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spoon dipping into jar of vegan aioli, with lemon and garlic in the background.
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5 from 17 votes

Vegan Aioli

This vegan aioli recipe will quickly become your favorite garlic dip or spread. Enjoy this nut-free sauce as a salad dressing, on burgers, or drizzled over roasted potatoes. This post includes 2 options—a homemade aioli and a quick cheater’s alternative!
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Condiment, Dip, Dressing
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 8 (1 heaping cup total)
Author: Nisha Vora

Ingredients

  • 3 large garlic cloves (15g)*
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ cup + 2 tablespoons (155g) firm tofu
  • 3 tablespoons aquafaba
  • ¼ cup (56g) avocado oil*
  • teaspoon white pepper, or several cracks of black pepper, plus more to taste

Instructions

  • Use a grater or microplane to grate the garlic. Add the garlic to a small or medium bowl, along with the salt, lemon zest, lemon juice, and mustard. Allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes to mellow out the pungency of the garlic.
  • Drain the tofu, measure it out, and gently pat it dry several times.
  • Add the aquafaba to a food processor. Blend until the mixture is frothy (if your machine is large, you may need to hold the base of your food processor and slightly tilt the machine to the side so you can froth the aquafaba). Add the garlic-lemon mixture and blend again. Add the tofu and blend once more until the mixture is smooth.
  • With the center cap or spout open, slowly drizzle in the oil (do not add the oil all at once). Blend until very smooth.
  • Taste, adding more salt or lemon juice as desired. Add in the white pepper or black pepper. Transfer to a jar, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours to thicken and to allow the flavors to meld together (you can serve it immediately though). Stays good in the fridge for 5 to 6 days.

Notes

* If you have a digital scale, weigh the garlic. Too much garlic can make the aioli overpowering.
** For a richer olive oil flavor, replace 2 TBSP of the avocado oil with extra virgin olive oil.

Nutrition

Calories: 67kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 315mg | Potassium: 13mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 0.1mg