01 -
Preheat your oven to a cozy 400°F (200°C). Grab those beautiful garlic heads and slice off the very top, exposing the cloves a bit. Drizzle them with a tablespoon of olive oil, wrap them snug in foil, and pop them onto a baking sheet. Into the oven they go for about 40-50 minutes, or until they’re super soft and smell like heaven. Honestly, this is where the house starts to smell amazing. I sometimes forget them in there, and they get a bit too dark, so set a timer!
02 -
Once the garlic is cool enough to handle (don't burn your fingers like I almost did last time!), gently squeeze the softened cloves out of their skins into a small bowl. Mash them with a fork until you have a smooth paste. This step is so satisfying; it’s like squeezing little flavor bombs! If you've got any stubborn bits, just keep mashing; we want a really smooth paste for our creamy homemade roasted garlic aioli sauce.
03 -
In a medium bowl, whisk together the mashed roasted garlic, egg yolk, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice. You want this mixture to be well combined and a little pale yellow. This is the foundation of your aioli, so make sure everything is happy together. I swear, sometimes I feel like I'm doing a little dance while whisking, trying to get it just right.
04 -
Now for the critical part of making roasted garlic aioli sauce: the oil. While whisking continuously and vigorously (or using a food processor/immersion blender), slowly, <em>slowly</em> drizzle in the neutral oil, literally drop by drop at first. As it starts to thicken, you can add it in a very thin, steady stream. This is where most people, including past me, mess up by adding it too fast and breaking the emulsion. Patience, my friend!
05 -
Once all the oil is incorporated and your aioli is thick and creamy, it's time to taste and season. Stir in the salt and freshly ground black pepper. This is your chance to make it perfect for <em>your</em> palate. Need more lemon? Go for it! A pinch more salt? Absolutely. I always taste, add a tiny bit, taste again. It's a delicate balance, and honestly, sometimes I just keep adding lemon because I love that zing.
06 -
Transfer your glorious homemade roasted garlic aioli sauce to an airtight container. Pop it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld and deepen. It just gets better with a little chill time. It should be thick, glossy, and smell absolutely divine. This is the moment you realize all that whisking (or blending) was so, so worth it.