Molho de Alho for Churrasco

Molho de Alho is a favorite Brazilian garlic dipping sauce served alongside meats and occasionally on top of bread. It is especially delicious on grilled chicken or churrasco-style picanha. It is essentially a roux sauce that is thickened even further with mayonnaise and seasoned with herbs and plenty of garlic.

This recipe is for the basic sauce, but it can easily be customized to suit your tastes. Some common variations might include lemon zest for a little tang, or smoked paprika for some heat. The choices are really endless, so have fun experimenting.

While Brazilians typically use this as a dipping sauce, it would work well as a white sauce for flatbread or pizza, or even as a garlicky sauce for pasta. 

Dietary Adjustments for Molho de Alho

If you are dairy-free, you can still make this recipe. There are vegan options for milk, mayonnaise, and butter, all of which will work just as well. For a gluten-free version, substitute the wheat flour with tapioca flour, which is actually used quite a bit in Brazilian cuisine (like in this delicious Brazilian cheese bread).

Creamy Brazilian Garlic Dipping Sauce (Molho de Alho)

Makes 1.5 cups

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

4 large cloves of garlic, minced

1 cup of milk (can be any percentage of milk fat)

½ cup mayonnaise

¾ tsp salt

Freshly ground black pepper

½ tsp dried oregano

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. When it is melted, add the minced garlic and cook just until softened and fragrant (1-2 minutes)
2. Add in your flour and mix to form a roux paste. Cook for a minute or two until the paste takes on a light golden color.
3. Slowly whisk in your milk until fully combined with the flour mixture. Let the sauce thicken a little over two minutes.
4. Add in your mayo, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes over medium heat.

If you want to make this sauce ahead of time or need to store leftovers, it will keep in the fridge for up to one week. 

Enjoy Texas de Brazil Churrasco at Home

How about some picanha to go with your garlic sauce? You can enjoy churrasco at home with one of Texas de Brazil’s premium grill packages. Each box is carefully curated with the highest quality cuts of meat and delivered conveniently to your door. With seven different boxes and price points to choose from, you’ll be sure to find a perfect option for your next dinner at home.