Toum (Garlic Paste)

Fans of garlic will LOVE this recipe! Toum is a pungent (but super delicious) garlic paste that can be used as a great dipping sauce with grilled foods and pita bread. However you choose to eat it, I am sure you will absolutely love it.

To make toum, Eva uses this:

It’s called a Mortar and Pestle. It's used to crush and mince the garlic and mix in the other ingredients. I highly recommend that you purchase one to make your toum so that it will come out as delicious as Eva’s! You can easily find one online (or in a Walmart, Target or most kitchen stores) for as cheap as a couple of dollars. Toum is something you will want to cook more than once, so it is definitely worth it!

Ingredients:

• 5 medium garlic cloves, peeled
• Salt (half teaspoon)
• Lemon juice
• Olive oil (or vegetable oil if you like a thicker dip)

Instructions:

1. Place peeled garlic into a bowl and add salt. Mince the garlic using a pestle
2. Once the garlic is finely minced, pour small drops of olive oil in circular motion around the bowl (rotate around bowl 3 times in same direction) and mix it
3. Repeat step 2 several more times (at least 3 times in between, add drop of lemon juice) to combine the minced garlic and olive oil 
4. Add lemon juice in 1 rotation and mix it in
5. Pour into your desired bowl and drizzle on some olive oil for garnishing 

Enjoy!