Easy Spanish Alioli Recipe: Homemade Garlic Mayonnaise (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Lauren Aloise · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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Imagine a smooth, creamy mayonnaise flavored with the delightful pungency of fresh garlic. This is the essence of one of Spain's best loved condiments: Spanish alioli, or homemade garlic mayonnaise. You only need 5 simple ingredients to make it!

Serve your homemade alioli with patatas bravas or as a dip for finger foods like these gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp).

Easy Spanish Alioli Recipe: Homemade Garlic Mayonnaise (1)
Jump to:
  • Introduction
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serve
  • Store
  • Expert Tips
  • Easy Spanish Alioli Recipe: Homemade Garlic Mayonnaise

Introduction

My introduction to Spanish alioli was during a warm summer evening while dining out with friends on one of Madrid’s terrazas. My group of friends had ordered patatas bravas, Spanish-style fried potatoes smothered in two dipping sauces: a spicy red bravas sauce and a white alioli.

As an American, a red dipping sauce was not a foreign concept to me, but the white sauce sparked my curiosity. “What’s that?” I asked.

“A-li-o-li,” my Spanish friend pronounced the name slowly, making sure that I could understand each syllable. The Catalan name for this homemade garlic mayonnaise sauce (alioli) is the most popular way to say it. In Catalan, all means garlic, and olimeans olive oil. (We often call this Spanish sauce aioli in English.)

The smooth texture of this garlic alioli reminded me of mayonnaise, but the punch of garlic made it the most flavorful mayonnaise I had ever tried! Now that I'm in the United States, I enjoy making this simple Spanish alioli recipe for friends and family who are eager for a taste of Spain.

Ingredients

Easy Spanish Alioli Recipe: Homemade Garlic Mayonnaise (2)

Wondering what ingredients you need to make a batch of garlic alioli? Fortunately, there's only 5 simple ingredients in this Spanish mayonnaise.

  • Egg Yolk: This is definitely a key ingredient, as the egg yolk absorbs the olive oil and thickens and emulsifies the mayo. Be sure to use a room temperature egg yolk, as it will more readily absorb the oil.
  • Olive Oil: Use great quality olive oil for the very best flavor.
  • Garlic: I like to use 3-4 cloves of garlic, but you can add a little extra if you like a punchier flavor.
  • Salt: This adds flavor.
  • Lemon Juice: This brightens the mayo, and complements the garlic nicely.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make

If you’d like to see the full ingredients and instructions, scroll to the bottom of the post for the printable recipe card.

Easy Spanish Alioli Recipe: Homemade Garlic Mayonnaise (3)
  1. Peel and mince the garlic.
  2. Pound it in a mortar and pestle until it's well mashed and smooth.
Easy Spanish Alioli Recipe: Homemade Garlic Mayonnaise (4)
  1. Add the egg yolk and salt to the garlic and mix well.
  2. Gradually add the oil, mixing well in between each addition. Be sure to add it slowly so the mixture doesn't split!
Easy Spanish Alioli Recipe: Homemade Garlic Mayonnaise (5)
  1. Once the mixture begins to thicken, add the lemon juice.
  2. The alioli should be perfectly smooth!
Easy Spanish Alioli Recipe: Homemade Garlic Mayonnaise (6)
  1. Refrigerate until you're ready to serve it.
  2. Enjoy with patatas bravas or as a dip for finger foods.

Recipe FAQs

What's the difference between aioli and alioli?

The only difference is in the name! In English, this mayonnaise-style sauce is called aioli, while the original Catalan name combines the names for garlic (all) with the name for oil (oli) to make the name allioli or alioli. The sauce is the same regardless of the name.

What is alioli made of?

Alioli is an emulsion of olive oil and egg yolk flavored with salt, lemon juice, and garlic. It packs a lot of flavor, and has a wonderfully creamy texture that makes it the perfect sauce for a wide variety of dishes!

Is garlic alioli just mayo?

Although alioli and mayo have a lot of similarities, they're not the same. Alioli is made with extra virgin olive oil, and may or may not contain an egg yolk. Mayonnaise always uses egg to improve the emulsification, and typically is made with a neutral oil such as canola instead of olive oil.

Serve

This alioli is a great crowd pleaser at house parties. Use it as a dip for finger foods ranging from raw vegetables to shrimp! Try it on top of baked potatoes or patatas bravas, or spread it on a sandwich for an extra kick.

Easy Spanish Alioli Recipe: Homemade Garlic Mayonnaise (7)

Store

Leftovers: This alioli will keep for about 7 days in the fridge. Keep it tightly covered.

Freezing: Alioli can't be frozen because it will separate when thawed. It's best to make it in small batches that you can eat within a week.

Expert Tips

  • Make sure the egg yolk is at room temperature. Otherwise, it won't absorb the oil very well.
  • Be sure to add the olive oil slowly and carefully, mixing well between each addition. Adding the oil too quickly may cause the mixture to split, as the egg yolk and garlic won't be able to absorb large amounts of oil at once.
  • The key ingredient in alioli? Elbow grease--or a hand mixer. Keep the hand mixer pressed to the bottom of the bowl at first, then as the mixture increases in volume, bring the beaters up to fluff the mixture.

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Easy Spanish Alioli Recipe: Homemade Garlic Mayonnaise (12)

Easy Spanish Alioli Recipe: Homemade Garlic Mayonnaise

Try this easy and delicious Spanish alioli recipe for an unforgettable homemade garlic mayonnaise. Perfect for fish dishes, raw vegetables, and more!

5 from 6 votes

Print (images optional) Pin Rate

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Spanish

Diet: Vegetarian

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 9.8kcal

Author: Lauren Aloise

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 3-4 garlic cloves
  • ⅔-3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large egg yolk at room temperature
  • salt to taste
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed

Instructions

  • Peel and mince the garlic cloves.

  • Place the minced garlic into the mortar. Using the pestle, begin to pound the minced garlic until it is well mashed.

  • Add the egg yolk and salt to the mashed garlic and stir well.

  • Start adding the olive oil very slowly and only a little at a time, making sure to stir the mixture constantly. Go slowly so that the garlic and oil have a chance to blend well. (Feel free to use a hand mixer for this process to keep your arm from getting fatigued.)

  • Keep going until all the oil is added and the mixture is thick and smooth, then add the lemon juice.

  • Refrigerate the mixture until ready to serve as a dip or sauce with your favorite appetizers or on a sandwich. It will keep for up to 7 days in the fridge.

Notes

  • Make sure the egg yolk is at room temperature. Otherwise, it won't absorb the oil very well.
  • Be sure to add the olive oil slowly and carefully, mixing well between each addition. Adding the oil too quickly may cause the mixture to split, as the egg yolk and garlic won't be able to absorb large amounts of oil at once.
  • The key ingredient in alioli? Elbow grease--or a hand mixer. Keep the hand mixer pressed to the bottom of the bowl at first, then as the mixture increases in volume, bring the beaters up to fluff the mixture.

Nutrition

Calories: 9.8kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.5g | Protein: 0.43g | Fat: 0.69g | Saturated Fat: 0.23g | Cholesterol: 24.41mg | Sodium: 37.62mg | Potassium: 4.51mg | Sugar: 0.04g | Vitamin A: 32.45IU | Vitamin C: 0.59mg | Calcium: 4.94mg | Iron: 0.06mg

Did you make this recipe?Tag @spanishsabores on IG and hashtag it #spanishsabores!

Photography byGiulia Verdinelli

See Also

  • Spanish Magdalenas Recipe - Homemade Spanish Muffins

  • Authentic Spanish Churros Recipe

More Sauces

  • Traditional Spanish Sofrito Recipe
  • Spanish Tomato Sauce Recipe (Salsa de Tomate)
  • Bravas Sauce Recipe (Salsa Brava)
  • Traditional Spanish Pisto Recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sashi

    Way too much garlic for this ammount 🙂

    Reply

    • LiseB

      Agree with Sashi. All I can taste is raw garlic. Maybe it depends on the type of garlic? I used Rose de Lautrec.

      Reply

  2. Chang San San

    I will try to do, seems like good try cause I love Mayonnaise!!

    Thank you very much!!

    Reply

  3. Alba

    Hey! You are missing one "l" in the allioli word. All, with two els, not one. In Catalan it is written all-i-oli with hyphens. As All means garlic and oli meand oil.

    The traditional Catalan recipe does not use the egg yolk but it makes it easier to mix.

    Reply

  4. Dennis

    For anyone who loves a sandwich with a kick, this garlic mayonnaise recipe is perfect! As a garlic lover myself, I can't wait to copy this recipe onto my iphone 7s, so I can whip it up later to use on my next turkey sandwich. Anything with fresh garlic has my name all over it, and I can't wait to add this mayo to my recipes!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Easy Spanish Alioli Recipe: Homemade Garlic Mayonnaise (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between an aioli and an alioli? ›

Both are used to describe a Mediterranean sauce or dip that originated in Catalonia, in the northeast of Spain, and across the border on the French Mediterranean coast. The term 'aioli' is more commonly used in French and English, while 'alioli' is also used in Spanish and Catalan.

What is Spanish aioli made of? ›

It originated in Mallorca, Spain and was first made with just garlic and extra virgin olive oil. In today´s version we add egg, which makes it alot easier to make. This homemade aioli is a creamy and garlicky sauce that can be used is so many ways, and you gotta says it´s healthy too! raw olive oil and raw garlic!

Is garlic aioli just garlic mayo? ›

Unlike mayonnaise, which is made by emulsifying oil into egg yolks, aioli is made by pounding garlic into a paste and then gradually adding olive oil to the mixture, creating a thick and creamy sauce. The garlic gives aioli its characteristic pungent flavor, while the olive oil adds richness and depth.

What is aioli sauce made of? ›

Nowadays, aïoli is pretty much synonymous with garlic mayonnaise. What is Aïoli Sauce Made of? The number-one ingredient in aïoli is garlic, plus the standard mayo ingredients for mayo: egg yolk, lemon juice, mustard, and olive oil. Additional flavorings are up to you.

Does aioli always have raw egg? ›

I love aioli, of all types. Though making your own aioli (like mayonnaise) calls for raw egg yolks. Food safety in mind, I prefer to temper my eggs in a double boiler, much like one does when making hollandaise sauce. Alternatively, these days, you can purchase pasteurized eggs in most grocery stores.

Can I use aioli instead of mayo? ›

Anywhere you might use mayonnaise, you could probably use aioli. Here are some ideas: As a dip for prepared artichoke, French fries, crispy potato wedges (shown below) or sweet potato fries. As a sandwich spread, perhaps in lieu of mayo on my veggie breakfast sandwich.

Is garlic aioli the same as aioli? ›

A thick garlic sauce, aioli is a traditional condiment in the cuisine of Provence, France, and Catalonia, Spain. True aioli is an emulsion created with just garlic and extra virgin olive oil. This makes the common menu item, “garlic aioli,” rather redundant. In fact, the name aioli translates to "garlic oil."

What makes mayo an aioli? ›

What Is the Difference Between Aioli and Mayonnaise? Although both aioli and mayo are creamy, white emulsions made with egg, the two condiments have distinctly different flavors. That's because aioli is made with olive oil, while mayonnaise is made with a neutral oil.

Does aioli sauce have mayonnaise? ›

Nowadays, the word aioli is pretty much synonymous with mayo, and is often just a simple mayonnaise (store-bought or homemade) that is flavored generously with garlic—a nod to its origins.

Why do Americans call aioli garlic aioli? ›

Etymology. The word is a transparent compound of the words meaning "garlic" and "oil". The English spelling comes from the French aïoli, which itself comes from Occitan.

How long does homemade aioli last? ›

How to Store Aioli. While garlic aioli is best enjoyed on the day it's made, it will last up to 7-10 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Avoid freezing, as the mayonnaise will split and become unpalatable.

How do you thicken homemade aioli? ›

With the blades running, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the egg yolks in a thin stream over a period of 1-2 minutes. The liquid will gradually emulsify as the steady stream of olive oil incorporates into the egg yolks creating a thick, creamy aioli.

What is the main flavor of aioli? ›

Making aioli is easy, and is arguably the greatest cold sauce of all time. It's nothing more than olive oil emulsified into freshly crushed garlic, seasoned simply with salt and lemon. This is pure, fiery, intense garlic flavor like you may have never tasted.

What do you eat garlic aioli with? ›

Commonly served as a dip with fresh or cooked vegetables, aioli is also stirred into soups and stews like Bourride, a Provencal fish stew. In the States, we often see it on restaurant menus served alongside fries or slathered on a hamburger.

Does garlic aioli contain egg? ›

Aioli is a creamy garlic sauce made with garlic, salt, olive oil, and sometimes egg. It's popular in the cuisines of the Mediterranean coast like Provence, France, and Catalonia in Spain.

Is it pronounced aioli or alioli? ›

Aioli, allioli or aïoli (/aɪˈoʊli/ or /eɪˈoʊli/; Provençal Occitan: alhòli [aˈʎɔli] or aiòli [aˈjɔli]; Catalan: allioli [ˌaʎiˈɔli]; Spanish: alioli [ˌaliˈoli]) is a cold sauce consisting of an emulsion of garlic and olive oil; it is found in the cuisines of the northwest Mediterranean.

What do Americans call aioli? ›

But, as they do, things change. Nowadays, the word aioli is pretty much synonymous with mayo, and is often just a simple mayonnaise (store-bought or homemade) that is flavored generously with garlic—a nod to its origins.

Does real aioli have eggs? ›

What is aioli sauce made of? At it's simplest, an aioli recipe starts with egg yolks and olive oil which is seasoned with a little lemon juice, a generous pinch of salt, maybe a little dijon mustard, and most often garlic. The two liquids are emulsified together so they don't separate over time.

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