Black Garlic Aioli

This rich and creamy 5-minute black garlic aioli is a great way to enhance a wide variety of dishes. It’s garlicky, salty, and umami flavored with a touch of sweetness. Naturally gluten-free and vegetarian.

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I re-upped on black garlic which means I’m going to inundate you with black garlic recipes. You can thank me later.

The first recipe featuring this uniquely amazing ingredient is this aioli. It’s a quick and fairly easy way to incorporate black garlic into a dish.

And when I say quick I mean only five minutes. Yep, that’s all it takes to make this amazing sauce that has the power to take something plain and make it extraordinary. Ok, that might be a stretch, but it definitely takes your food up a notch. Just like a good sauce should.

The first time I made this aioli I did not include fresh garlic. It turned out far too sweet for my taste, so the next time I added some. BINGO. It turns out the bite of the fresh garlic balances superbly with the sweetness of the black garlic.

If you’ve never had black garlic you should know that it is quite sweet. In fact, it’s molasses-like. Believe it or not, it’s so sweet it’s actually used in desserts like cookies and ice cream. I have yet to try it, but plan to.

Aside from sweetness, black garlic adds some umami or a “pleasant savory taste”. If you’re not familiar with the flavor profile, think brothy or meaty. Foods rich in umami include: ham, mushrooms (especially shitakes), anchovies, soy sauce, Parmesan cheese, kimchi, and even tomatoes.

What exactly is black garlic?

Black garlic is essentially just aged garlic. It is slowly heated in a humidity-controlled environment over the course of several weeks to several months. As the enzymes in the garlic break down a Maillard reaction is produced. This chemical reaction is responsible for giving browned food it’s unique (and delicious) flavor.

So what do you need to make this aioli? ( + substitutions)

• Fresh garlic: Two medium-sized cloves should do.
• Salt
• Egg yolks: Two yolks from room-temperature eggs. If you’re like me and never prepared, you can place the eggs in a bowl of hot tap water for 10 minutes to warm them up.
• White vinegar: Or white wine vinegar. The use of vinegar really helps balance the other complex flavors.
• Extra-virgin olive oil: EVOO is a must for homemade aioli and I highly recommend using the highest quality oil you can. The flavor of the oil shines through, so it’s really important it tastes good.
• Black garlic: I’m lucky that I am able to pick it up black garlic at our local farmers market (thanks Running Waters Homestead). Personally, I’ve never seen it at a grocery store, however, I’ve heard that it is available at Trader Joes. If you are not able to find any locally, it is available for purchase through Amazon. I have included a link below.
• Black pepper

How do you make black garlic aioli? ( + tips)

Begin by using a mortar and pestle to crush the garlic together with the salt. Transfer the paste to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade or a blender. *If you don’t have a mortar and pestle you can skip this step and just throw it in your food processor.

Next, add the egg yolks and white wine vinegar and pulse until combined.

Continue blending while slowly adding extra-virgin olive oil one teaspoon at a time or slowly drizzling it. Adding the oil slowly is ESSENTIAL for the emulsification process. Simply put, emulsification is the process of combining (by force) two liquids that don’t want to mix (such as oil and water). If this step is not performed properly the sauce will not come together and you’ll have to begin again, so be patient!! It is not possible to add the oil too slowly, so take your time.

Blend until all the oil has been incorporated and the desired consistency is produced. The final product should be quite thick. You should be able to turn it upside down and it should stay in place. Add the black garlic and black pepper and pulse until smooth. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.

How to store

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days.

Product Recommendations

How to use this aioli

• Atop a steak
• On a sandwich or burger, like this mushroom and Swiss burger
• As a dip for fries or chips
• With raw or cooked veggies
• Slathered on bread

If you make this black garlic aioli I’d love your feedback. Please leave a comment and/or a rating below as I greatly value your opinion. Or snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @taoofspiceblog. Love, light and happy cooking ya’ll ♥