Make this easy Garlic Herb Aioli recipe for a delicious Mediterranean sauce perfect for dipping crackers, veggies, topping fish or chicken, drizzling over potatoes, and more!
I first learned about aioli while living in New Zealand. Yes, that’s where my husband is from. It’s a magical place with delicious food! But ask for mayonnaise on your burger, and you’ll receive a funny look. Well, at least from your kiwi husband. Aioli is a must!
Often confused with mayonnaise, traditional aioli sauce is made with garlic, salt, and olive oil. So, keeping true to our spring produce theme, we decided to lighten things up a bit with the use of fresh herbs such as rosemary and oregano. When it comes to this homemade garlic aioli, the lemon-pine flavors of rosemary paired with the peppery taste of oregano are the perfect balance to even out the richness of eggs and mustard.
As a result, we’re left with a perfectly thick and beautiful sauce idea for all your recipe needs! If you’re looking for even more sauces and condiments, be sure to take a look at this Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, Homemade Chipotle Mayo, or these 3 Spring Pesto Sauce Recipes.
Now, back to the recipe …
Why You’ll Love How to Make This Garlic Herb Aioli Recipe
- It comes together with 8 simple, gluten-free, nutritious ingredients.
- You can pair it with all your favorite main courses and side dishes for a boost of herbaceous, garlicky, lemony flavor.
- From start to finish, it’s ready in 15 minutes.
- You can make a big batch to enjoy throughout the week.
Simple Ingredients You’ll Need
As mentioned, just a handful of items are all you need to make this simple herb aioli recipe, meaning it’s budget-friendly and easy to create! Here’s what’s included:
- Egg Yolks – This replaces the need for mayonnaise, recreating the same rich flavor and creamy texture we look for in aioli while adding a boost of healthy fats.
- Mustard – Dijon mustard or honey mustard is used to create a bit of tang.
- Lemon Juice – The acidity helps cut through the heaviness of the fat, brightening the recipe and giving it a refreshing boost.
- Olive Oil – Used to emulsify the ingredients, creating a smooth texture.
- Garlic – You can’t have an aioli recipe without a good dose of garlic! For the best results, use fresh raw garlic cloves, and mince them yourself.
- Herbs and Spices – A combination of Mediterranean herbs including dried rosemary and dried oregano along with crushed red pepper flakes, sea salt, and black flavor make this herb aioli better than any pre-made aioli you’ll find in the store.
Did you know? Health Benefits of this Recipe!
Not only is garlic appetizing, but it’s also extremely good for you! A member of the onion family, garlic is low in calories but high in vitamins and nutrients such as Manganese, vitamin B6, Calcium, Potassium, Iron, and more. This means that garlic can be used to prevent and reduce symptoms of illnesses like the flu and colds. In addition, it can reduce blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, improve bone health, and so much more!
Given the long list of health benefits included in garlic alone paired with the benefits of the healthy fats in egg yolks and olive oil, this Garlic Herb Aioli recipe is a super healthy addition to your diet.
How to Make Herb Aioli with Garlic
Learning how to make garlic aioli can be a little tricky because you have to get the emulsification process right. Otherwise, the ingredients won’t blend. Don’t worry, though! With the steps below, you’re guaranteed to have success.
- To make this recipe, start by placing your egg yolks, mustard, and lemon juice in a food processor or blender. Blend the ingredients until creamy.
- Next, while your food processor or blender is still running, very slowly drizzle in your olive oil. You want the oil to come out as a thin stream.
- It should take about 2 minutes to pour all of the oil into the mixture. So, be sure to take your time! Otherwise, it will not incorporate into the mixture.
- Then, add your remaining herbs and spices to the homemade aioli. Process or blend the ingredients for another 20-30 seconds to ensure they are fully incorporated.
- Finally, place the aioli sauce in a bowl, and let it refrigerate for at least 10 minutes before digging in!
Pro-Tip: Freeze your leftover egg whites to use in baking or omelettes. Or, take a look at the frequently asked questions below to find more recipes!
Optional Add-Ins and Substitutes
Don’t get me wrong, this herb aioli sauce is incredible on its own, but if you’re looking to get a little adventurous feel free to experiment with fun add-ins and additional flavors! For instance, to add a bit of heat, you could include a dash of hot sauce or red pepper flakes. Or, to make this homemade garlic aioli slightly more savory, take advantage of even more herbs such as dried basil, dried tarragon, dried parsley, dried dill, or chives.
Substitutes
Extra rich – Truffle oil can also make a great substitute for olive oil to add amazing depth and a rich, creaminess to this sauce. Really, there’s no right or wrong way to make aioli as long as you love it! Take a look at these 9 Tasty Ways to Dress up Aioli for more inspiration.
Extra Light – If you can tolerate dairy, try replacing the oil with plain yogurt! It will be just as creamy and delicious with a boost of extra protein.
Serving Suggestions
Now that you’ve made this Garlic Herb Aioli recipe, I know what you’re thinking. “What do I use it with?” No worries, I’ve got you covered! The great thing about homemade aioli recipe is that it pairs perfectly with pretty much anything you can think of. For example, it is delicious when paired with chicken, fish, or pork.
Or, you can drizzle it over veggies like these Instant Pot Steamed Artichokes. If you’re looking for a more savory option, this garlic herb aioli recipe also makes a tasty addition to truffle fries, asparagus fries, veggie burgers, and cod cakes, and vegan Greek quinoa burgers.
How to Store
If you want to make a big batch of herb aioli, it can be placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Just give it a good shake or stir before using it to redistribute the ingredients.
Homemade aioli cannot be frozen, because the emulsion will break!
Common Questions About This Garlic Herb Aioli Recipe
Similar in appearance, aioli, and mayo have very different flavor profiles. This is largely because aioli is made with pungent olive oil whereas mayonnaise is created with a neutral-tasting oil. In addition, aioli is marked by its notable garlic flavor while mayonnaise maintains a fairly bland, tangy taste.
A common culinary term, an emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids that normally cannot be combined. In Garlic Aioli, the egg yolk and lemon juice form an emulsion with the olive oil. This is why adding the oil slowly is so crucial to this recipe! If you want a super in-depth explanation of emulsions and how they work take a look at this article.
The short answer is yes, this Garlic Herb Aioli recipe can be made vegan. Be warned, though! It might take some testing to get it just right. I suggest using my cashew cream sauce in place of the egg yolk! Or, although it technically wouldn’t be homemade anymore, you could make a quick aioli using a premade soy-free vegan mayo as the base.
Luckily, if your homemade aioli becomes too thin there are ways to save it! The most effective thickening method is to remove your sauce from the processor or blender. Then, add in another egg yolk or two, and process it until smooth. Then, as you did with the oil, slowly (very slowly!) add the additional egg yolks back into the mixture.
Of course, you can cook the egg whites on their own like scrambled eggs. However, if you’re looking for a recipe to use them check out this Tex-Mex Egg and Cheese Cauliflower Casserole, Gluten Free Oatmeal Pumpkin Bread, Gluten-Free Lemon Pudding Cake, or these 33 Egg White Recipes!
Yes, homemade aioli is safe to eat. Typically this concern is due to the raw eggs used in aioli recipes. While no food is 100% safe, the chance of an individual egg containing Salmonella is so low it’s nothing to worry about. So, as long as you follow the instructions step-by-step for this Garlic Aioli recipe and safely store it, it will not pose any danger.
More of Our Favorite
Homemade Sauce Recipes
Looking for more recipes to add flavor to all your favorite meals? Try out more of our favorite sauces and condiments below!
Herb Aioli Recipe
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: ⅓ cup to ½ cup 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Learn how to make an easy homemade garlic herb aioli recipe to add bold flavor and healthy fats to all your favorite meals!
Ingredients
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard or honey mustard
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- ⅓ to ½ cup olive oil (adjust to desired thickness)
- 2 Tablespoons fresh-chopped herbs, such as rosemary, oregano, and/or basil. (see notes)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt & pepper (or more to taste)
Instructions
- Place egg yolk, mustard, lemon juice, in a food processor or blender. Blend until creamy.
- With the food processor or blender running, very slowly drizzle in the oil in a thin stream. It should take about 2 minutes to drizzle the oil in. Do not rush this step.
- Add the remaining herbs or spices. Process another 20 to 30 seconds to incorporate completely.
- Remove and place aioli in a bowl. Let the aioli set in the fridge for 10 minutes.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Notes
Serving Tips – Serve with homemade chips/fries, on fish, steamed artichoke, and more!
Substitutes – Dried herbs may be substituted for fresh herbs; such as 1 teaspoon dried rosemary and 1 teaspoon dried oregano.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Blend
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Tablespoon
- Calories: 106
- Sugar: 0.1g
- Sodium: 80.4mg
- Fat: 11.3g
- Saturated Fat: 1.9g
- Carbohydrates: 0.6g
- Fiber: 0.1g
- Protein: 0.8g
- Cholesterol: 52.7mg
Keywords: herb aioli, garlic aioli, how to make garlic aioli, garlic herb aioli, garlic aioli
Find it online: https://www.cottercrunch.com/garlic-aioli-recipe/
Do you have questions, feedback, or tips about this recipe? Leave a comment below with any questions or feedback you’d like to share!
sorry just saw this now will be making this soon i never had aioli before perfect for my snacks will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
Let me know if you do! I think you’ll love it friend ❤️
This is so delicious, I want to eat this with everything! Love it!
★★★★★
It’s totally addictive. Agreed 😉
Our love for garlic runs deep! Haha