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Aioli
View on Wikipedia| Type | Sauce |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Catalonia/Occitan regions of France and Spain |
| Main ingredients | Olive oil, garlic, sometimes eggs |
Aioli, allioli, or aïoli (/aɪˈoʊli, eɪ-/)[note 1] is a cold sauce consisting of an emulsion of garlic and olive oil; it is found in the cuisines of the northwest Mediterranean.
The names mean 'garlic and oil' in Catalan and Provençal.[1] It is found in the cuisines of the Mediterranean coasts of Spain (Catalonia, the Valencian Community, the Balearic Islands, Murcia, and eastern Andalusia) and France (Provence, Languedoc, Roussillon).[2]
Some versions of the sauce are closer to a garlic mayonnaise, incorporating egg yolks and lemon juice,[3] whereas other versions lack egg yolk and contain more garlic. The latter gives the sauce a pastier texture, making it more laborious to produce as the emulsion is harder to stabilise.[4][5][6][7] There are many variations, such as adding lemon juice or other seasonings. In France, it may include mustard.[8][7]
In Malta, the term arjoli or ajjoli is used for a different preparation made with galletti (a type of cracker), tomato, onion, garlic, and herbs.[9]
Like mayonnaise, aioli is an emulsion or suspension of small globules of oil and oil-soluble compounds in water and water-soluble compounds. Traditionally, aioli should not include egg, but nowadays, egg or egg yolk is the usual emulsifier.[citation needed]
Since about 1990, it has become common in the United States to call all flavored mayonnaises aioli.[citation needed] Purists insist that flavored mayonnaise can contain garlic, but true aioli contains garlic and no other seasoning (except salt).[10]
Etymology
[edit]In the form aioli, the word is a compound of Provençal ai 'garlic' and oli 'oil'.[1]
The English spelling comes from the French aïoli, which is an adaptation of an Occitan term. The spelling in Occitan may be alhòli, following the classical norm, or aiòli, following the Mistralian norm.[11] In Catalan it is spelled allioli (pronounced [ˌaʎiˈɔli]). The most common term in Spanish is alioli, an adaptation from Catalan, although it is also called ajoaceite, ajiaceite, ajolio or ajaceite.[12] It is also spelled alioli in Galician.[13]
Basic recipe
[edit]
Garlic is crushed in a mortar and pestle and emulsified with salt and olive oil.
Today, aioli is often made in a food processor or blender, but some traditionalists object that this does not give the same result.[7]
Serving
[edit]This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2021) |
In Occitan cuisine, aioli is typically served with seafood, fish soup, and croutons. An example is a dish called merluça amb alhòli. In the Occitan Alps it is served with potatoes[14] boiled with salt and bay laurel.
In Provençal cuisine, aioli or, more formally, le grand aïoli, aioli garni, or aïoli monstre is a dish consisting of various boiled vegetables (usually carrots, potatoes, artichokes, and green beans), poached fish (normally soaked salt cod), snails, canned tuna, other seafood, and boiled eggs, all served with aioli. This dish is often served during the festivities on the feast days of the patron saint of Provençal villages and towns. It is traditional to serve it with snails for Christmas Eve and with cod on Ash Wednesday.[7] Aïoli is so strongly associated with Provence that when the poet Frédéric Mistral started a regionalist Provençal-language newspaper in 1891, he called it L'Aiòli.[5][15]
The Provençal cuisine fish soup bourride is generally served with aioli.[16]
In Spain, particularly in Catalan cuisine and Valencian cuisine, allioli is often served with arròs negre, arròs a banda, fideuà, with grilled snails (cargols a la llauna), grilled meat, lamb, rabbit, vegetables, boiled cod (bacallà a la catalana, bacallà amb patates) and comes in other varieties such as allioli de codony (allioli with boiled quince, not the preserve) or allioli with boiled pear.[8] Other commonly used vegetables are beets, fennel, celery, zucchini, cauliflower, chickpeas, and raw tomato.[7][17]
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Aioli served with olives
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Allioli from a Spanish supermarket
See also
[edit]- Dipping sauce – Type of sauce
- Garlic sauce – Sauce with garlic as a main ingredient
- List of garlic dishes
- Makalo – Macedonian dipping sauce typically made from garlic and oil
Notes
[edit]- ^
- Provençal Occitan: alhòli [aˈʎɔli] or aiòli [aˈjɔli]
- Catalan: allioli [ˌaʎiˈɔli]
- Spanish: alioli [aˈljoli]
- French: aïoli [ajɔli]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Stevenson, Angus (2010-08-19). Oxford Dictionary of English. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-957112-3.
- ^ Larousse, Librairie (2009-10-13). Larousse Gastronomique: The World's Greatest Culinary Encyclopedia, Completely Revised and Updated. National Geographic Books. ISBN 978-0-307-46491-0.
- ^ see, e.g. Reboul 1989: Ajoutez [...] un jaune d'œuf. [...] Ajoutez le jus d’un citron. 'Add an egg yolk. Add the juice of a lemon.'
- ^ Reboul, J.-B. (1989). La Cuisinière Provençale [The Provençal Cook] (in French) (25th ed.). p. 88. See also 1900 (3rd ed.), p. 31 at Archive.org.
- ^ a b Courtine, Robert (1973). The Hundred Glories of French Cooking. Translated by Coldman, Derek. p. 140.
- ^ Philippon, Henri (1977). Cuisine de Provence [Provençal Cuisine] (in French) (2nd ed.). p. 20.
- ^ a b c d e Johnston, Mireille (1976). The Cuisine of the Sun. pp. 75, 229. Johnston gives one recipe without extra flavorings (p. 75) and one with mustard (p. 229)
- ^ a b Montagné, Prosper (1961) [1938]. "Aioli". In Turgeon, Charlotte; Froud, Nina (eds.). Larousse Gastronomique: the encyclopedia of food, wine & cookery. New York: Crown. ISBN 0-517-50333-6. OCLC 413918.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - ^ Yesenia (2022-03-27). "Maltese Arjoli Dip". Apron & Whisk. Archived from the original on 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ Tanis, David (2008). A Platter of Figs and Other Recipes. p. 102. ISBN 978-1579653460.
- ^ cf. Occitan writing systems
- ^ Real Academia Española and Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española (2005). "ajiaceite", Diccionario panhispánico de dudas. Retrieved on 16 July 2019.
- ^ "Dicionario". Real Academia Galega (in Galician). Retrieved 2022-05-27.
- ^ "La cucina occitana (area cuneese)" (in Italian). Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ Julian Wright, The Regionalist Movement in France 1890-1914: Jean Charles-Brun and French Political Thought, ISBN 0199264880, p. 47-48 and passim
- ^ Waverly Root, The Food of France, 1958-1992, ISBN 0679738975, p. 359
- ^ Olney, Richard (1994). Lulu's Provençal table: the exuberant food and wine from Domaine Tempier Vineyard. New York: HarperCollins. pp. 124–5. ISBN 0-06-016922-2.
Aioli
View on GrokipediaOrigins and Etymology
Etymology
The term "aioli" originates from the Occitan language spoken in Provence, where it appears as aiòli or alhòli, a compound word literally meaning "garlic and oil." The first element, ai or alh, derives from Latin allium ("garlic"), while òli comes from Latin oleum ("oil"). This etymology reflects the sauce's core ingredients and underscores its deep roots in the linguistic traditions of southern France.[4] From Occitan, the word influenced Provençal French as aïoli, entering broader French culinary lexicon in the 19th century. It subsequently spread to adjacent Romance languages, evolving into Catalan allioli—a direct parallel of all ("garlic") and oli ("oil")—and Spanish alioli or ajoaceite, the latter combining ajo ("garlic") with aceite ("oil"). These variations highlight the term's adaptation across the Mediterranean's linguistic borders, maintaining its descriptive essence.[5] The earliest documented uses of "aioli" in print appear in 19th-century texts, with the first known English appearance in 1846, likely borrowed via French culinary exchanges, though it gained widespread adoption and recipe inclusion in the 20th century. In French literature, the term gained prominence through Provençal revivalists, such as poet Frédéric Mistral, who titled his 1891 regionalist newspaper L'Aiòli to promote Occitan culture. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was standardized in cookbooks like Auguste Escoffier's Le Guide Culinaire (1903), solidifying its place in gastronomic writing.[6][5] Upon adoption into English in the 20th century, the term exhibited phonetic and spelling variations, including aioli, aïoli (retaining the French diaeresis), and occasionally allioli to echo Catalan influences. These adaptations arose from efforts to approximate the original Provençal pronunciation, roughly /a.jɔ.li/, while accommodating English orthographic norms. The sauce's ancient Mediterranean emulsification practices, though predating the term, inform its enduring nomenclature.[4]Historical Development
The origins of aioli trace back to ancient Mediterranean civilizations, where emulsions of garlic and olive oil were used as condiments. Food historians link its earliest forms to ancient Roman cuisine, with references to similar garlic-based sauces appearing in classical texts. Additionally, the Roman author Pliny the Elder (23–79 AD) described a garlic and oil emulsion in his Natural History, noting its use in the Tarragona region of what is now Catalonia, highlighting its role as a simple, accessible flavor enhancer in everyday Roman meals.[7][8][9] The first printed recipe for a sauce resembling aioli appeared in 1745 in the Spanish cookbook Nuevo Arte de Cocina Española. During the late medieval and early modern periods, particularly from the 15th to 18th centuries, aioli evolved as a staple in Provençal cuisine, reflecting the region's abundant olive oil production and garlic cultivation in the Mediterranean basin. Garlic sauces as peasant fare, often pounded with salt and slowly emulsified with olive oil to create a robust condiment for fish, vegetables, and bread, likely became tied to agrarian life as a symbol of rustic simplicity, with variations incorporating local herbs or broths. In parallel, allioli—a close relative—developed in Catalan cuisine from ancient Mediterranean roots, appearing in communal meals and accompanying dishes like salted cod or snails.[10][11][12] The 19th century marked aioli's formalization within French haute cuisine, as chefs elevated regional recipes into codified preparations. Auguste Escoffier, in his influential 1903 guide Le Guide Culinaire, included aioli as a versatile sauce, blending traditional Provençal methods with refined techniques like controlled emulsification, which helped standardize its preparation using garlic, olive oil, and sometimes egg yolks. This codification facilitated its spread beyond the Mediterranean, influencing international cookbooks and elevating it from peasant food to a gourmet essential in European and emerging colonial cuisines.[8] In the 20th century, aioli underwent commercialization and adaptation, particularly after World War II, as Mediterranean flavors permeated global markets. In the United States and Europe, it transitioned from artisanal production to mass-market products, with jarred versions appearing in supermarkets from the late 20th century onward, particularly since the 1990s, often diluted with mayonnaise for broader appeal. Post-WWII culinary trends in fast food and casual dining incorporated aioli variants—such as garlic-infused spreads—for burgers and fries in chains across Europe, while the gourmet scene in the late 20th century revived authentic recipes, positioning it as a premium condiment in fine dining. This era solidified aioli's worldwide presence, blending tradition with industrial scalability.[9][13]Ingredients and Preparation
Key Ingredients
The core of traditional aioli consists of garlic and extra-virgin olive oil, emulsified together with a pinch of salt to create a pungent, creamy sauce originating from Mediterranean culinary practices.[14] Garlic serves as the defining element, providing intense flavor through varieties such as Rocambole, known for its rich and strong taste suitable for raw applications, or purple-striped types like Purple Italian, which offer a balanced complexity with notable heat.[15][16] The pungency in garlic arises primarily from allicin, a sulfur-containing compound released when cloves are crushed, contributing the characteristic sharp, burning sensation.[17] For authenticity, extra-virgin olive oil from Mediterranean regions is preferred, as it imparts fruity or peppery notes essential to the sauce's profile; Provencal oils tend to be milder and herbaceous, while Spanish varieties deliver a more robust, peppery intensity due to differences in olive cultivars and terroir.[18] This oil's high content of monounsaturated fats, particularly oleic acid, supports a smooth texture in the emulsion, while its low free fatty acid levels—ideally below 0.8% for extra-virgin grade—prevent bitterness and ensure stability.[19] In modern interpretations of aioli, egg yolks are incorporated to facilitate emulsification, leveraging the natural lecithin in the yolks as a surfactant that binds oil and water phases more reliably than traditional methods alone.[20] Sourcing fresh, raw garlic cloves is crucial over pre-minced varieties, as the latter often contain preservatives like citric acid that degrade volatile compounds like allicin, resulting in muted flavor and aroma.[21] Optional stabilizers such as salt, lemon juice, or mustard enhance emulsion stability without altering the fundamental composition. Salt, added during initial garlic crushing, draws out moisture to form a paste and increases ionic strength, aiding droplet dispersion in the oil-water mixture.[14] Lemon juice provides citric acid, which lowers pH to around 4-5, promoting protein denaturation in garlic or egg for better binding and preventing separation.[22] Mustard, if used, contributes mucilage from its seeds acting as an additional emulsifier, similar to lecithin, to reinforce the sauce's cohesion during storage.[23]Basic Recipe
The traditional Provençal aioli is prepared using a mortar and pestle in an eggless method that relies on the emulsifying properties of crushed garlic to bind with olive oil. This classic technique begins by peeling 4 to 6 fresh garlic cloves and placing them in a mortar along with ½ to 1 teaspoon of sea salt or kosher salt, which is pounded vigorously with the pestle for 4 to 5 minutes until a smooth paste forms, releasing the garlic's natural oils and flavor compounds such as allicin.[24][25][26] A standard proportion for this recipe is 4 to 6 garlic cloves to ¾ to 1 cup of mild extra-virgin olive oil, ensuring a balanced garlic intensity without overpowering the emulsion. Optionally, incorporate 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar into the garlic paste to aid acidity and stability before adding the oil. The oil is then introduced gradually—starting drop by drop for the first 1 to 2 tablespoons while continuously mashing and stirring in a circular motion to build the emulsion, then in a thin, steady stream as the mixture thickens, which typically takes 10 to 15 minutes of constant attention to prevent breaking.[24][25][26] While the authentic version remains eggless, some preparations include 1 egg yolk mixed into the garlic paste for added lecithin to enhance stability, particularly for beginners, though this deviates from the purest historical form. If the emulsion fails and separates—evident by the oil pooling instead of incorporating—salvage it by starting a new batch with a fresh egg yolk and gradually whisking the broken mixture into it. A homemade batch yields approximately 1 cup of aioli and requires about 15 to 20 minutes total preparation time.[27][24][25]Variations in Preparation
While the traditional mortar and pestle method provides a textured aioli through gradual incorporation of oil, modern preparations often employ electric tools for efficiency.[28] Food processors and immersion blenders facilitate quicker emulsification by rapidly blending egg yolks, garlic, and oil into a smooth emulsion. In a food processor, the ingredients are pulsed together before oil is slowly drizzled in to prevent breaking, typically yielding results in under five minutes.[28][29] For immersion blenders, the tool is positioned at the bottom of a narrow container with all components added at once; it is activated on low speed to create an initial emulsion at the base, then gently lifted and tilted to incorporate the oil without overworking, which could cause separation.[28][30] Speed control is crucial, as high speeds can heat the mixture and destabilize the emulsion, leading to a thin or oily texture.[29] Flavor variations expand aioli's profile beyond the basic garlic-forward emulsion. Roasted garlic, baked until caramelized, imparts a milder, sweeter taste compared to raw cloves, reducing pungency while maintaining creaminess when blended in.[31] Herbs such as chives, parsley, or rosemary can be finely chopped and folded in post-emulsification for aromatic notes without altering the base structure.[31] Saffron-infused aioli, such as rouille in Provençal cuisine, steeps threads in warm water or vinegar before incorporation, adding a subtle floral and golden hue.[32][33] A splash of vinegar, such as white wine or apple cider, introduces tanginess, balancing richness and aiding emulsification in eggless versions.[32] Dietary adaptations address common restrictions while preserving aioli's essence. Vegan versions replace egg yolks with aquafaba, the liquid from cooked chickpeas, which acts as a natural emulsifier when whipped and blended with oil and garlic, producing a stable, fluffy texture suitable for plant-based diets.[34] For those preferring milder flavors, low-garlic options reduce or omit raw cloves, relying instead on roasted varieties or substituting with garlic powder to minimize intensity.[31] Commercial production scales aioli for mass distribution using industrial techniques. High-shear emulsifiers, such as homogenizers, rapidly mix large volumes of oil, water, garlic puree, and stabilizers like modified starches to form a uniform emulsion resistant to separation during storage.[35] Preservatives including potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate are added to inhibit microbial growth in bottled aioli, extending shelf life to several months under refrigeration.[22] Regional tweaks modify consistency and ingredients for local preferences. In Greek cuisine, skordalia-style aioli incorporates soaked bread or potatoes as a thickener, creating a denser, spreadable paste that contrasts with the lighter French emulsion.[36][37] This bread-based variation absorbs olive oil gradually, resulting in a robust texture ideal for dipping vegetables or spreading on bread.[38]Nutrition
Commercial garlic aioli mayonnaise products, which incorporate garlic into a mayonnaise-style base often using oils, eggs, and stabilizers, have nutritional profiles comparable to standard mayonnaise, with garlic adding flavor but minimal impact on macronutrients. Per tablespoon (approximately 14-15 g serving), these products typically provide 90-100 calories, 9-12 g total fat (mostly unsaturated), 0-1 g carbohydrates, 0 g protein, and 60-125 mg sodium. Values vary by brand and formulation. Examples include:- Primal Kitchen Garlic Aioli Mayo: 100 calories, 12 g fat, 0 g carbohydrates, 0 g protein, 125 mg sodium per 1 tbsp (15 g).[39]
- Market District Roasted Garlic Aioli Mayo Spread: 90 calories, 9 g fat, 1 g carbohydrates, 0 g protein, 60 mg sodium per 1 tbsp (14 g).[40]
- Graza Garlic Aioli: 100 calories, 10 g fat, 1 g carbohydrates per 1 tbsp (14 g).[41]