Toum has the consistency of mayonnaise but the flavor of nothing you ever tasted!
The only sauce you’ll ever need!
Before I started this blog, heck before I started cooking, Toum has been a vital part of my life. Toum (toum translates to garlic in Arabic) is the mayo to your burger, the ranch dressing to your chicken, truly and ultimately the best condiment you will ever use or taste.
Toum is no stranger to Middle Eastern cuisine, it’s been around for centuries from the time of using a mortar and pestle to make the creamy sauce. Grandmothers all over Lebanon and surrounding countries have made Toum for chicken on Sundays since the dawn of time. It’s quintessential and one of the best kept secrets to create the most flavorful food.
I remember sitting in our church hall before a large event peeling garlic with allllllll the ladies! You see, that is how we all started our cooking journey is by peeling garlic. I peeled so much garlic my fingers were sore and obviously smelled of garlic by the end. But it was the start of something incredible and delicious that we Lebanese can’t live without.
Tradition
Traditionally Toum is used as a dipping sauce, mostly with chicken (Boom, Boom, Chicken + Toum) a little chant we used to sing growing up. As I began cooking more and more for my family, I realized heck…I’m going to throw Toum into pretty much everything I make.
I began using it in place of chopped garlic for a few reasons. Since Toum is an emulsified garlic sauce the balance of garlic and oil is sometimes less pungent in cooking. It also acts as your oil when marinading foods, so truly it kills two birds with one stone. I love the creamy texture that it creates when making a salad dressing, all from adding a bit of Toum.
Garlic in it’s purest form creates a magical sauce
Trader Joe’s and Others
Sure, the market has become saturated with Toum. First one that comes to mind is Trader Joe’s Garlic Sauce. With the same ingredients as traditional Toum (garlic, oil, salt, citric acid to stabilize) it’s mass produced Toum. Now some folks have told me that it has a different taste than the Toum they have made. Well, of course it does! Does your mama’s homemade spaghetti sauce taste the same as the one in the jar? Probably not. Once products go to market, they are altered and even dulled down for the American pallet, which many food producers don’t feel can handle the intense garlic taste. Is it ok to use? Sure thing! But if you want true, traditional, in-your-face Toum, try this recipe, I promise it won’t disappoint and will cost you a fraction of the prepared stuff.
Lebanese Toum sauce for all your garlic cravings.
How to Make Toum
Okay, I know you can’t wait to start peeling garlic so here are the steps to making the perfect Toum. But be warned, it’s a tricky condiment that will *sometimes* separate. Anything emulsified can be a bit delicate. Don’t fret, even if it separates, it is still usable. Check out my full FAQ section below to troubleshoot and other burning questions.
Peel the garlic:
The hardest part of making Toum is peeling all the garlic!! Be sure your garlic is FRESH! There should be no green stems inside or coming out, if there is, your garlic is probably not fresh and your Toum may not come together. Trim the tops of each piece to remove the bit of brown stem that was attached.
Measure:
You’ll need 1 cup of peeled garlic to make 4 cups of Toum (about 2 lbs). It seems like a lot but believe me, if you’re going to use it for cooking and as a condiment, you’ll be happy you made the full batch. You can always half the recipe too. I measure my garlic in adry measuring cup. Once you have your 1 cup peeled and trimmed, add enough water to fill the cup with the garlic in there. The water helps to cut the extremely sharp garlic flavor. Certain times of year, garlic can be much stronger in flavor resulting in a stronger Toum. You can always add a bit more water before processing if you know your garlic is extremely strong.
Fill your measuring cup with garlic and then with water. No specific measurement of water because it will vary based on your size of garlic.
Mix:
Add your garlic & water mixture to your food processor (this is the one I use) and process until a smooth paste forms, about 1-2 minutes. Slowlybegin to stream your 4 cups of oil into the processor. I don’t recommend using olive oil as it has a very strong flavor, you want something that is neutral. Avocado oil works fantastic, check out FAQs for other questions.
Final steps:
Just as you finish your oil, your Toum mixture should be thickening up. At the very end, add a teaspoon of kosher salt and finally a squeeze of lemon. That’s it! Remove and enjoy. Remember, if your Toum did not thicken up like mayonnaise, it is still delicious and useful! Try again next time and hopefully you’ll get the knack.
Process until the garlic sauce comes together to create a thick, mayonnaise consistency.
I have Toum, what can I do with it?
Keep refrigerated, some separation is natural, just mix together before use. Good for at least 1 month.
*marinade ~ add some toum, olive oil, S&P *salad dressing ~ toum + lemon juice + olive oil + S&P *garlic bread ~ smear on bread + cheese and bake *spread ~ spread on sandwiches, wraps, etc *dip ~ use as a dip with chicken/beef *base ~ use as a garlic base for any meal you’d use chopped garlic *possibilities are endless…share your favorite way to use Toum in the comments!
FAQ:
I’ve had many people ask questions regarding Toum from how to use it (see above), how much to use and alternative oils to use. I’ve listed some here and I’ll continue to add as I receive more. Please leave your comments below for others to read with adjustments and modifications. That is the best way for information to be shared.
Can I use another oil instead of canola/vegetable? The biggest thing is to make sure you are using a neutral oil. The garlic is what you want to shine, not the taste of oil. Other neutral oils to consider are: avocado and sunflower. A very light olive oil may not be terrible but it will definitely change the taste.
I only use Coconut Oil, will that work? I have had one person use liquid coconut oil to stream into her Toum and she did have success. However, since coconut oil solidifies in the fridge, the Toum also hardened. Not a huge deal, just needs to warm up to soften back to the correct texture.
How much should I be using when cooking? Really this is a personal question. When I’m using it as a marinade I’ll tend to use a bit more, for example grilling 2 pounds of chicken breast, I’ll probably use close to a 1/4 cup. If I’m making a salad dressing, just a teaspoon or so. Roasted potatoes, full sheet pan full, probably a few tablespoons. Once you start using it you’ll know your preference and what works best for you. But also remember you’re using this as BOTH flavoring and your oil to saute or coat your food.
Do I need any other seasonings? Again, I think that is a personal preference. If I’m cooking with Toum, I’ll use it as my garlic for my dish but sure, I’ll add other spices based on what I’m making. If I’m using it for garlic bread, I’ll smear on my bread and just top with cheese. Personal preference.
4 cups of oil is a lot, is this healthy? Is anything really healthy for you in large quantities? No, everything in moderation! This recipe with 4 cups of oil yields about 2-2.5 pounds of Toum. That’s a quite a lot! Think 2 containers of mayonnaise you’d buy at the store. You’re not eating it like yogurt, you’re using in smaller quantities for larger meals. Again, everything in moderation, but do what is best for your family.
Raw garlic, great healthbenefits Toum is raw garlic emulsified, so yes, there are a TON of amazing health benefits associated with it. I’m not a doctor or a nutritionist but in the words of my wise Lebanese family, garlic heals most everything. Consider this an elixir to help with anything from the common cold to digestive issues.
Pre-peeled Garlic I’ve had many folks ask about pre-peeled garlic. I personally do not recommend it. Generally when garlic is peeled and packaged it comes to the store not as fresh and often preservatives are added to keep fresh. Since you are using RAW garlic, you want the utmost freshness.
Food Processor vs Blender I personally only have experience using a food processor with Toum, but I have had many other folks share that their Vitamix blender worked well.
With a little bit of garlic, oil, salt and lemon, you will have a most amazing sauce! I would love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram @CosettesKitchen or post on my Facebook Page. xoxo, Cosette
1 cup of peeled garlic (measure using dry measuring cup) about 2 full heads
water to fill measuring cup with garlic in place
4 cups of neutral oil (canola, vegetable or avocado are preferred)
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Begin by peeling your garlic, to get a full cup you’ll need to peel about 2 large heads of garlic. Be sure there are no green stems. Sprouting is an indicator of old garlic.
Trim the tops of each piece where they were attached to the head
Add your garlic pieces to a dry 1 cup measuring cup
Fill the measuring cup with water to displace the garlic. The amount of water varies to your garlic size, so just fill to the top of your measuring cup with garlic in there for an accurate amount.
Pour garlic + water into bowl of food processor (see FAQs about using other machines)
Process for 1-2 minutes until garlic is smooth.
Then begin slowly streaming your oil with machine running. You want to stream as slowly as possible, this is what creates the emulsification.
At the very end, add your salt and lemon juice to stabilize. If you find your Toum has already thickened, just mix in without the machine on to ensure you don’t process too long.
That’s it! Place in a sealed container and refrigerate. Good for up to a month.
Toum has the consistency of mayonnaise but the flavor of nothing you ever tasted!
The only sauce you’ll ever need!
Before I started this blog, heck before I started cooking, Toum has been a vital part of my life. Toum (toum translates to garlic in Arabic) is the mayo to your burger, the ranch dressing to your chicken, truly and ultimately the best condiment you will ever use or taste.
Toum is no stranger to Middle Eastern cuisine, it’s been around for centuries from the time of using a mortar and pestle to make the creamy sauce. Grandmothers all over Lebanon and surrounding countries have made Toum for chicken on Sundays since the dawn of time. It’s quintessential and one of the best kept secrets to create the most flavorful food.
I remember sitting in our church hall before a large event peeling garlic with allllllll the ladies! You see, that is how we all started our cooking journey is by peeling garlic. I peeled so much garlic my fingers were sore and obviously smelled of garlic by the end. But it was the start of something incredible and delicious that we Lebanese can’t live without.
Tradition
Traditionally Toum is used as a dipping sauce, mostly with chicken (Boom, Boom, Chicken + Toum) a little chant we used to sing growing up. As I began cooking more and more for my family, I realized heck…I’m going to throw Toum into pretty much everything I make.
I began using it in place of chopped garlic for a few reasons. Since Toum is an emulsified garlic sauce the balance of garlic and oil is sometimes less pungent in cooking. It also acts as your oil when marinading foods, so truly it kills two birds with one stone. I love the creamy texture that it creates when making a salad dressing, all from adding a bit of Toum.
Garlic in it’s purest form creates a magical sauce
Trader Joe’s and Others
Sure, the market has become saturated with Toum. First one that comes to mind is Trader Joe’s Garlic Sauce. With the same ingredients as traditional Toum (garlic, oil, salt, citric acid to stabilize) it’s mass produced Toum. Now some folks have told me that it has a different taste than the Toum they have made. Well, of course it does! Does your mama’s homemade spaghetti sauce taste the same as the one in the jar? Probably not. Once products go to market, they are altered and even dulled down for the American pallet, which many food producers don’t feel can handle the intense garlic taste. Is it ok to use? Sure thing! But if you want true, traditional, in-your-face Toum, try this recipe, I promise it won’t disappoint and will cost you a fraction of the prepared stuff.
Lebanese Toum sauce for all your garlic cravings.
How to Make Toum
Okay, I know you can’t wait to start peeling garlic so here are the steps to making the perfect Toum. But be warned, it’s a tricky condiment that will *sometimes* separate. Anything emulsified can be a bit delicate. Don’t fret, even if it separates, it is still usable. Check out my full FAQ section below to troubleshoot and other burning questions.
Peel the garlic:
The hardest part of making Toum is peeling all the garlic!! Be sure your garlic is FRESH! There should be no green stems inside or coming out, if there is, your garlic is probably not fresh and your Toum may not come together. Trim the tops of each piece to remove the bit of brown stem that was attached.
Measure:
You’ll need 1 cup of peeled garlic to make 4 cups of Toum (about 2 lbs). It seems like a lot but believe me, if you’re going to use it for cooking and as a condiment, you’ll be happy you made the full batch. You can always half the recipe too. I measure my garlic in adry measuring cup. Once you have your 1 cup peeled and trimmed, add enough water to fill the cup with the garlic in there. The water helps to cut the extremely sharp garlic flavor. Certain times of year, garlic can be much stronger in flavor resulting in a stronger Toum. You can always add a bit more water before processing if you know your garlic is extremely strong.
Mix:
Add your garlic & water mixture to your food processor (this is the one I use) and process until a smooth paste forms, about 1-2 minutes. Slowlybegin to stream your 4 cups of oil into the processor. I don’t recommend using olive oil as it has a very strong flavor, you want something that is neutral. Avocado oil works fantastic, check out FAQs for other questions.
Final steps:
Just as you finish your oil, your Toum mixture should be thickening up. At the very end, add a teaspoon of kosher salt and finally a squeeze of lemon. That’s it! Remove and enjoy. Remember, if your Toum did not thicken up like mayonnaise, it is still delicious and useful! Try again next time and hopefully you’ll get the knack.
I have Toum, what can I do with it?
Keep refrigerated, some separation is natural, just mix together before use. Good for at least 1 month.
*marinade ~ add some toum, olive oil, S&P *salad dressing ~ toum + lemon juice + olive oil + S&P *garlic bread ~ smear on bread + cheese and bake *spread ~ spread on sandwiches, wraps, etc *dip ~ use as a dip with chicken/beef *base ~ use as a garlic base for any meal you’d use chopped garlic *possibilities are endless…share your favorite way to use Toum in the comments!
FAQ:
I’ve had many people ask questions regarding Toum from how to use it (see above), how much to use and alternative oils to use. I’ve listed some here and I’ll continue to add as I receive more. Please leave your comments below for others to read with adjustments and modifications. That is the best way for information to be shared.
Can I use another oil instead of canola/vegetable? The biggest thing is to make sure you are using a neutral oil. The garlic is what you want to shine, not the taste of oil. Other neutral oils to consider are: avocado and sunflower. A very light olive oil may not be terrible but it will definitely change the taste.
I only use Coconut Oil, will that work? I have had one person use liquid coconut oil to stream into her Toum and she did have success. However, since coconut oil solidifies in the fridge, the Toum also hardened. Not a huge deal, just needs to warm up to soften back to the correct texture.
How much should I be using when cooking? Really this is a personal question. When I’m using it as a marinade I’ll tend to use a bit more, for example grilling 2 pounds of chicken breast, I’ll probably use close to a 1/4 cup. If I’m making a salad dressing, just a teaspoon or so. Roasted potatoes, full sheet pan full, probably a few tablespoons. Once you start using it you’ll know your preference and what works best for you. But also remember you’re using this as BOTH flavoring and your oil to saute or coat your food.
Do I need any other seasonings? Again, I think that is a personal preference. If I’m cooking with Toum, I’ll use it as my garlic for my dish but sure, I’ll add other spices based on what I’m making. If I’m using it for garlic bread, I’ll smear on my bread and just top with cheese. Personal preference.
4 cups of oil is a lot, is this healthy? Is anything really healthy for you in large quantities? No, everything in moderation! This recipe with 4 cups of oil yields about 2-2.5 pounds of Toum. That’s a quite a lot! Think 2 containers of mayonnaise you’d buy at the store. You’re not eating it like yogurt, you’re using in smaller quantities for larger meals. Again, everything in moderation, but do what is best for your family.
Raw garlic, great healthbenefits Toum is raw garlic emulsified, so yes, there are a TON of amazing health benefits associated with it. I’m not a doctor or a nutritionist but in the words of my wise Lebanese family, garlic heals most everything. Consider this an elixir to help with anything from the common cold to digestive issues.
Pre-peeled Garlic I’ve had many folks ask about pre-peeled garlic. I personally do not recommend it. Generally when garlic is peeled and packaged it comes to the store not as fresh and often preservatives are added to keep fresh. Since you are using RAW garlic, you want the utmost freshness.
Food Processor vs Blender I personally only have experience using a food processor with Toum, but I have had many other folks share that their Vitamix blender worked well.
With a little bit of garlic, oil, salt and lemon, you will have a most amazing sauce! I would love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram @CosettesKitchen or post on my Facebook Page. xoxo, Cosette
1 cup of peeled garlic (measure using dry measuring cup) about 2 full heads
water to fill measuring cup with garlic in place
4 cups of neutral oil (canola, vegetable or avocado are preferred)
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Begin by peeling your garlic, to get a full cup you’ll need to peel about 2 large heads of garlic. Be sure there are no green stems. Sprouting is an indicator of old garlic.
Trim the tops of each piece where they were attached to the head
Add your garlic pieces to a dry 1 cup measuring cup
Fill the measuring cup with water to displace the garlic. The amount of water varies to your garlic size, so just fill to the top of your measuring cup with garlic in there for an accurate amount.
Pour garlic + water into bowl of food processor (see FAQs about using other machines)
Process for 1-2 minutes until garlic is smooth.
Then begin slowly streaming your oil with machine running. You want to stream as slowly as possible, this is what creates the emulsification.
At the very end, add your salt and lemon juice to stabilize. If you find your Toum has already thickened, just mix in without the machine on to ensure you don’t process too long.
That’s it! Place in a sealed container and refrigerate. Good for up to a month.
Cosette I messed up big time and did not pour in the oil slowly but instead put everything in at the same time and started blending. It came out very runny and not like mayonnaise texture. I have since told myself to read the instructions before making things lol. Anywho is that the trick to making this? I want to try again soon and would like to make it right his time. Thank you dear.
Oh nooooo! I will say, not uncommon, sometimes it takes a little knack to get it thick. But, don’t toss it! That liquid is like liquid gold!!!!! Use it to marinade, salad base, soup bases, cooking, etc. Still has all the same uses and benefits except not a pretty for a dipping sauce. Drizzle slowly and steady, be sure your garlic is very fresh too. I hope this helps and you enjoy the sauce!♥️
to get a thick consistency, you have to keep the blender going and stream in the oil slowly. That is how I make my mayo and it turns out every single time.
Dangit! Mine turned out too runny also! I slowed poured in the vegetable oil, so I’m not sure what I did wrong. The only thing I can think of is maybe I used too much water? I do have a question: what speed should we put on our food processor? My options are Low or High. Maybe I processed it too long? It still smells wonderful and I plan on using it for different recipes!
Oh no!!! Sometimes it will separate, could be the oil stream, if garlic wasn’t fresh or some other reasons. But yes, it should still be used!!! My food processor only has one speed (Cuisinart) but it is a higher speed so that would be my best guess. Hope it works better for you next time.
We make toum a different way using labne. I also have friends whose families use boiled potato for a base. Any way it’s made, toum is delicious. Looking forward to trying your method as sometimes, yes, the toum is too sharp. ❤️
Hi Valentina,
I have had some folks use a Vitamix blender with success, I personally haven’t tried it. Worth a shot! Worst case, you have some amazing garlic sauce, just maybe not as thick as toum.
Cosette
This is not only something I love, but the hubby enjoys also! WHAT! As a dip, on bread, cooked on veggies, cooked with chicken….I’m trying it all. I also want to put it on pizza like Cosette does! Holy yum.
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My best find for 2017!!! I eat it every day!
So happy LaRae!!! Let me know if you give it a try at home! 🙂
Cosette I messed up big time and did not pour in the oil slowly but instead put everything in at the same time and started blending. It came out very runny and not like mayonnaise texture. I have since told myself to read the instructions before making things lol. Anywho is that the trick to making this? I want to try again soon and would like to make it right his time. Thank you dear.
Oh nooooo! I will say, not uncommon, sometimes it takes a little knack to get it thick. But, don’t toss it! That liquid is like liquid gold!!!!! Use it to marinade, salad base, soup bases, cooking, etc. Still has all the same uses and benefits except not a pretty for a dipping sauce. Drizzle slowly and steady, be sure your garlic is very fresh too. I hope this helps and you enjoy the sauce!♥️
Gotcha! Oh ya it’s still so good! Added it to my homemade Caesar dressing. Yum! Thank you for the reply 🙂
to get a thick consistency, you have to keep the blender going and stream in the oil slowly. That is how I make my mayo and it turns out every single time.
Fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing that method!!!
Cosette
Dangit! Mine turned out too runny also! I slowed poured in the vegetable oil, so I’m not sure what I did wrong. The only thing I can think of is maybe I used too much water? I do have a question: what speed should we put on our food processor? My options are Low or High. Maybe I processed it too long? It still smells wonderful and I plan on using it for different recipes!
Oh no!!! Sometimes it will separate, could be the oil stream, if garlic wasn’t fresh or some other reasons. But yes, it should still be used!!! My food processor only has one speed (Cuisinart) but it is a higher speed so that would be my best guess. Hope it works better for you next time.
Oh yum, this sauce is addicting! Thank you for posting it.
So glad you love it!!!! 🤗🤗🤗
We make toum a different way using labne. I also have friends whose families use boiled potato for a base. Any way it’s made, toum is delicious. Looking forward to trying your method as sometimes, yes, the toum is too sharp. ❤️
Oh that’s interesting. I have heard folks using boiled potato! This is just straight toum, nothing else added. Hope you give it a try!
xoxo,
Cosette
I don’t have a food processor. Can I use a blender?
Hi Valentina,
I have had some folks use a Vitamix blender with success, I personally haven’t tried it. Worth a shot! Worst case, you have some amazing garlic sauce, just maybe not as thick as toum.
Cosette
Hi I made it in my vitamix came out so thick and good thank you for this amazing recipe.
Yay! That makes me so happy!
Cosette
Hello I want to make this but it doesn’t say if a food processor should still be going when you pour the oil in ?
Hi Natasha,
Yessss! Pour the oil with the blender/food processor still on. I will update that to clarify. Thanks for checking!
Cosette
This is not only something I love, but the hubby enjoys also! WHAT! As a dip, on bread, cooked on veggies, cooked with chicken….I’m trying it all. I also want to put it on pizza like Cosette does! Holy yum.
Yay!!!! I’m so happy to hear this Kelsey! It is a very versatile spread for sure! Enjoy!!!
Cosette
what is the estimated lenght of time I can keep this in the fridge?
HI Natasha,
4-6 weeks but could go longer if you have it that long. You can also half the recipe to try it out.
Cosette
Hubby likes to mix toum with a little mayo for a slightly different sauce when we eat grilled meats.
Oh yessss, we mix with Labneh sometimes. So good! Thanks for sharing!
Xoxo,
Cosette
Hey babe!
Want to ask a question re: squeeze of lemon
Juice of one lemon? Half a lemon or literally a squeeze of lemon like a tablespoon worth?
Cannot wait to try this!!!!
Hey friend,
Usually about half a lemon, the juice helps to bind the toum together. But it’s pretty flexible.
Xoxo,
Cosette
Thank you so much for an amazing recipe! I just posted a recipe for a Grilled Summer Salad with a toum dressing. Its my absolute favorite!
Yay!!!! So happy to hear that!!! 🙂
xoxo,
Cosette
Just posted a comment and forgot to post the link to the Grilled Summer Salad (with toum dressing)
Here it is: https://welcome2ourtable.com/grilled-summer-salad-with-toum-dressing/
Mmmmm! Looks delicious!!!
xoxo,
Cosette