Aioli is so much more than flavored mayonnaise! Our garlic aioli recipe will guide you through making the most creamy and delicious aioli from scratch, and I promise, it’s easier than you think. If you want authentic, super creamy homemade aioli, you are in the right place because this recipe is out of this world.
Key Ingredients
Egg: Since this aioli is from scratch, we will start with raw eggs. For the best results, use room-temperature eggs, as they emulsify better. Many aioli recipes call for egg yolks, but we use both an egg yolk and a whole egg in this recipe. This makes the recipe more fail-proof since it increases the liquid in the food processor. Oil: Many authentic recipes for aioli call for olive oil. We love using extra-virgin olive oil in this recipe, but we like to cut it with a bit of mild-tasting oil like sunflower or safflower. You can use 100% olive oil if you’d like, but the flavor will be more prominent. Garlic: I use raw garlic cloves to make this aioli and like using my microplane to finely grate them before blending them with the other ingredients. If you find raw garlic too strong, consider roasted garlic. Lemon: I love adding a little fresh lemon to my aioli since it cuts the richness and makes it taste better. Vinegar works just as well. I’d use a red or white wine vinegar or more delicate champagne vinegar.
How to Make Garlic Aioli
Making homemade garlic aioli is similar to making homemade mayonnaise. I use my food processor to ensure consistent results. While blenders should work, they might not be as dependable, based on the feedback from our mayonnaise recipe. If you have a food processor, I recommend using it. To start, I finely grate my garlic cloves into the food processor bowl and add a little lemon juice and salt. Next, I add my room-temperature eggs, which means one whole egg and one egg yolk. I close the lid and blend everything until it’s frothy. Then, with the processor still running, I add the oil drip by drip. It’s important to add the oil slowly to help the eggs and emulsify properly. (To see me do this, watch our video showing how to make mayonnaise, I add the oil at 1:30.) Once the mixture thickens a bit, I increase the oil to a thin stream until it’s all incorporated. From there, I taste the aioli and adjust the seasoning with salt and lemon, usually adding both. And that’s it, perfect garlic aioli made completely from scratch! If you are short on time, check the tips section below the recipe where I share a cheater aioli using mayonnaise (or vegan mayonnaise).
What to Serve with Garlic Aioli
Garlicky, creamy aioli works perfectly with so many dishes. I love serving it as a dip for French fries, sweet potato fries, raw vegetables, roasted broccoli, roasted potatoes, artichokes, and asparagus. It’s also fantastic with seafood! Serve it alongside baked salmon, roasted trout, poached shrimp, perfectly cooked scallops, crispy fish sticks, or any other seafood dish you love. Aioli is also perfect when used as a spread for sandwiches and burgers. Whether you’re making a classic tuna salad sandwich, a juicy burger, or a veggie wrap, aioli adds a creamy garlic bite. 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 large egg at room temperature 1 large egg yolk at room temperature 1/2 cup (120ml) extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup (60ml) mild-tasting oil like sunflower, grapeseed, or vegetable oil Salt and fresh ground black pepper 2Place the garlic, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in the bowl of a food processor. Let sit for 5 minutes. 3Add the whole egg and yolk, then pulse until blended and frothy. 4Combine the oils in a measuring jug, which makes pouring the oil into the food processor easier. 5Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, turn the food processor on, then begin to slowly add the oil in tiny drops until about a quarter of the oil has been added (this is critical for proper emulsification) 6You can be less strict when you notice that the mixture is beginning to thicken and emulsify. With the processor on, continue to add it slowly, but increase to a very thin stream instead of drops of oil. 7When the oil is incorporated, and the aioli is thick, taste it and adjust it with additional lemon juice and salt. I usually add a couple more pinches of salt and an extra squeeze of lemon juice to make the flavor pop. Aioli is less thick than store-bought mayonnaise. 8Serve with a sprinkle of fresh ground black pepper over the top.
