Toum Garlic Sauce: The Ultimate Flavor Booster
If you love garlic (and I mean really love garlic), then you are about to meet your new best friend in the kitchen: Toum garlic sauce. This creamy, fluffy, and aromatic sauce is the perfect complement to just about anything — from grilled meats and vegetables to sandwiches, fries, and more. Think of it as the Middle Eastern answer to aioli, but with an irresistible garlic punch that will have your taste buds dancing. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll want to slather it on everything. Let’s dive in!
Why You’ll Love Toum Garlic Sauce
Toum isn’t just another garlic sauce; it’s a game-changer. Here’s why this garlicky goodness will soon become your favorite condiment:
Versatile: Use it as a dip, a spread, or a marinade for meats and veggies. It’s great with everything from grilled chicken to roasted potatoes.
Budget-Friendly: The ingredients are simple and inexpensive, but the flavor it packs is anything but ordinary.
Quick and Easy: You won’t believe how easy it is to make this sauce. A few basic ingredients, a food processor, and a little patience, and you’ve got a creamy, dreamy sauce in minutes.
Customizable: You can adjust the garlic level to suit your taste. Love garlic? Add more! Want a milder version? Tone it down.
Crowd-Pleasing: If you’re hosting a barbecue or family dinner, this sauce will be the star of the show. It’s a guaranteed hit with both garlic lovers and newbies.
Ingredients in Toum Garlic Sauce
Toum is made with just a handful of simple ingredients, yet the flavor is bold and unforgettable. Here’s what you’ll need to make this garlic sauce:
Garlic: The star of the show! Fresh, raw garlic is key to that signature strong, garlicky taste.
Oil: A neutral oil, like vegetable or canola, helps create the smooth, creamy texture that makes toum so addictively good.
Lemon Juice: Adds brightness and balances the richness of the garlic and oil.
Salt: A pinch of salt brings everything together, enhancing the flavors.
Ice Water: This is the secret to achieving that light, airy, and fluffy texture that makes toum so unique.
(Note: The full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)\
Instructions
Now let’s whip up this garlic sauce that’s going to make every meal even better:
Prepare Your Garlic: Start by peeling and chopping the garlic. You can remove the green germ from each clove if you want a milder garlic taste.
Blend the Ingredients: In a food processor, combine the garlic, salt, and lemon juice. Pulse a few times to break it down into a smooth paste.
Emulsify the Sauce: With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the oil, a drop at a time at first. Once the mixture begins to emulsify (come together into a creamy texture), you can add the oil a little faster. Be patient and let the processor do its magic!
Add Ice Water: Once the oil is fully incorporated and the sauce is creamy, slowly add a bit of ice water (about a tablespoon at a time) to lighten the mixture. The sauce should become fluffy and smooth.
Adjust the Flavor: Taste your toum, and if you want a more intense garlic flavor, add a little more garlic or lemon juice. Adjust the salt to taste.
Serve and Enjoy: Transfer your toum to a jar or bowl and refrigerate. It’ll thicken up even more as it chills. Serve with your favorite grilled meats, veggies, or anything else that could use a garlicky upgrade.
Nutrition Facts:
Servings: 6
Calories per serving: 120
Preparation Time
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
How to Serve Toum Garlic Sauce
Toum is incredibly versatile, so here are a few ideas on how to use it:
- With Grilled Meats: Serve it alongside grilled chicken, lamb, or beef for a flavorful accompaniment.
- As a Dip: It’s perfect as a dip for pita bread, fries, or fresh veggies.
- On Sandwiches: Slather it on your favorite sandwiches or wraps for an extra burst of flavor.
- With Roasted Veggies: Pair it with roasted vegetables like potatoes, cauliflower, or eggplant for a delicious side dish.
Additional Tips
Here are some extra tips to help you get the most out of this recipe:
- Use Fresh Garlic: Fresh garlic makes all the difference in this recipe. Avoid using pre-chopped garlic from a jar for the best flavor.
- Adjust Garlic Intensity: If you’re sensitive to raw garlic, you can reduce the amount used, but remember, toum is all about that bold garlic punch!
- Storage: Store toum in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last for up to a week, and the flavor often gets better with time.
FAQ’s
- Can I make toum without a food processor?
While a food processor is best for achieving the creamy texture, you can also use a blender or even a hand whisk to emulsify the sauce. - Can I use olive oil instead of neutral oil?
Olive oil has a stronger flavor, which may overpower the garlic, so it’s better to stick with a neutral oil like canola or vegetable oil for the best taste. - How do I make toum less garlicky?
If you prefer a milder flavor, use fewer garlic cloves or remove the germ from the garlic before blending. - Can I use toum as a marinade?
Yes! It makes a great marinade for meats, especially chicken. Just let your protein soak in it for a few hours before grilling. - What can I serve toum with besides grilled meats?
You can serve it with roasted vegetables, falafel, fries, or even as a dressing for salads. - How do I fix a runny toum?
If your toum is too thin, try adding a little more oil, a drop at a time, while blending, until it reaches the desired thickness. - Can I make toum ahead of time?
Yes! Toum can be made in advance and stored in the fridge. It actually develops more flavor the longer it sits. - Is toum vegan?
Yes, toum is naturally vegan, as it’s made with garlic, oil, lemon juice, and water, with no dairy or animal products. - How do I store leftover toum?
Store toum in an airtight container in the fridge. It can last for up to a week. - Can I freeze toum?
While it’s best fresh, you can freeze toum for up to a month. Let it thaw in the fridge and give it a quick stir before serving.
Conclusion
Toum garlic sauce is the perfect way to elevate any meal with its creamy, garlicky goodness. Whether you use it as a dip, spread, or marinade, this sauce is sure to bring bold flavor to everything it touches. Once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Enjoy the garlic goodness!
PrintToum Garlic Sauce: The Ultimate Flavor Booster
Toum is a traditional Lebanese garlic sauce known for its intense garlic flavor and creamy texture. Made with just four simple ingredients—garlic, oil, lemon juice, and salt—it’s a versatile condiment that pairs wonderfully with grilled meats, vegetables, and breads. This vegan-friendly sauce is similar to aioli but boasts a more robust garlic punch.
- Prep Time: 15min
- Cook Time: 0min
- Total Time: 15min
- Yield: Approximately 1½ cups
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Lebanese
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
– 1 cup garlic cloves, peeled (approximately 4 1/2 ounces or 130 grams)
– 1 teaspoon kosher salt
– 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
– 1 1/2 cups neutral oil (such as sunflower, grapeseed, or canola oil)
Instructions
1. **Prepare the Garlic:** Slice each garlic clove lengthwise and remove the green germ to reduce bitterness. Place the peeled garlic cloves and salt in a food processor. Pulse until the garlic is finely minced, scraping down the sides as needed.
2. **Emulsify the Sauce:** With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in ¼ cup of the oil in a thin, steady stream. This gradual incorporation helps create a stable emulsion. After adding the initial oil, pause to scrape down the bowl. Then, with the processor running, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a slow stream. Repeat this process, alternating between adding ½ cup of oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, until all the oil and lemon juice have been incorporated. The sauce should become thick and fluffy.
3. **Adjust Consistency:** If the toum is too thick, you can add a bit of ice water, one teaspoon at a time, to reach your desired consistency.
4. **Store:** Transfer the toum to an airtight container and refrigerate. It can be stored for up to a month. Allow it to come to room temperature and stir before serving.
Notes
– **Oil Selection:** Using a neutral-flavored oil is crucial to let the garlic flavor shine without interference. Avoid oils with strong flavors like olive oil.
– **Emulsification Tip:** The key to a successful toum is the slow incorporation of oil to ensure a stable emulsion. Patience during this step is essential.
– **Serving Suggestions:** Toum pairs excellently with grilled meats like chicken shawarma, roasted vegetables, or as a spread on pita bread.
– **Storage:** The sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month. Its flavor may mellow over time, so it’s best consumed within two weeks for optimal taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 193kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
