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Whip up a creamy dip worth sharing with my Garlic and Lemon Aioli recipe! It's ready in just minutes with only easy pantry ingredients. Lemon aioli is the perfect easy aioli recipe for sandwiches, veggies, salmon, and so much more!
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Tools to Make Lemon Aioli
- A mixing bowl
- A whisk, fork, or spoon
Lemon Aioli Recipe Ingredients
- Mayonnaise: You can make your own mayonnaise with egg yolks and oil, if you desire! Alternatively, you can make this a vegan aioli recipe by using vegan mayonnaise, or lower the fat by using olive oil mayonnaise! The flavor is perfect for aioli.
- Lemon zest: Use the zest from the lemon you squeeze! The zest is an essential part of capturing the flavor, so don't skip it.
- Lemon juice: I very highly recommend using only fresh lemon juice from fresh lemons. Bottled lemon juice just isn't the same.
- Garlic powder: You can use fresh garlic cloves, or use powdered garlic. There isn't a wrong answer- choose which flavor profile you prefer! Raw garlic will have a stronger flavor, while powder will be more mellow and sweet.
- Salt: A little kosher salt finishes off the dip!
These 5 simple ingredients are all you need to make a delicious Aioli, but if you want, you can kick it up a notch with my slightly more complex version of the recipe. Both will be delicious, so pick based on what ingredients you have available to you!
To make a more complex sauce, sub half the mayonnaise for sour cream. Then replace the garlic powder with 1 clove grated or crushed fresh garlic, add in a tablespoon each finely chopped fresh parsley and chives, and finish it all off with a dash of olive oil and a sprinkle of mustard powder.
Hi, I'm Isabel! I've been sharing my recipes online, in cookbooks, and in TV specials since 2012. The most important thing to me is Sunday supper with my family, and inspiring togetherness with my recipes!
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What to Serve with Garlic and Lemon Aioli
Tips for Making Aioli with Lemon
- Keep tasting the aioli and adjust as necessary. You can always add more garlic and lemon juice, but it's harder to take out!
- Thin the aioli by adding a mild oil, such as olive oil or avocado oil. Remember to whisk very well (you can even use a food processor or blender for this) to emulsify the oil and make it creamy!
- Adjust the flavor by adding herbs such as fresh dill, or a pinch of cayenne pepper for heat! Alternatively, mix in a finely chopped chipotle pepper for chipotle aioli.
- Choose the mayo according to your dietary needs. Everything else in this recipe is totally vegan and dairy free, and it will taste delicious using vegan mayo, too!
Making Homemade Mayonnaise for Aioli
If you want to make your own mayonnaise for the best possible flavor, don't worry: it's easy! All you need is 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1 cup of oil, and a little salt.
- Place the egg yolks in a blender or bowl.
- Begin adding the oil drop by drop, whisking or blending the entire time.
- As it begins to turn pale and thicken, you can start adding the oil in a steady, thin stream until you've used it all up.
- Season with salt, adjust with water until at your ideal consistency, and use in place of any store-bought mayonnaise!
How to Store Citrus Aioli
Aioli can be stored in the fridge for up to one week. My favorite way is to make and store it in a mason jar! I do not recommend freezing aioli. It clumps up and loses its texture.
FAQ
Aioli is a creamy sauce made from emulsifying oil with an acid such as vinegar or lemon juice. However, in recent culinary practices "aioli" is more often than not a mayonnaise based sauce with added oil and flavorings, resulting in an easy, creamy dipping sauce!
You can flavor aioli pretty much any way you want! I like to make chipotle aioli with a finely minced chipotle pepper and adobo sauce, or dill aioli with fresh dill.
It's easy to learn how to make aioli, and my garlic and lemon aioli is one of the best aioli recipes! The ingredients are simple, and it comes together in just a few minutes using only a bowl and a whisk. Because my lemon aioli recipe is so easy to make, it's easy to customize, too, and the flavors just get even better when you leave it in the fridge!
Lemon Aioli Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon Lemon zest
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder - or 1 clove garlic
- Pinch Salt - to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix vigorously with a whisk.
- Once fully mixed, store in a glass jar to let the flavors develop, or serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Keep tasting the aioli and adjust as necessary. You can always add more garlic and lemon juice, but it's harder to take out!
- Thin the aioli by adding a mild oil, such as olive oil or avocado oil. Remember to whisk very well (you can even use a food processor or blender for this) to emulsify the oil and make it creamy!
- Adjust the flavor by adding herbs such as fresh dill, or a pinch of cayenne pepper for heat! Alternatively, mix in a finely chopped chipotle pepper for chipotle aioli.
- Choose the mayo according to your dietary needs. Everything else in this recipe is totally vegan and dairy free, and it will taste delicious using vegan mayo, too!
Al says
Great recipe, used as an accompaniment to a sous vide pork loin at 145 internal temp, then finished off in ghee and olive oil coated with Kinder’s Lemon & Pepper seasoning! My wife, my biggest critic approved 😉
Isabel Laessig says
I am so happy this recipe was wife approved! I am so happy you enjoyed it!