Creamy balsamic aioli in just 3 minutes! Using mayonnaise as a base, this creamy sauce is perfect as a dip, or a dressing when thinned out with some water!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Mayonnaise: I use my homemade vegan mayo but feel free to use any other mayonnaise!
- Balsamic Vinegar: Adds a tangy depth for an even richer balsamic dip.
- Garlic: Brings a punch of flavor.
- Feel free to sub with 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder for convenience and/or for a milder flavor.
- Black Pepper: Adds a spicy kick and extra depth to the aioli. It’s something small but makes a lot of difference, so don’t skip this one!
- This is one of the rare recipes where ground black pepper is preferred over freshly cracked black pepper. I think it’s because the small grains mix better!
Step-by-step Instructions
Mix mayo, balsamic vinegar, finely grated garlic, and black pepper in a small bowl. Stir until smooth and enjoy your balsamic mayo!
Top Tips
- For the best flavor, let the balsamic mayo sit for 3-5 minutes for the flavors to blend together.
- But if you’re in a rush, you can also serve it right away!
- Use a grater, microplane, or really finley mince your garlic so there won’t be large bites of garlic, which is unpleasant to bite into!
- Adjust to taste: Love tangy flavors? Add a splash more balsamic.
- Prefer it milder? Cut back on the garlic or pepper.
Serving Suggestions
Dip for Fries or Veggies: Serve with crispy sweet potato fries, roasted adobo fries, or fresh veggie sticks like carrots and bell peppers.
Sandwich Spread: Slather on a vegan burger, bagel sandwich, bagel with hummus, or with this chickpea sandwich!
Salad Dressing: Thin it out with a little water (or extra virgin olive oil) and drizzle your balsamic mayo dressing over a grain bowl served with roasted vegetables, salad, or over this tomato carpaccio!
Charcuterie Boards: Include this Italian sauce as a dip on a vegan charcuterie board with crusty bread or crackers (like when served with this raspberry cream cheese dip or sun-dried tomato mayo sauce) and olives.
Storage and Meal Prep Instructions
Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Meal Prep: This balsamic cream sauce is perfect for meal prep as it gets more flavorful after sitting in the fridge!
Freezing: Do NOT freeze this balsamic mayo since mayonnaise doesn’t freeze well in general.
FAQ
Want More Sauces?
If you like balsamic, you would like my black garlic aioli! Or try my creamy roasted pepper sauce for an umami sauce!
For more tangy sauces, try my Dijon mustard aioli, citrus mayonnaise, or this kimchi mayo sauce!
And if you like spicy stuff, try this Calabrian chili aioli, tandoori mayo, or harissa mayo!
3-Minute Balsamic Aioli/Mayo (for Dip & Dressing)
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise I used myÂ
oil-free mayo  but feel free to use any mayo! - 2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ clove garlic grated, microplaned, or very finely minced
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all ingredients together. Make sure that your garlic is very finely minced so you won't accidentally bite into bigger garlic pieces, which can be unpleasant.1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, 1/2 clove garlic, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Enjoy! Note that letting it sit for 3-5 minutes is better better since the flavor will meld more, but you can also serve it right away!
Notes
- Check out the post above for top tips, FAQ, step-by-step process shots, ingredient substitutions, serving suggestions, storage notes, and other useful info!