Spicy Garlic Aioli With Cherry Pepper Relish

I was inspired to make this spicy garlic aioli after trying Jersey Mike’s subs “Mike’s Way” with their amazing cherry pepper relish.

The way the heat and acidity come together is just too good to ignore, so I had to recreate it.

This aioli is perfect for adding that same bold, tangy flavor to burgers, tostones, plantain chips, or a pile of crispy fries.

It’s easy to make, and once you try it, you’ll want to keep it around for all your faves!

Ingredients and Substitutions For The Perfect Spicy Garlic Aioli

Absolutely optional to make your own mayo, which is easier than you'd think. Here's a quick mayo recipe made with avocado oil.

Garlic and Cherry Pepper Relish

• Sliced Hot Cherry Peppers – These come in vinegar and add just the right kick. If you don’t have them on hand, feel free to swap in sliced banana peppers or fresh jalapeños. And if you’d rather save some time, you can always grab a jar of cherry pepper relish from the store.
• Garlic Cloves – Fresh garlic is always best for this, but pre-peeled cloves work if you’re looking for a shortcut. Not big on garlic? No worries, you can easily swap it out for your favorite herb.
• Spicy Cherry Pepper Vinegar – This is the tangy vinegar from the pickled hot cherry peppers—it really ties everything together.
• Sea Salt – Just a pinch is all you need to bring out the flavors.

Garnish

• Habañero Pepper – if you prefer a slightly spicier pepper, swap the habañero or add the entire pepper to the recipe.
• Parsley- just a pinch of parsley for color. But you can also add chopped cilantro instead.

See detailed quantities in the recipe card below.

The Best Foods to Pair with Spicy Garlic Aioli

• On Your Burger – Spread this cherry pepper aioli on your burger, and it adds the perfect creamy, spicy kick. Trust me, it’ll take your burger to a whole new level.
• Tacos – Try drizzling a little over your tacos. The tangy, spicy flavors really bring everything together in the best way.
• Dipping Sauce – Whether it’s fries, tostones, plantain chips, wings, or grilled veggies, this aioli makes a fantastic dipping sauce. Once you start, you’ll be dipping just about everything in it.
• Salad Dressing – Mix it with a splash of vinegar or lemon and toss it with your favorite salad. I especially love it on a simple romaine salad with grilled chicken and cotija cheese. So yum!
• Roasted Veggies – Roasted veggies like zucchini or carrots get even better with a dollop of this aioli. It adds that extra layer of flavor you didn’t know you needed.
• Grilled Fish – If you’re making shrimp, especially fried or grilled, this aioli is a great finishing touch. It pairs perfectly with the seafood and adds just the right amount of heat.

Top Tips For The Best Spicy Garlic Aioli with Cherry Pepper Relish

1. Use Fresh Ingredients – From experience, using fresh garlic cloves and pickled cherry peppers really brings out the best flavors. I know it’s tempting to use powders, but trust me—fresh makes all the difference here.
2. Adjust the Spice to Your Taste – If you're like me, you might want to tweak the heat a little. For a milder aioli, take out the seeds from the cherry peppers and use just a quarter of the habañero. If you love a little extra heat, go ahead and use the whole pepper—it’s totally up to you.
3. Homemade Mayo Makes a Difference – I get it, sometimes you don’t have the extra time, but when you can, making your own mayo really steps things up. And when you're in a hurry, using a mayo with avocado oil still keeps the flavors light and fresh.
4. Add Some Green – I love tossing in a bit of parsley for balance, but if cilantro’s more your thing, that works just as well for a different twist.
5. Making the Relish – If you’ve got a mortar and pestle, it’s a great way to get the texture just right. But don’t worry if you don’t have one. A sharp knife works perfectly fine to chop everything up.

Storage

If you have any leftover aioli (which might be rare!), just store it in an airtight glass container, and it’ll keep for up to a week. If you don’t have a mason jar, any jar or container with a good lid will work just fine

FAQs

Olga

Spicy Garlic Aioli With Cherry Pepper Relish

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Homemade mayo with a kick of spicy garlic.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings: 6 people

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Calories: 131

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 1/2 cup Homemade Mayo with Avocado Oil
• 2 tbsp Hot Cherry Peppers (Pickled)
• 3 cloves Fresh Garlic
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
• 1 tbsp Hot Cherry Pepper Vinegar From the pickled cherry peppers
• 1 pinch Sea Salt
• 1/2 Habañero Pepper

Equipment

• 1 Small Mixing Bowl
• 1 Silicone Spatula
• 1 Mortar and pestle

Method

 

1. Step One

   Add 1/2 cup of homemade mayo to a small mixing bowl.
   
2. Step Two

   Crush and grind the fresh garlic and a pinch of salt using the mortar and pestle, then add the hot cherry peppers and grind them down.
   
3. Step Three

   Then add the cherry pepper relish to the mayo and combine using the spatula.
   
4. Step Four

   Optional, based on your preferred spiciness. Deseed half of the habañero pepper and finely dice, then add it to the sauce.
   
5. Step Five

   To enhance the flavor of the dipping sauce, take a few parsley leaves, chop them up, and sprinkle them on top.

   Enjoy this dish with your favorite meal! It pairs well with fried plantains, burgers, or fries.
   

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcal

Notes

1. Use Fresh Ingredients
   For the best flavor, I always recommend making the cherry pepper relish with pickled hot cherry peppers and fresh garlic cloves. It’s tempting to use powders, but fresh ingredients really make all the difference here.
2. Adjust the Spiciness
   If you like your aioli on the milder side, try removing the seeds from the cherry peppers and using just a quarter of a habañero. If you’re a fan of more heat, feel free to use the whole habañero. It’s easy to tweak based on your preference.
3. Make Homemade Mayo
   Homemade mayo really brings out the best in this recipe. But if you’re pressed for time, using avocado oil in a store-bought version works well too.
4. Add a Touch of Green
   For a little color and freshness, parsley is a great addition. Or, if you’re more into cilantro, that can add a nice twist as well.
5. Use a Mortar and Pestle (or Not!)
   If you have a mortar and pestle, it’s a great way to crush the ingredients for the relish. But if not, don’t worry—a sharp knife to finely dice everything works just as well.

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