Sauce

Aioli—Two Ways

by:
June  3, 2011

Watch as A&M team up to tackle aioli two ways -- manual and mechanic. Either way though, as Elizabeth David says, it should look like ointment and taste like the best garlicky mayonnaise this side of France.

This week's videos were once again shot and edited our videographer Elena Parker (who now produces our bi-weekly Dinner & a Movie column as well!).

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • scragend
    scragend
  • ejm
    ejm
  • JilNelson
    JilNelson
  • mayuchico
    mayuchico
  • KapCooks
    KapCooks
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15 Comments

scragend June 20, 2011
Whatever happened to potatoes, roasted garlic and a morter and pestle ?
 
ejm June 5, 2011
I use the immersion blender and it works like a charm every time - I whip the yolk first by itself, then I add some garlic that I have pounded with a bit of salt in a mortar, half an anchovy smushed up with the back of the knife or in the mortar and a little lemon juice and then whip them up - then I slowly add the canola and then finish with a little olive oil. If you let it sit for a bit the flavors meld and it is just about perfect. Just keep slowly plunging the blender up and down as you add the oil and you are good to go.
It is also great with the addition of whatever herbs you like...... and it has the advantage of WAY less cleanup than the food processor.
 
JilNelson June 5, 2011
I just made it with tarragon added and it was terrific. Thanks.
 
mayuchico June 4, 2011
You need two persons, if you want to do manually. I choose my Cuisinart as a partner.

By the way, what kind of egg did you use? pasteurized shell egg?
 
dymnyno June 4, 2011
Not really...if you use a traditional mortar and pestle you don't need to hold the bowl with one hand...so you have a free hand to pour in the oil. It is a method used for centuries by one person.
 
KapCooks June 3, 2011
This immersion blender aioli methodology was totally successful - and nearly instantaneous. Thank you.
 
NotesOnDinner June 3, 2011
I am so pleased that it works for you and not just me and my dad!
 
Chef L. June 5, 2011
I love your videos. It makes the recipes so easy to accomplish. I feel like I am watching you work in my own kitchen.

Angelfoodie
 
mrslarkin June 3, 2011
fyi, my new Cuisinart has the hole in the tuby thing also.
 
dymnyno June 3, 2011
Boy...am I old fashioned! I always use a mortar and pestle....marble mortar with a wood pestle.
 
Mr_Vittles June 3, 2011
@dymnyno Mortar and pestle is really the only way to make real aioli. I have seen super authentic recipes that only use tons of garlic and olive oil as the ingredients along with many, many minutes of pounding away. Those old French grandmothers must have forearms of steel.
 
KapCooks June 3, 2011
I remember, but can't find, a recipe for Aioli using an immersion blender that sounded awesome. I've had success with Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc Aioli, but I've also had broken Aioli using the same recipe and Cuisinart in each instance. I was hoping the immersion method might be the way forward, if someone can point me to the source.
 
KapCooks June 3, 2011
Sorry, this is a duplicate. I'm off to try the immersion blender.
 
KapCooks June 3, 2011
I saw a description or recipe for aioli using an immersion blender, but can't get back to it on the site. I've had success with Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc aioli, and also had a broken aioli with the same recipe (both in the Cuisinart). I'm hoping the immersion blender might be the way to go, if you can point me to the recipe.
 
NotesOnDinner June 3, 2011
My dad and I always use the immersion blender and so far it seems impossible to break the sauce this way. It's the most consistent method I have used to make aioli. My dad is a little superstitious about it though - and by association, so am I. We put the egg, vinegar or lemon juice, mustard, garlic salt and pepper in a tall narrow container first and then top it with the oil. (My dad likes 1 egg to 1 cup of oil but I have seen others only use 3/4 cup oil) With the immersion blender off, you push it to the bottom of the container and then turn it on, lifting confidently up to the top of the emulsion - not too far though - don't splatter it all over yourself! ;-) It takes 2-3 seconds of blending and it is done. When I try in the food processor (I have a weird one - it's too big) I can only do 2 egg batches or it doesn't blend properly so I rely on the immersion blender. However, there is something about hand whisking - a delicacy of texture. If I want to get fancy, I'll do that.