were crispy on top and gooey on the inside.  My only tweak, since I am partial to extra-gooey brownies, was to add two (quite black) mashed bananas – so you could try that too.

My gooey brownies made with Hellmann’s Mayo!

On a roll, I also came up with my own quick pasta recipe, perfect for a low-hassle kids’ tea – using Hellmann’s as a stir through sauce just at the end – Tuna Fish Pasta & Peas with Hellmann’s Mayo – see below for recipe.  If you happen to shop at Sainsbury’s, Hellmann’s is on special offer and they are donating some of the profits from sales to Comic Relief.

For more recipes and inspiration visit http://www.hellmanns.co.uk/ and if you try of the recipes yourself, don’t forget to let me know how you got on by leaving me a comment in the box below!

It was also lovely to meet some fellow bloggers at the event, including Sarah from Maison Cupcake and Helen from Fuss Free Flavours, as well as Genevieve Taylor and Alan Rosenthal who I had to nick-name ‘Mr & Mrs Stew’ since they have both very recently had cook books published entirely on the subject of Stew! 

Alan author of Stewed! and Genevieve author of Stew!