Toum (pronounced “toom”) is a creamy Lebanese garlic sauce made by emulsifying fresh garlic, lemon juice, and neutral oil into a fluffy, brilliant-white spread with an intense, clean garlic punch. Unlike aioli or mayonnaise, traditional toum contains no egg — its silky body comes entirely from garlic emulsified with oil. It is the sauce that makes great shawarma taste like great shawarma, and at Zazu Mediterranean Street Food in Chelsea and at Shaver Hall Midtown East, we make ours fresh, in-house.
What is toum made of?
Real toum uses just four ingredients: fresh garlic, lemon juice, oil, and a little salt. There is no dairy and no egg. The magic is in the technique—the garlic and lemon are slowly emulsified with a steady stream of oil until the mixture turns pale, thick, and whipped, almost like frosting. That emulsion is what gives toum its signature airy texture and its ability to cling to warm meat and pita without sliding off.
What does toum taste like?
Toum is bold. It delivers a bright, sharp, pungent garlic hit softened by the tang of lemon and the roundness of oil. A little goes a long way. When it is made well and fresh, the raw-garlic bite mellows into something creamy and craveable rather than harsh — the reason people who try it once tend to ask for extra on everything.
Toum vs. aioli vs. garlic mayo
These three get confused constantly, but they are not the same:
- Toum is egg-free and dairy-free. Its body comes from garlic emulsified with oil, which is why it is whiter, fluffier, and far more garlic-forward than the others.
- Aioli, in its traditional Mediterranean form, is also garlic and oil, but modern restaurant “aioli” is usually a garlic mayonnaise made with egg yolk.
- Garlic mayo starts from mayonnaise (egg-based) with garlic stirred in — milder, richer, and less punchy than toum.
If you want the cleanest, most intense garlic flavor, toum is the one.
How to eat toum
Toum is endlessly versatile. The classic pairing is with chicken shawarma — the garlic cuts the richness of the spit-roasted meat perfectly. But it also shines:
- Spread inside a warm pita wrap with grilled chicken or falafel
- Drizzled over a Mediterranean rice or greens bowl
- As a dip for fries, roasted vegetables, or fresh pita
- Alongside grilled meats and kebabs on a platter
Because it is so concentrated, start with a small amount and add more to taste.
Is toum vegan and gluten-free?
Yes on both counts. Because authentic toum is just garlic, lemon, oil, and salt, it is naturally vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free — which makes it one of the most inclusive sauces on a Mediterranean menu. It is an easy way for plant-based and gluten-conscious diners to add big flavor without worrying about the ingredients.
Where to get fresh toum in Chelsea, NYC
At Zazu Mediterranean Street Food in Chelsea, our toum is made in-house rather than squeezed from a bottle — the same house-made approach we take with our tahini and harissa. Get it on chicken shawarma, in a pita wrap, over a bowl, or as a dip, whether you are dining in, grabbing takeout, or ordering delivery. If you have never had proper fresh toum, it is the fastest way to understand why garlic sauce is the soul of Mediterranean street food.
Frequently asked questions
Is toum the same as hummus?
No. Hummus is a thick dip made from blended chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic. Toum is a whipped garlic-and-oil emulsion with no chickpeas — it is a sauce and condiment, not a bean dip, and it is far more garlic-forward.
Why is toum so garlicky?
Because garlic is the main ingredient, not an accent, Toum emulsifies a large amount of fresh raw garlic directly into oil. Hence, the flavor is much more concentrated than a garlic mayo or aioli where garlic is only a seasoning.
Does toum contain egg or dairy?
Traditional toum contains neither. Its creamy, whipped texture comes entirely from garlic emulsified with oil, which is what makes it vegan and dairy-free.
What is the best thing to eat toum with?
Chicken shawarma is the classic match — the bright garlic cuts through the rich, spit-roasted meat. It is also excellent in wraps, over bowls, and as a dip for pita, fries, or grilled vegetables.
Craving proper Mediterranean street food in Chelsea? Visit Zazu for fresh chicken shawarma, falafel, and bowls — with house-made toum on the side.