Aioli (Garlic Mayonnaise)

Total Time
Time: 10 minutes
Rating
4(145)
Comments
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The renowned chef Alice Waters makes her aioli in the most inefficient and old-fashioned way possible: using a mortar and pestle to mash the garlic, a fork to whip up the emulsion and no lemon juice, vinegar or any other acid at all. It was the best mayonnaise I've ever tasted, but then again, she did use a wonderfully perfumed olive oil. For this recipe, you should do the same. —Mark Bittman

Featured in: Alice Waters’s Perfect Aioli

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Ingredients

Yield:1 cup.
  • 2cloves garlic (or to taste), peeled
  • Salt
  • 1egg yolk, lightly beaten, at room temperature
  • ¾cup olive oil
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

186 calories; 21 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 15 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 0 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 0 grams sugars; 0 grams protein; 53 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Mash the garlic to a smooth paste in a mortar with a pinch of salt; set aside ⅓ of the paste. To the rest of the garlic add ½ teaspoon room-temperature water, ¼ teaspoon salt and the egg yolk, stirring well. Slowly whisk in the olive oil, a few drops at a time. As the mixture begins to thicken, begin adding the oil in a slow, steady stream. If the aioli becomes too thick, thin it with a bit of water, and continue. After all the oil has been mixed in, taste for salt and garlic, and adjust accordingly. Serve with salmon and vegetables.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
145 user ratings
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Comments

Actually, I think a blender does the best job, and is easier to clean than my food processor.
But you really need more garlic than this. I'd add at least two more whole cloves and use all of it, rather than setting some of it aside.

To adjust for taste as necessary. Some people like more garlic than others.

I seem to have every gadget but mortar and pestle. But after one try chopping, (not fine enough) was daring enough to put garlic and oil in blender and that made the bits disappear. Then beat that slowly into the yolk of egg . Not a trace of solid just the taste.

Way too much olive oil. Also I like to use a vegetable oil or another oil with less strong flavors. I’d start with 1/2 cup oil and add more based on consistency desired.

The blender was a disaster, the egg remained below the blades.

JUST finished this. Going to use it on salmon tonight. The whole kitchen smells wonderful!

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Credits

Recipe adapted from Alice Waters

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