Best Allioli Recipes

SALT COD FRITTERS WITH SAFFRON ALLIOLI

Steps:

• Put the salt cod in a saucepan with enough water to cover it and add a bay leaf. Bring to just under the boil, take the pan off the heat, put a lid on it and leave to sit for 10 mins. Lift the fish out onto a plate, reserving the cooking water. Flake the cod, removing the skin. Cook the potatoes in the salt cod cooking water until tender, about 12 mins depending on size. Drain, then put a clean tea towel over the pan, cover and leave for 5 mins or so (this helps the potatoes dry out a bit).
• Bring 300ml water and the olive oil to the boil in a saucepan. Take the pan off the heat and immediately add the flour in a slow stream, whisking (use a balloon whisk) as you do so. You will end up with a batter, if it is a little lumpy, beat it hard. Leave to cool for about 5 mins. Beat in the eggs, a little at a time, until you have a smooth mixture - you need to beat hard.
• Mash the potatoes with the salt cod, garlic, parsley, lemon juice and seasoning (even though you are using salt cod, this needs good seasoning). Beat the mixture into the batter, then cook over a low heat for about 8 mins, stirring all the time. The mixture should thicken considerably and come away from the sides of the pan. Put in a bowl, cover and leave to cool completely. Form the mixture into balls, bigger than walnuts but not as big as golf balls.
• To make the allioli, gently heat the lemon juice and vinegar in a small pan. Add the saffron, stir to help it dissolve and leave it to sit for 15 mins. Put the garlic on a chopping board and, using salt as an abrasive, crush them to a paste. Put the egg yolks and garlic in a bowl. Using an electric whisk, slowly add the olive oil a drop at a time. As the mixture starts to thicken, you can increase the quantity. Gradually add the saffron mixture, then taste and season (the seasoning and how much lemon juice you use is really important).
• Heat the oil in a deep saucepan (fill it no more than a third full) until it reaches 190C on a thermometer or a cube of bread browns in 30 seconds. Deep-fry the balls, in batches, for 4 mins, or until deep golden. Drain on a double layer of kitchen paper and serve hot with the allioli and lemon wedges.

SQUID INK PASTA WITH ALLIOLI VERDE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Using a kitchen mallet, pound both sides of calamari bodies a few times. Insert a sharp knife into calamari bodies, cut along seam, and open like a book. Cut in half lengthwise, then on the diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick strips. (Leave tentacles whole, or halve if large.) Toss strips and tentacles with lemon juice in a nonreactive bowl.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saute pan or a 13-inch paella pan over medium-high heat. Working in two batches, add noodles, and cook, stirring, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Reserve pan.
• Bring stock and squid ink to a low simmer in a saucepan.
• Heat butter and remaining tablespoon oil in the saute pan over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add tomato and paprika, and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Stir in noodles, calamari, stock mixture, 1 tablespoon parsley, salt, and pepper.
• Transfer to oven. Bake until noodles on top begin to curl, about 10 minutes. Top with remaining tablespoon parsley, and drizzle with oil. Serve with allioli.

ALLIOLI

Steps:

• Put garlic paste and egg yolks in a mixing bowl and whisk together. Whisk in olive oil slowly, a tablespoon at a time, until mixture begins to thicken. (Caution: Adding oil too quickly may cause the sauce to curdle.)
• When 1/2 cup oil has been added and sauce is quite thick, whisk in 2 to 3 tablespoons water, then continue to add oil gradually, thinning once more if necessary. The consistency should be like whipped cream, but not too stiff. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for up to several hours. Sauce tastes best the day it is made.

ALLIOLI VERDE

Steps:

• Process garlic, salt, egg, parsley, and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a food processor until combined. With machine running, gradually add remaining olive oil and the canola oil, drop by drop at first and then in a slow, steady stream, until emulsified. Stir in lemon juice. Serve at room temperature; do not leave unrefrigerated longer than 1 hour. Allioli can be refrigerated, covered, for up to 2 days.

PATATAS BRAVAS (FRIED POTATOES WITH ALLIOLI AND CHILE SAUCE)

Steps:

• . Make the brava sauce: Purée tomatoes, 1 tbsp. oil, wine, paprika, sugar, and chile in a blender. Season with salt, transfer to a bowl, and set aside. Make the allioli: Vigorously whisk egg yolk and garlic. While whisking, add 1 tbsp. oil in a thin stream until mixture thickens. Continue whisking, adding 7 tbsp. oil in a thin stream. Add lemon juice and milk, and season with salt; chill. 2. Pour oil into a 5-qt. pot to a depth of 1 1⁄2"; heat over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer reads 220°. Meanwhile, halve potatoes crosswise. Using a small knife, shape each potato half into a 1 3⁄4" x 1" football shape. Transfer potatoes to oil and cook, turning occasionally, until tender and pale golden, 15-20 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to paper towels; chill. Remove pot from heat; reserve. 3. Heat the reserved oil over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer reads 350°. Add potatoes; cook until golden brown, 3-5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels; season with salt. Serve potatoes with the reserved brava sauce and allioli.

ALLIOLI

Steps:

• Using a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic and salt to a smooth paste. Add lemon juice. Turning the pestle in a slow, circular motion around the mortar, drizzle in lemon juice and olive oil until a thick paste is formed, about 20 minutes. If allioli becomes too dense, add 1/2 teaspoon water to thin.