Easy Brazilian garlic sauce. Creamy, pungent, silky, and garlicky, this delicious accompaniment turns a simple grilled steak into something extraordinary. Drizzled over slices of smoky picanha (Brazilian barbecued meat), spooned over charred chicken, brushed onto grilled bread, or served with crisp chips, it’s big, bold garlic flavor is associated with churrasco dining. Here’s an easy version of the sauce that you can make at home with a few simple ingredients.
Why I Love This Mayo-Based Shortcut
Rather than beginning with a traditional-style emulsion made by slowly blending garlic with oil, this recipe uses mayonnaise as its creamy foundation. And it’s an excellent choice for home cooks who want that bold garlicky Brazilian steakhouse-inspired flavor, without the fuss of making an emulsion from scratch. You can make it while the barbecue heats, adjust the flavor according to how much garlic you love, and you can prep it ahead. Best of all, it comes together in minutes. And most importantly, there’s no anxiety about whether a homemade emulsion will split.
The secret to a smoother sauce? Finely grate the garlic for a smoother and more evenly flavored sauce. A microplane or fine grater turns the cloves into a paste, allowing the garlic flavor to spread throughout the mayonnaise. You can also mash the garlic with a small pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle before mixing it into the mayonnaise. For an even more polished sauce, strain it through a fine sieve after mixing. Also, make it ahead, so the sauce gets enough time to allow the garlic flavor to develop. Serve it cold against hot grilled food for maximum deliciousness.
Key Ingredients In Brazilian Garlic Sauce
- Garlic - Freshly grated garlic cloves, not store bought garlic paste.
- Mayonnaise - Makes the sauce creamy without traditional emulsion.
- Vinegar - Tangy kick.
- Lemon - For clean, bright acidity.
- Oil - Extra virgin olive oil.
- Herbs - Parsley.
How To Make Brazilian Garlic Sauce
Make the sauce - Simply mix together minced garlic, mayonnaise, oil, vinegar, and parsley to make a smooth sauce. You can add a little cold water for the right consistency.
How to serve - Serve it with grilled meat, use it as a dip for fries, spread it over burger bun, stir through shredded chicken, add to potato salad, or even use as a base for a creamy dressing by thinning it with extra lemon juice.
Easy Brazilian Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons cold water, optional, for thinning
Instructions
- Place minced garlic, mayonnaise, lemon juice, oil, vinegar, and parsley in a small bowl.
- Add salt and pepper.
- Stir until combined.
- If you prefer a slightly looser consistency, stir in one teaspoon of cold water at a time until the sauce reaches the texture you like.
- Cover and refrigerate the sauce for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Serving suggestion - Traditionally, this sauce is served with picanha or Brazilian grilled steak. You can also serve it with grilled meat or seafood, roasted vegetables, fries.
- How much garlic is too much? - Some cooks will find three cloves plenty, while others will want five. I highly recommend starting with three cloves, and then allow the sauce to sit 15 minutes, before adding in more garlic. Garlic may seem relatively mild immediately after mixing, then become noticeably stronger as it sits.
- Fresh garlic or roasted garlic? - Both work, but create two different flavors. While fresh garlic is sharp and peppery, roasted garlic is softer, sweeter, and almost buttery.
- Mayonnaise - Use rich, full-fat mayonnaise for luxurious sauce.
- Lemon or lime? - Both are delicious. Start with a tablespoon, taste and adjust.
- Make it ahead - Make it 30 minutes ahead to allow the garlic flavor to develop. You can also prepare it earlier in the day, and store covered in the refrigerator until needed. Before serving, give it a quick stir and taste again. Serve cold.
Nutrition
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More Brazilian recipes:
- Brazilian Fish Stew | Moqueca
- Bala Baiana | Brazilian Coconut Bon Bons
- Brazilian Chocolate Truffles | Brigadeiro
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