I learned to make Garlic Aioli in high school from a woman who had recently moved to the United States from France. She showed me the traditional method for homemade aioli, using a mortar and pestle, to wrestle egg yolks, garlic, olive oil, and salt into creamy submission. Delectable, but time consuming and not the recipe I'm sharing with you today.
Jump to:
You can make this version, that's equally creamy and delicious, in 5 minutes with an immersion blender.
Garlic Aioli Ingredients
- Eggs: large or extra large yolks
- Garlic: medium fresh garlic cloves
- Lemon Juice: ideally fresh
- Avocado Oil: Ideal for this recipe because it won't become bitter with the speed of the immersion blender blade. You can also use grapeseed oil.
- Olive Oil: extra-virgin olive oil
- Kosher Salt
Aioli, a compound of words meaning simply "garlic" and "oil" is a creamy, garlic flavor forward condiment of the Mediterranean. In its simplest form, it's just garlic emulsified with salt and oil, but I prefer the richer version of France that includes egg yolks - essentially a garlic mayonnaise.
You may remember the Avocado Oil Mayonnaise that I posted a while ago? It uses a similar method, but is made with just avocado oil. I want my garlic aioli to have a presence of olive oil flavor, so I never considered using a hand blender as its whirlwind blade insists on making olive oil bitter. But then I came across this recipe that creates a base aioli with a neutral oil like canola or vegetable oil (I prefer avocado) and whisks in olive oil at the end. Genius!
There is a certain joy in preparing food slowly, like stirring a classic risotto or caramelizing onions for French Onion Soup. If you've made mayonnaise from scratch with a whisk, you know the patience building pursuit of coaxing an egg yolk and oil to emulsify. You have to add the oil literally drip by drip, whisking constantly, to keep the mixture from breaking. Once you've succeeded in a base blob of emulsified mayonnaise, you can add the oil in a slow, steady stream. This recipe uses the same principle.
You create a base aioli with the immersion blender and whisk the olive oil in at the end. It works beautifully.
Tips for Perfect Garlic Aioli Every Time
- Use a standard 2-cup glass measuring pitcher with a base that's slightly larger than the head of your immersion blender.
- Make sure that the head of the immersion blender is flat on the bottom of the pitcher before turning it on and do not lift it until you see the aioli forming (just a few seconds).
- If disaster strikes and your aioli breaks, don't throw it away! Add an egg yolk to a fresh bowl, whisk it and then, very slowly, whisk in the broken mixture until it starts to emulsify. Continue to drizzle and whisk until you have a bowl of smooth, creamy aioli.
How to Serve Aioli
- Use as a sandwich spread for all kinds of savory sandwiches. It would be amazing on this Pork Belly Sandwich!
- Serve as a sauce for dipping raw or blanched veggies and steamed or grilled artichokes.
- Whisk in a teaspoon or more of Dijon mustard and serve as a dip with french fries or Salt Potatoes.
- Kick up the spice by whisking in sriracha and garlic to make Sriracha Aioli, or pesto to make Pesto Aioli, extra lemon and zest to make Lemon Garlic Aioli, or cayenne pepper, black pepper, or chipotle powder to serve as a dipping sauce for appetizers like Crab Cakes, Fried Green Tomatoes, or Bacon Wrapped Shrimp.
- Instead of raw garlic, use whole roasted garlic cloves to make roasted garlic aioli.
How to Make Garlic Aioli
Step 1: Add egg yolk, minced raw garlic cloves, and avocado oil to a 2-cup glass measuring pitcher. Insert the head of an immersion blender and lay it flat against the bottom. Turn on at it's high speed, not lifting until you see aioli begin to form. Lift and move the blender side by side until all of the oil is incorporated.
Step 2: Whisking constantly, add olive oil in a slow steady stream. Whisk in salt. Serve or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
Garlic Aioli Recipe Video
Garlic Aioli
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 egg yolks
- 4 medium cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup avocado oil
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Add egg yolks, garlic, lemon juice and avocado oil to a 2-cup glass measuring cup (or other container that is just large enough to allow the head of your blender to reach the bottom). Place the head of an immersion blender on the bottom of the pitcher; turn it on to its highest speed. When you see aioli beginning to form, slowly lift the blender head from the bottom and move it up and down and side to side until all of the oil is incorporated.
- Add olive oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until emulsified. Whisk in salt and serve or refrigerate. Store refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
Notes
- You may want to transfer the aioli to a separate bowl before whisking in the olive oil and salt.
In France, this is traditionally served with cod (prepared in a court boullion), and boiled root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, beets). Highly recommend trying it.
SO yummy, and SO quick and easy. Will make this again and again...
I love to hear that, B.J.! So glad you're enjoying this.
I love garlic aioli but never thought to make my own at home. Looks great Marissa! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Thanks, Leanne!
Delicious for so many things Marissa! We especially love it on sandwiches. Pinned and excited to try your recipe!
So good on sandwiches! Thank you, Mary Ann!
Oh yes I know what you mean about the joy of preparing food slowly. Standing at your stove and stirring away. Enjoying the flavours and the moment. This recipe is a keeper. An easier version than the traditional method as you said. Thanks for sharing Marissa!
Thanks, Neil!
Haha! Love your introduction, Marissa! ...and not the recipe I'm sharing with you today! 🙂 It's such a gift that you know how to do it by hand. But knowing myself, I'd probably never have the time to do it. So yay for the easy way! It looks so creamy and wonderful! I can think of tons of things I'd like to eat it on!
That's a great way to look at it, Kelly. It was a gift to be taught the traditional way of making it and with this much quicker method, I get to enjoy it more often. 🙂
So glad you gave us a quick and easy version of this delectable dip! Robust flavors of this can make any sandwich taste like a million bucks!
Yes! Awesome for sandwich making! Thanks, Kevin!
Garlicky aioli is the best, The egg yolk gives such a nice color. I haven't made this at home but I do make the Middle eastern condiment, 'toum' with garlic and oil. Yes, no egg.
Hi Balvinder! I do love the richness of the egg yolk, but the original Aioli, like toum, doesn't have egg either. 🙂
Can I use just olive oil?
Hi Joan! I recommend using a neutral oil like avocado or canola for the base. Olive oil blended with an immersion blender can turn bitter, so it's best to whisk it in at the end.
I want to dip everything in this!! Looks incredibly easy and oh so delicious, Marissa! And love this easy peasy version. Pinned 🙂 Can't wait to give it a try!
I think you'll love it, Dawn! Thank you!
I've been using a ton of avocado oil lately. So good! I sort of romanticize the idea of using a mortar and pestle -- however, this immersion blender version is so much more doable! Lovely. 🙂 ~Valentina
Thank you, Valentina! I still love to make it the traditional way here and there, but when I'm short on time, this works perfectly.
The immersion blender is like a magic wand when it comes to making aioli at home! I love that the recipe can be made in 5 minutes tops. Aioli has so many delicious uses, and now I'm craving a good batch of garlicky aioli. Yum!!
Ha! It really is like a magic wand! Thanks, David. 🙂
I love a good aioli, great as a spread on sandwiches or a dip for your fries (among many other uses). Love this quick method!
Thanks, Matt!
I love that you made this with avocado oil. And since I made mayo all the time with my immersion blender. This is definitely a must try for me.
Love to hear that, Angie!
this sounds like a great idea tho i really love an aioli with roasted garlic - so delicious. i had to chuckle at 'garlic aioli', 'cos that's what aioli is, isn't it? mayo with garlic. i definitely don't have the patience for regular aioli making so this is a great method. cheers sherry
Thanks, Sherry! Yes, I guess the garlic is a given. 😉
I'm so glad you're sharing the easy version vs the difficult version, Marissa! I want to make a batch of this and then dip my fries in it 😉 Yum!
Definitely my favorite dip for fries too! 🙂