5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)

Make this restaurant-style toum at home, in 5 minutes, and without a food processor! Slather this delicious garlic sauce on your shawarma or any other sandwich, use it as a dip, or utilize it to marinate proteins and vegetables! Be warned; it’s addictive.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick Preparation: You can whip up this amazing garlic sauce in just 5 minutes, making it perfect for last-minute meals.
• No Food Processor Required: This recipe utilizes an immersion blender, so you don’t need bulky kitchen appliances.
• Versatile Usage: Use it as a spread, dip, or marinade for various dishes. It pairs well with sandwiches, grilled meats, and veggies.
• Fresh Ingredients: Made with simple components like garlic and lemon juice, ensuring a vibrant flavor profile without artificial additives.
• Long-Lasting: Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 months.

Tools and Preparation

Before diving into the recipe, make sure you have the right tools handy. Using the right equipment will ensure a smooth emulsification process and help you achieve that creamy texture.

Essential Tools and Equipment

• Immersion blender
• Long jug or jar
• Airtight mason jar

Importance of Each Tool

• Immersion blender: This handy tool allows you to blend ingredients directly in the jar, making cleanup quick and easy.
• Long jug or jar: A tall container helps prevent splatters while blending and ensures thorough mixing of ingredients.
• Airtight mason jar: Perfect for storing your toum. It keeps the sauce fresh longer in your refrigerator.

Ingredients

For the Toum

• 1 cup peeled garlic cloves (155 grams)
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups neutral vegetable oil (Avocado oil)

How to Make 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)

Step 1: Prepare Garlic

Start by peeling the garlic cloves if you don’t have pre-peeled ones. I use pre-peeled as long as they are fresh from the store.

Step 2: Remove Green Germs

Cut the peeled garlic cloves in half lengthwise and remove the green germ if it’s there. When present, the garlic germ may make the toum bitter.

Step 3: Blend Garlic Mixture

In a long jug or jar that fits your immersion blender, place the garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Blend them together until they form a paste and develop some foam for roughly 20-30 seconds depending on the power of your blender.

Step 4: Add Oil

To the garlic paste, while the immersion blender is still inside the container, add the 2 cups of oil.

Step 5: Emulsify

Start blending while keeping the blades of the immersion blender at the bottom of the jar. Slowly pulse it up and down slightly for about 3-5 minutes until the oil and garlic start to emulsify. The emulsification will slowly work its way up the jar until the entire sauce is emulsified.

Step 6: Store Your Toum

Store in an airtight mason jar in the fridge for up to 2-3 months. Enjoy this delightful garlic sauce with your favorite dishes!

How to Serve 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)

This creamy, garlicky sauce is incredibly versatile and can elevate many dishes. Here are some delicious serving suggestions for your homemade toum.

With Shawarma

• Pair toum with chicken or beef shawarma for a flavorful kick. The garlic sauce complements the spices perfectly.

As a Dip

• Use toum as a dip for fresh vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers. Its rich flavor makes a great appetizer.

On Sandwiches

• Spread toum on sandwiches or wraps filled with grilled chicken or turkey. It adds moisture and enhances the overall taste.

For Marinating

• Use toum to marinate proteins such as chicken or lamb. Letting them sit in the sauce will infuse them with bold garlic flavor.

With Grilled Vegetables

• Drizzle toum over grilled veggies like zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers. It brings out their natural sweetness and adds depth.

In Salads

• Mix a spoonful of toum into salads for a zesty dressing. It pairs well with greens and roasted vegetables alike.

How to Perfect 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)

To ensure your toum turns out smooth and creamy, consider these helpful tips.

• Use Fresh Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves yield better flavor than older ones. They also blend more smoothly into the sauce.

• Choose the Right Oil: A neutral oil like avocado oil is best for emulsification. Avoid strong-flavored oils that can overpower the garlic.

• Blend Slowly: Start blending at the bottom of the jar and gradually move up. This helps achieve a perfect emulsion without separation.

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your lemon juice and oil are at room temperature for optimal mixing.

• Adjust Consistency: If your toum is too thick, you can add a little more lemon juice or oil while blending to reach your desired consistency.

• Store Properly: Keep your toum in an airtight container in the fridge to maintain its freshness for up to three months.

Best Side Dishes for 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)

Pairing side dishes with your toum can enhance any meal experience. Here are some excellent options to consider.

1. Pita Bread: Soft pita bread is perfect for dipping into toum. Warm it slightly before serving for an extra treat.

2. Hummus: This classic chickpea dip offers a creamy contrast to the garlicky taste of toum. Serve both together for variety.

3. Tabbouleh Salad: A refreshing parsley salad adds brightness alongside the rich flavors of toum, making every bite delightful.

4. Falafel: Crispy falafel balls are delicious dipped in toum, providing a crunchy texture that complements the sauce beautifully.

5. Grilled Chicken Skewers: Marinated chicken skewers paired with toum create an irresistible combination that’s perfect for gatherings.

6. Roasted Potatoes: Crispy roasted potatoes drizzled with toum make an excellent side dish that balances flavors wonderfully.

7. Stuffed Grape Leaves: These flavorful bites pair well with the garlicky richness of toum, creating a satisfying appetizer platter.

8. Mediterranean Rice: Fluffy rice with herbs provides a nice backdrop for dipping into your homemade sauce, enhancing every mouthful.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Making 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!) can be easy, but there are some common mistakes to look out for.

• Using old garlic: Fresh garlic is essential for the best flavor. Always use fresh cloves and avoid pre-peeled ones that have been sitting too long.
• Not removing the garlic germ: The green germ in garlic can make your toum bitter. Make sure to cut the cloves in half and remove it before blending.
• Blending too quickly: Emulsification takes time. Blend slowly at first, allowing the oil to incorporate gradually for a creamy texture.
• Skipping salt: Salt enhances flavor and helps with emulsification. Don’t forget to add the right amount of salt for a well-balanced toum.
• Improper storage: For the best results, store your toum in an airtight container in the fridge. This keeps it fresh for longer.

Refrigerator Storage

• Store your toum in an airtight mason jar.
• It will last in the fridge for up to 2-3 months.

Freezing 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)

• If you want to store it longer, consider freezing.
• Use ice cube trays for portioning; once frozen, transfer cubes to a freezer-safe bag.
• It can last frozen for up to 6 months.

Reheating 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)

• Oven: Preheat your oven to low heat and place the jar inside until warmed through.
• Microwave: Heat in short bursts on low power, stirring occasionally until warm.
• Stovetop: Place in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring continuously until warmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)?

5-Minute Toum is a creamy garlic sauce that is easy to make without a food processor. It’s perfect as a dip or condiment.

How can I customize 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)?

Feel free to add herbs like parsley or cilantro for added flavor. You can also adjust the lemon juice based on your taste preference.

Can I use other oils for this recipe?

Yes! While neutral vegetable oil is recommended, you can experiment with oils like olive oil if you prefer their flavor.

How do I know if my toum has emulsified properly?

The mixture should become thick and creamy, with no visible separation between oil and garlic paste. It should look smooth and fluffy.

Final Thoughts

This 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!) is not just quick and easy; it’s also incredibly versatile! Use it as a dip, slather it on sandwiches, or even marinate meats and vegetables. Feel free to customize it with your favorite herbs or spices to make it uniquely yours!