5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)
Make this 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!) at home for a quick and flavorful addition to your meals. This garlic sauce is perfect for slathering on sandwiches, using as a dip, or marinating proteins and vegetables. You’ll find its creamy texture and bold taste irresistible, making it a standout in your culinary repertoire. Plus, it only takes five minutes to prepare!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick Preparation: With just 5 minutes needed to whip up this sauce, you can easily add flavor to any meal.
- Versatile Use: Perfect for shawarma, dips, or marinades, this toum fits into various cuisines and occasions.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with fresh garlic, lemon juice, and vegetable oil, it’s easy to whip up with items you likely already have.
- No Special Equipment Needed: You don’t need a food processor; an immersion blender does the trick!
- Long Shelf Life: Store in the fridge for 2-3 months—ideal for meal prep!
Tools and Preparation
To make your 5-Minute Toum successfully, having the right tools on hand is essential.
Essential Tools and Equipment
- Immersion blender
- Long jug or jar
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
Importance of Each Tool
- Immersion blender: This tool allows you to blend ingredients quickly and efficiently without transferring them to another appliance.
- Long jug or jar: A tall container helps keep the ingredients contained while blending, ensuring better emulsification.
- Measuring cups and spoons: Accurate measurements are crucial for achieving the perfect balance of flavors.

Ingredients
For the Base
- 1 cup peeled garlic cloves (155 grams)
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons salt
For Emulsification
- 2 cups neutral vegetable oil (Avocado oil)
How to Make 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)
Step 1: Prepare the Garlic
Start by peeling the garlic cloves if you don’t have pre-peeled ones. Fresh garlic is best.
Step 2: Remove the Garlic Germs
Cut the peeled garlic cloves in half lengthwise. If you see a green germ inside, remove it; it can make your toum taste bitter.
Step 3: Blend the Base Ingredients
In a long jug or jar that fits your immersion blender, place the garlic cloves, lemon juice, and salt. Blend them together until they form a paste and develop some foam. This should take about 20-30 seconds depending on your blender’s power.
Step 4: Add Oil Gradually
With the immersion blender still in the container, slowly add in the two cups of oil.
Step 5: Emulsify
Blend continuously while keeping the blades at the bottom of the jar. Slowly pulse it up and down for about 3-5 minutes until you see the mixture emulsifying. The emulsification will work its way up until all ingredients are combined into a creamy sauce.
Step 6: Store Your Toum
Transfer your finished toum into an airtight mason jar. Store it in the fridge where it will last for 2-3 months!
Enjoy this easy-to-make 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!) with your favorite dishes today!
How to Serve 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)
This delicious garlic sauce is versatile and can elevate many dishes. Here are some creative ways to enjoy your homemade toum.
With Shawarma
- Use toum as a spread on your favorite shawarma wrap for an extra burst of flavor.
As a Dip
- Pair toum with fresh vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, or bell peppers for a healthy snack.
Marinating Proteins
- Use toum to marinate chicken or turkey before grilling or roasting for moist and flavorful results.
On Sandwiches
- Slather toum on sandwiches instead of mayonnaise for a zesty kick that complements various fillings.
In Salads
- Drizzle toum over salads as a creamy dressing alternative that enhances the freshness of greens.
With Grilled Vegetables
- Serve toum alongside grilled vegetables as a dipping sauce to add richness and depth to your dish.
How to Perfect 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)
Creating the perfect toum is all about technique. Here are some tips to ensure success with this recipe.
- Use fresh garlic: Fresh garlic cloves yield the best flavor. Avoid older cloves that may taste bitter.
- Balance acidity: Adjust the lemon juice based on your taste preference for acidity in the sauce.
- Slowly add oil: Gradually adding oil helps achieve a stable emulsion; rushing this step may cause separation.
- Temperature matters: Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for optimal emulsification.
- Store properly: Keep toum in an airtight container in the fridge to maintain its freshness for weeks.
Best Side Dishes for 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)
Pairing side dishes with toum can enhance your meal experience. Here are some great options:
- Grilled Chicken Skewers: Juicy skewers seasoned with herbs complement the garlicky flavor of toum beautifully.
- Roasted Potatoes: Crispy roasted potatoes provide a hearty base that pairs well with this creamy sauce.
- Mediterranean Couscous Salad: Light and refreshing, this salad works well with the rich flavors of toum.
- Tabbouleh Salad: The herbaceous notes of tabbouleh contrast nicely with the boldness of garlic sauce.
- Falafel: Crispy falafel balls dipped in toum create a delightful blend of textures and flavors.
- Stuffed Grape Leaves: Tangy stuffed grape leaves offer an excellent balance when paired with rich toum.
- Hummus: A classic Middle Eastern dip that pairs wonderfully with toum, enhancing its garlicky profile.
- Pita Bread: Warm pita bread acts as a perfect vessel for scooping up both dip and sauce, making it an ideal side.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Making 5-Minute Toum can be a breeze, but avoiding common pitfalls will ensure you create the perfect garlic sauce.
- Boldly Over-blending: Blending too long can lead to a watery texture. Blend just until emulsified and creamy.
- Boldly Skipping Salt: Not adding enough salt can make your toum bland. Adjust the salt to enhance its flavor.
- Boldly Ignoring Garlic Preparation: Failing to remove the green germ from garlic cloves may result in bitterness. Always check and remove it if present.
- Boldly Using Poor-Quality Oil: Low-quality oil can affect the taste of your toum. Use fresh, neutral oils like avocado for the best flavor.
- Boldly Storing Incorrectly: Not using an airtight container can spoil your toum quickly. Store it in a mason jar with a tight lid.

Storage & Reheating Instructions
Refrigerator Storage
- Store in an airtight mason jar.
- Keep in the fridge for up to 2-3 months.
Freezing 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)
- Pour into ice cube trays or freezer-safe containers.
- Freeze for up to 6 months for best flavor.
Reheating 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)
- Oven: Preheat oven to low heat, place toum in an oven-safe dish, and warm gently.
- Microwave: Heat in short bursts (10-15 seconds) at medium power, stirring in between until warm.
- Stovetop: Warm on low heat, stirring frequently to avoid separation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)?
5-Minute Toum is a quick and easy garlic sauce made without a food processor, perfect for dipping or as a marinade.
How can I customize my 5-Minute Toum?
You can add herbs like parsley or spices like cumin to personalize the flavor of your toum.
Can I use different oils for this recipe?
Yes, while neutral oils work best, you can experiment with other oils like olive oil, but be cautious of strong flavors.
How long does 5-Minute Toum last?
Stored properly in the fridge, it lasts up to 2-3 months or up to 6 months if frozen.
Final Thoughts
This 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!) is not only simple but also incredibly versatile. Perfect as a dip or marinade, it’s sure to enhance any dish with its rich garlic flavor. Feel free to customize it by adding your favorite herbs or spices for an extra kick!
5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!)
Make your culinary experience shine with this quick and delightful 5-Minute Toum (NO Food Processor!). This creamy garlic sauce is the perfect addition to sandwiches, a flavorful dip for fresh vegetables, or a marinade for chicken and turkey. With its bold taste and smooth texture, you can elevate any meal in just five minutes. Best of all, it requires no special equipment—just an immersion blender! Whether you’re dressing up a salad or slathering it on grilled meats, this versatile sauce will become a staple in your kitchen.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 16 servings 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
- 1 cup peeled garlic cloves (155 grams)
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 cups neutral vegetable oil (Avocado oil)
Instructions
- Peel the garlic cloves and cut them in half lengthwise; remove any green germ inside.
- In a long jug or jar suitable for an immersion blender, combine the garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Blend until a paste forms.
- With the blender still running, slowly add the vegetable oil while blending continuously.
- Continue to blend for 3-5 minutes until the mixture emulsifies into a creamy sauce.
- Transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon (15g)
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
