Until very recently, I never bought avocados. They were shipped from too great a distance, and with so many environmental and social issues surrounding the production in the Americas, I went years without buying them.
Now we can get them directly from farmers in Spain, so I buy a bulk box (4 kilos) every once in a while when they’re in season. They ripen at home and then keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks, so it works out well. It’s about 2000km, but that’s the distance from BC to Manitoba, and we considered BC fruit to be ‘local’ when we lived there.
This avocado aioli is a staple while the fruit is in season, because it has so many uses. I love mayonnaise but can never get through a whole batch, so this is a great substitution – and it’s a delicious egg-free alternative, too.
One reader, Lydia, commented: “Just absolutely YUMMY! I adore aiolis and how I have never made an avocado one, I’ll never know. It’s smooth as silk and I’m serving it on the salmon I’m cooking tonight. Nice change from the guac that I always make.”
Another reader, LeAnn, said: “This is excellent! I forgot to put the lemon zest in it but it was still amazing. I’ve had it in the refrigerator for about four days and it’s still a nice green color. I thinned it out a little with water and use it as dressing for my southwest chicken salad and taco salad. I also added it to tuna fish and it is the best tuna salad I’ve ever had!”
Ingredients
- Avocado: ripe and average sized. A little bigger or smaller won’t make a difference for this recipe, but it must be ripe and soft.
- Olive oil: I always use olive oil, even in egg-based mayonnaise. It adds a very slight bitterness that plays well off the creamy avocado. You could sub a neutral oil if preferred.
- Mustard: Dijon if you have it, but any mustard other than yellow hotdog mustard will be fine.
- Lemon: if you don’t have lemon, lime makes a good substitution! It gives a slight guacamole flavour.
For some more avocado recipes, try a refreshing mango avocado salad, fruit-sweetened banana avocado milkshake, or my favourite, chocolate avocado fudgesicles.
Step by Step
Step 1: add the avocado, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, salt, and pepper to a container (or small blender). Mix with an immersion blender until very smooth.
Step 2: while blending, very slowly pour the olive oil into the mixture in a steady stream. Continue mixing until the oil is fully incorporated and emulsified into the aioli.
Recipe Notes
An immersion blender is easy, but mini food processors also work for this recipe. A full sized blender/processor is a bit too big but can work in a pinch if you really scrape the sides down. Unfortunately it’s not possible to add the oil slowly if using a bullet blender.
If your blender is a bit on the weak side, you can grate the garlic before adding to make sure you don’t end up with unpleasant lumps in the sauce.
Adding the olive oil very slowly is for the same reason as any emulsified sauce – if added too quickly, the sauce will break. A very slow pour will make for the creamiest aioli.
How to Store
Storage: store for up to a day in a sealed container in the refrigerator. This doesn’t keep particularly well after mixing and is best fresh. It’ll last a day in a sealed container in the refrigerator, but any longer and it starts to discolour.
Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing this recipe.
Where to Use Aioli
- Pasta sauce – thin it with some of the pasta water to make a silky sauce
- Sandwich spread, like you would use mayonnaise
- As a dip for naan or other flatbreads
- Mix with chickpeas and vegetables for a quick creamy salad (use this Greek chickpea salad as a base)
- A dressing for potato salad
- As pictured, for dipping potato wedges or raw vegetables
More Sauces and Dips
Simple Marinara Tomato Sauce
Wild Garlic Pesto
Lebanese Hummus
Sweet Potato Lentil Dip
If you make this Creamy Avocado Dip or any other vegetarian sauce recipes on Occasionally Eggs, please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It’s such a help to others who want to try the recipe. For more OE, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, purchase the Occasionally Eggs cookbook, or subscribe for new posts via email.
Avocado Aioli
Description
Ingredients
- 1 large avocado ripe
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- Zest of a lemon
- Juice of a lemon ~3 tablespoons (to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper to taste
- 60 ml (½ cup) olive oil
Instructions
- Peel and stone the avocado, then place it into a mixing container (or mini mixer). Add the garlic, mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.1 large avocado, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, Zest of a lemon, Juice of a lemon, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Mix with an immersion blender (or with your mixer, on high speed) until very smooth.
- Once it’s mixed, add the olive oil. While blending, very slowly pour the olive oil into the mixture in a steady stream. Continue mixing until the oil is fully incorporated and emulsified into the aioli.60 ml (½ cup) olive oil
- Use immediately or store for up to a day in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. If this information is important to you, please have it verified independently.
This is excellent! I forgot to put the lemon zest in it but it was still amazing.
I’ve had it in the refrigerator for about four days and it’s still a nice green color. I thinned it out a little with water and use it as dressing for my southwest chicken salad and taco salad. I also added it to tuna fish and it is the best tuna salad i’ve ever had!
Is there a way to make it last a few days in the fridge?
Hi Annie, you could try transferring to a lidded container, smooth it out, and add a layer of lemon juice to cover any exposed surface of the dip. That should keep it from discolouring. Try to pour off most of the excess lemon juice before serving.
made it as an accompaniment for salmon was really excellent. Nice tart flavors. I will make this again.
Just absolutely YUMMY! I adore aiolis and how I have never made an avocado one, I’ll never know. It’s smooth as silk and I’m serving it on the salmon I’m cooking tonight. Nice change from the guac that I always make.
Delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe.