Quick and easy black garlic aioli made with creamy mayonnaise to simplify things! Enjoy as a dipping sauce and elevate any meal with this black garlic sauce!

Black garlic aioli mayonnaise with baked fries around it.

Ingredients

Mayonnaise: Our creamy base! I’m using my oil-free mayo but feel free to use any other mayo of choice.
Black Garlic: Caramelized and tender, it adds a unique depth of flavor with a hint of tang!
Balsamic Vinegar (optional): Adds a bit of acidity and black tint for a darker color. You can also use lemon juice if you just want extra tang.

Black garlic, mayonnaise, and balsamic vinegar on a white marble background.

First Up, A Bit About Black Garlic

Black garlic is traditionally made by curing raw garlic bulbs in a hot and humid environment for several weeks (refer to this Forks Over Knives article for more info). It has a sweet, savory, and slightly tangy flavor with hints of molasses and a hint of umami, similar to the umami from a flavor-packed soy sauce.

Black garlic is safe to eat raw and adds a rich, mellow flavor to dishes. And no, black garlic is not burnt garlic; it’s aged and fermented, giving it a unique sweet and savory flavor, instead of the bitter flavor that’s characteristic of burnt food.

Step-by-step Instructions

Mash the black garlic cloves by pressing them firmly on top of the side of a kitchen knife. It should be thin and flat, and it should break apart easily.

Pressing the black garlic with the side of a knife on a cutting board. — Press the garlic

Black garlic after being pressed into very thin garlic. — Press the garlic

Combine the garlic with a tablespoon of mayo in a bowl, mashing and mixing until smooth.
- Tip: You can also use a small blender or food processor to speed this up, especially if making a bigger batch.
Add the rest of the mayo and stir until well-mixed.
Taste and optionally stir in a splash of balsamic vinegar for extra tang and color. Feel free to add salt and black pepper to taste, then enjoy your black garlic aioli! Simple, quick, and easy!

Chopped up black garlic pieces mixed with 1 tablespoon of vegan mayo. — Mix black garlic with just 1 Tablespoon of mayo first

Pressing the black garlic pieces with the back of a spoon to really mix them well. — Mix black garlic with just 1 Tablespoon of mayo first

Top Tips

Flatten The Garlic Completely
- By pressing with the side of a knife, you should get a garlic that’s so thin that it will break apart easily. Black garlic is quite soft so you don’t need a lot of pressure to flatten it.
First Mix with Just 1 Tablespoon of Mayo
- By mixing the garlic with just a tablespoon of mayo, you can first ensure that there are no bigger garlic chunks, which can taste quite strong.

A bowl of garlic sauce dip with more black garlic pieces around it.

Serving Suggestions

Dip for Veggies or Fries: Serve it as a dipping sauce with fresh veggies like carrots, cucumbers, or bell peppers. Or serve it with my adobo fries or sweet potato fries.

Spread for Sandwiches: Use it as a creamy, flavorful spread on sandwiches or wraps. It adds a nice twist to classic fillings like with my hummus bagel or avocado bagel sandwich.

Topping for Roasted Veggies: Drizzle it over roasted veggies for an extra layer of flavor.

Sauce for Grain Bowls/Salads: Add a dollop (or thin it our with a bit of water of vinegar until you get the perfect sauce consistency) to add to salads or poke bowls!

Garnish for Soups: This one is a bit unconventional, but try swirling a bit on top of soups for added creaminess and depth, like when paired with my olive soup. Of course, you can first test with a smaller bowl to see if the flavor matches!

Close-up of a spoonful of black garlic aioli sauce looking really creamy.

Storage and Meal Prep Instructions

Storage: Keep your black garlic aioli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Meal Prep: This aioli is great for meal prep; make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to a week to have a flavorful condiment ready to go!

Refer to the Serving Suggestions above for ideas on how to pair your black garlic mayonnaise!

Freezing: Please do NOT this black garlic dip, as the texture will change and it might not be creamy anymore.

FAQ

Aioli is made with garlic and olive oil, often emulsified with egg yolks. While garlic sauce can be made with various other ingredients, with yogurt-based garlic sauce being a popular variety.

Aioli is similar to garlic mayonnaise but traditionally made with olive oil and garlic, whereas mayonnaise is made with neutral oils and usually does not include garlic.

Traditional aioli contains egg yolks, which makes it non-vegan. However, you can make vegan aioli using plant-based ingredients such as cashew or silken tofu.

Black mayonnaise usually includes black garlic for its distinct color and flavor.

Black garlic mayo has a rich, sweet, and umami flavor with subtle hints of tanginess, thanks to the black garlic’s unique taste profile.

Dipping black garlic mayonnaise sauce with baked fries being dipped into it.

Want More Sauces and Dips Recipes?

For more unique aioli recipes, try my Dijon mustard aioli, citrus aioli, smoked paprika aioli, BBQ aioli, or yuzu aioli.

And don’t forget the classic hummus (without garlic) recipe. For a sweeter sauce, try my sweet mango sauce, or this raspberry chipotle sauce for a burst of flavor!