FOOD NEWS
The Rich Lebanese Condiment That Will Instantly Upgrade A Plain Grilled Cheese Sandwich
By Annie Hariharan
Grilled cheese may be a simple, cost-effective sandwich, but you can still upgrade it by adding ingredients like relish, deli meat, and jalapeños. The possibilities are endless, and if you’re a fan of garlicky and tangy lemon flavors, the Lebanese condiment tou is the ingredient for you.
Toum is made with garlic, oil, lemon juice, salt, and a bit of water and is often referred to as a “garlic sauce” — although its texture is closer to a whipped or spreadable paste. It’s traditionally found in chicken shawarma and works well with a grilled meat or grilled cheese sandwich by providing a burst of instant and concentrated flavor.
In a New York Times recipe from chef Ham El-Waylly, he uses toum as a stand-in for butter in a grilled cheese sandwich. After assembling the bread, cheese, and pickles, El-Waylly spreads toum on one side of the sandwich bread before placing it slathered-side down on the hot skillet, flipping and repeating the process on the other side until it is golden brown.