Toum

Salsat toum, also known as toumiya or simply toum, is a garlic sauce common to the Levant. It is similar to the Provençal aioli. There are many variations; a common one contains garlic, salt, olive oil or vegetable oil, and lemon juice, traditionally crushed together using a wooden mortar and pestle. There is also a popular variation in Lebanon where mint is added; it is called .
Salsat toum is used as a dip, especially with french fries, chicken, and artichoke, and in Levantine sandwiches, especially those containing chicken. It is also commonly served with grilled chicken dishes, and can be served with almost any meat dish.

Etymology

Toum goes by many names in Arabic, including, in addition to the above: مثومة and ثومية.
19th-century Orientalist Reinhart Dozy described as a "white sauce made from garlic and cheese" in his 1881 dictionary titled Supplément aux dictionnaires arabes.

Preparation

Toum is traditionally prepared with a mortar and pestle, but food processors are often used instead. In its most basic form, toum is made from 3 ingredients: fresh garlic, table salt, and a neutral oil.
To make toum, the garlic is ground until it turns into paste and oil is slowly streamed into the mix. The mixture is pulsed until it emulsifies, with lemon juice or other ingredients often added to help with the emulsion.
Toum is traditionally vegan as it contains no eggs, but contemporary non-vegan varieties exist.