
Toum

Salsat toum or toumya (Levantine Arabic  'garlic') is a garlic sauce common to the Levant. The word toum is how the Arabic word for garlic (ثوم) "thoum" is pronounced in the dialect of the people from the Levant region. Similar to the Provençal aioli, there are many variations with a common one containing garlic, salt, olive oil or vegetable oil, and lemon juice, traditionally crushed together using a wooden mortar and pestle. There is also a variation popular in many places, such as the town of Zgharta, in Lebanon, where mint is added; it is called "zeit wa toum" (lit. ‘oil and garlic’).
Salsat toum (garlic sauce) 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.