The NYT-style clue “garlicky sauce” is typically answered with AIOLI in crossword puzzles.

Quick Scoop

  • In recent New York Times–style crosswords and online answer databases, “garlicky sauce” almost always points to the word aioli , a Mediterranean emulsion of garlic and oil often enriched with egg.
  • Crossword clue archives updated in 2024–2026 list AIOLI as the standard 5-letter solution associated with that clue, so if you’re solving a puzzle, that’s the entry you want.

What is aioli?

  • Aioli is a garlicky emulsion sauce traditionally made by pounding garlic with salt and slowly incorporating olive oil, sometimes with egg yolk for stability.
  • It is commonly served with seafood, vegetables, or sandwiches, which makes it a popular, clue-worthy food term in American-style crosswords.

Why this fits NYT-style clues

  • Crossword databases that track NYT and similar puzzles show “garlicky sauce” → AIOLI appearing repeatedly over multiple years, indicating it has become a convention.
  • The word has friendly letters (A, I, O, L) that combine well with many crossings, so constructors favor it both for grids and for food-related clue themes.

TL;DR: If your clue is “garlicky sauce” in an NYT or NYT-style crossword, fill in AIOLI.