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Lemon Garlic Sauce Ideas Wanted

Shel_B

By Shel_B
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Shel_B

Shel_B

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I'd like some proven recipes or ideas for a lemon garlic sauce, mostly for vegetables but also for pasta.

 

I've been playing with this for a while and just can't seem to get a satisfactory result.  The sauce doesn't adhere well to the veggies or pasta, the flavor is weak, or sometimes the sauce is too oily.  Any help would be appreciated.  I'd like to stay away from using heavy cream.

Edited by Shel_B (log)

 ... Shel


 

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Tri2Cook

Tri2Cook

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Since you already stated that you want to stay away from heavy cream, I'm going to go ahead and ask up front where you stand on the inclusion of egg yolk.

It's kinda like wrestling a gorilla... you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is tired.

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Shel_B

Shel_B

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What fat do you want to use? Or should I say do "that you consider acceptable to your taste and lifestyle".

 

Olive oil would be ideal, butter is OK too .... Thanks!

 ... Shel


 

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heidih

heidih

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The very simple method that I enjoy as do those I cook for is as follows:

In the mortar & pestle I mash garlic cloves, lemon zest, salt and black peppercorns (I am a pepper hound so that is of course optional). To the gently heated olive oil in a skillet I add the "paste" until the garlic just begins to take on color. Off the heat I add a squeeze of the lemon. The proportions are to your taste. Using very fragrant fresh organic lemons that have a lovely oil in their zest is the deal maker I think.

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Shel_B

Shel_B

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Since you already stated that you want to stay away from heavy cream, I'm going to go ahead and ask up front where you stand on the inclusion of egg yolk.

 

Never thought about egg yolk.  I'd certainly consider it, and in any case, would like to know how it's used in such a sauce.

 ... Shel


 

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Shel_B

Shel_B

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The very simple method that I enjoy as do those I cook for is as follows:

In the mortar & pestle I mash garlic cloves, lemon zest, salt and black peppercorns (I am a pepper hound so that is of course optional). To the gently heated olive oil in a skillet I add the "paste" until the garlic just begins to take on color. Off the heat I add a squeeze of the lemon. The proportions are to your taste. Using very fragrant fresh organic lemons that have a lovely oil in their zest is the deal maker I think.

 

I'll give it a try tonight ... the technique is similar to what I've done, except for making the garlic paste.  I've used finely chopped or minced garlic.  Getting the garlic to adhere to the veggies or, to a lesser extent, noodles, has been my problem.  Maybe the paste will help.  Thanks!

Edited by Shel_B (log)

 ... Shel


 

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Alex

Alex

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Google "avgolemono sauce"

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Shel_B

Shel_B

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Google "avgolemono sauce"

 

Wrong sauce ... I want a lemon garlic sauce not a lemon egg sauce.  I suppose garlic could be added, although Heidi's idea is a lot closer to the direction I want to go.

 ... Shel


 

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Shel_B

Shel_B

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The very simple method that I enjoy as do those I cook for is as follows:

In the mortar & pestle I mash garlic cloves, lemon zest, salt and black peppercorns (I am a pepper hound so that is of course optional). To the gently heated olive oil in a skillet I add the "paste" until the garlic just begins to take on color. Off the heat I add a squeeze of the lemon. The proportions are to your taste. Using very fragrant fresh organic lemons that have a lovely oil in their zest is the deal maker I think.

 

Worked out pretty well.  I don't have a mortar and pestle, but combing some salt with diced garlic and zest, and using a knife on a cutting board to create a paste, did a decent job.  The M&P would have been better, though.  Adding zest to the garlic is a good technique .... that'll be something I'll do again.  Toots liked the sauce quite a bit, so it was certainly a success by my primary standard.  Thanks!

 ... Shel


 

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Smithy

Smithy

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The very simple method that I enjoy as do those I cook for is as follows:

In the mortar & pestle I mash garlic cloves, lemon zest, salt and black peppercorns (I am a pepper hound so that is of course optional). To the gently heated olive oil in a skillet I add the "paste" until the garlic just begins to take on color. Off the heat I add a squeeze of the lemon. The proportions are to your taste. Using very fragrant fresh organic lemons that have a lovely oil in their zest is the deal maker I think.

 

I tried this over fish and asparagus a few nights ago, and was delighted with the results.  As Shel_B notes above, the lemon zest adds an extra brightness that I hadn't considered before in the sauce context.

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Shel_B

Shel_B

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I tried this over fish and asparagus a few nights ago, and was delighted with the results.  As Shel_B notes above, the lemon zest adds an extra brightness that I hadn't considered before in the sauce context.

 

Perhaps it should be noted that a Microplane was used for the zesting, which, as you know, gives nice, small, thin pieces of zest.  The zest absorbed well into the salted garlic - even before cooking the smooshed garlic richly perfumed the air with a strong lemon fragrance.

 ... Shel


 

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Shel_B

Shel_B

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The very simple method that I enjoy as do those I cook for is as follows:

In the mortar & pestle I mash garlic cloves, lemon zest, salt and black peppercorns (I am a pepper hound so that is of course optional). To the gently heated olive oil in a skillet I add the "paste" until the garlic just begins to take on color. Off the heat I add a squeeze of the lemon. The proportions are to your taste. Using very fragrant fresh organic lemons that have a lovely oil in their zest is the deal maker I think.

 

Just wanted to let you know that I've been very pleased with your suggestion about making a lemon-garlic sauce.  I've played with your technique three times since you posted your info, and each time the results are improved over the previous try.

 

Since I don't have a mortar and pestle, after my first try I started grating the garlic on the Microplane and crushing the lemon zest and garlic together.  Works pretty well.  The latest iteration used the Microplane and I used three styles of garlic: cooked as you described plus some added roasted garlic, and some 'planed raw garlic.  The sauce had a wonderful depth and flavor to it.  And Toots has been enjoying the results quite a bit, too.

 

Thanks again for your suggestion.

 ... Shel


 

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paulraphael

paulraphael

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You can have a lot of fun improvising with lemon and garlic, since both ingredients work well in so many ways. Lemon juice is an acidulator and a great solvent for aromatics; garlic is both delicious and an emulsifier.

 

I'd briefly infuse herbs or other seasonings into the lemon juice, then mix in garlic pulp. You can then whisk in an oil of your choice, like olive oil, or something that's already an emulsion, like cream or whole butter.

 

You could add other liquids to the lemon first, like stock or reduced wine. 

 

If you need to hold the sauce for a while you can incorporate a bit of xanthan gum into the liquid before stirring in the oil ingredients, to stabilize the emulsion.

 

Some of these variations are similar to aioli. If you used emulsified egg yolks and butter you'd be moving into hollandaise family sauces. 

Notes from the underbelly

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blue_dolphin

blue_dolphin

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The very simple method that I enjoy as do those I cook for is as follows:

In the mortar & pestle I mash garlic cloves, lemon zest, salt and black peppercorns (I am a pepper hound so that is of course optional). To the gently heated olive oil in a skillet I add the "paste" until the garlic just begins to take on color. Off the heat I add a squeeze of the lemon. The proportions are to your taste. Using very fragrant fresh organic lemons that have a lovely oil in their zest is the deal maker I think.

 

 

I tried this over fish and asparagus a few nights ago, and was delighted with the results.  As Shel_B notes above, the lemon zest adds an extra brightness that I hadn't considered before in the sauce context.

 

I agree.   For a quick dinner last night, I thawed some cooked, frozen shrimp and warmed them in this sauce, then used it to lightly dress some TJ's lemon pepper pappardelle tossed with steamed broccoli and orange bell pepper strips.  Ready in the time it took to cook the pasta, pretty and fresh tasting.  I thought it would be lovely on a piece of fish and will try that next.

Edited by blue_dolphin (log)
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Shel_B

Shel_B

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I agree.   For a quick dinner last night, I thawed some cooked, frozen shrimp and warmed them in this sauce, then used it to lightly dress some TJ's lemon pepper pappardelle tossed with steamed broccoli and orange bell pepper strips.  Ready in the time it took to cook the pasta, pretty and fresh tasting.  I thought it would be lovely on a piece of fish and will try that next.

 

That sounds great!  I was planning a trip to TJ's today to get, amongst other items, those lemon pepper pappardelle - which are a great noodle - and I'll grab some shrimp as well.  And I'll check my broccoli supply, too.  Thanks for the dinner suggestion.

 ... Shel


 

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