Lowcountry Aïoli Recipes

HOMEMADE AIOLI RECIPE

Steps:

• In a small food processor or cup using an immersion blend, whisk together yolks, lemon juice and zest, and mustard. Pulse, scraping down the sides, until it becomes a pale yellow paste.
• While whisking or while the immersion blender is on, very slowly pour the oil into the yolk mixture. It should start to thicken and combine, but if it it does seperate, stop adding the oil and continue to whisk until it combines again, then resume the oil.
• When fully combine, add the garlic and salt, either giving a few more quick pulses or folding in by hand. If you plan to add chives or black pepper, fold them in as well.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to let flavors marry.
• If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.

REAL AIOLI

Steps:

• Place garlic slices in a mortar with kosher salt. Mash with the pestle into a fine paste, 4 or 5 minutes. Mix in lemon juice. Add a teaspoon of olive oil; stir and mash until oil is incorporated. Add another teaspoon and mix in thoroughly. Continue incorporating olive oil, teaspoon by teaspoon, mashing and stirring until aioli thickens up. If the aioli gets thicker than you like, add a few drops of water.

AIOLI

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, beat eggs well with a wire whisk. Stir in garlic. Gradually add oil in a thin stream, beating constantly until light and creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in lemon juice. Refrigerate.

LOWCOUNTRY AïOLI

Steps:

• Toss onion, tomatoes, bell pepper, and chile with oil in a shallow (1-inch) baking pan and arrange vegetables, cut sides down, in 1 layer. Roast, turning onion once or twice, until vegetables are charred and tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Discard skins from tomatoes and bell pepper. Chop tomatoes and drain in a sieve, discarding juices. Finely chop onion and bell pepper. Mince chile.
• Mince garlic and mash to a paste with kosher salt. Blend together mayonnaise, garlic paste, and black pepper in a food processor. Add chile, about one fourth at a time, tasting for desired heat. Transfer to a bowl and stir in tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, and vinegar.

AIOLI

Steps:

• Smash the garlic cloves with the side of a chef's knife and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Finely chop the garlic, using the side of the knife to periodically mash it against the cutting board, until it becomes a smooth paste. (You can also do this in a mortar and pestle.)
• To make the aioli in a mini food processor, put the garlic paste in a mini food processor, add the lemon juice and egg yolks and pulse to combine. With the machine running, add the neutral oil a few drops at a time, making sure it incorporates into the yolks and the mixture emulsifies. Once all of the neutral oil is added, scrape down the sides of the work bowl and add the olive oil in the same manner. (If the machine seems like it is working too hard or straining while adding the oil, add the tablespoon of water at this point to loosen the mixture a bit; otherwise, add the tablespoon of water once all of the oil has been added.) Mix in the cayenne. The aioli should be thick, shiny and smooth, with a spreadable consistency similar to jarred mayonnaise. If you want a slightly thinner sauce, add 1 to 2 tablespoons additional water slowly, with the machine running, until you reach the desired consistency. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
• To make the aioli by hand, dampen a kitchen towel and roll up. Form the towel roll into a circle and anchor a bowl in the center. Whisk together the garlic paste, lemon juice and egg yolks in the bowl. Whisk the oils into the mixture as directed above, using one hand to add the oil drop by drop and the other to whisk constantly. Add the oil very slowly at first. Once the mixture has formed a thick emulsification, you can stream the oil in a little faster. If it gets too thick, add the water to loosen it up and continue. Mix in the cayenne.