Toum
Toum is a popular Levantine garlic sauce or dip. It is characterized by its intense garlic flavor and incredibly smooth, mayonnaise-like texture. The preparation typically involves emulsifying raw garlic with a significant amount of oil, usually a neutral vegetable oil like canola or sunflower, and lemon juice. Salt is added for seasoning. The process often uses a food processor or blender to achieve the desired creamy consistency. The emulsification is key, transforming the pungent raw garlic into a surprisingly palatable and rich sauce.
The flavor of toum is potent and can be quite spicy due to the raw garlic. The