Description
Wild Pesto Garlic Toum is a vibrant, fresh twist on traditional Middle Eastern garlic sauce, blending wild greens like arugula, dandelion, or mustard greens with garlic, lemon juice, nuts, and olive oil. This raw, no-cook sauce is creamy, tangy, and packed with flavor, perfect for drizzling over grilled veggies, spreading on sandwiches, or serving as a dip.
Ingredients
Scale
Wild Greens & Vegetables
- 2 packed cups fresh wild greens (arugula, dandelion, or mustard greens)
- 6 large garlic cloves
Liquids & Oils
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons ice water
- ¾ cup olive oil
Seasonings & Extras
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds (or pine nuts)
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (or Parmesan cheese)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients and Storage: Chill your ingredients if needed to ensure a smooth blend and have a clean jar ready for storing the pesto after preparation.
- Pulse Greens and Flavorings: In a food processor, combine the wild greens, garlic cloves, lemon juice, sunflower seeds, salt, and nutritional yeast. Pulse several times until the mixture is coarsely blended but not fully smooth.
- No Cooking Required: This recipe involves no cooking or heating, so proceed with clean equipment and fresh ingredients.
- Emulsify with Oils and Water: With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil followed by ice water. This slow addition helps create a smooth, creamy texture.
- Blend Until Creamy: Continue blending until the mixture is fully emulsified and has a silky, creamy consistency.
- Adjust Seasonings: Taste the pesto and adjust the salt or lemon juice to your preference. If the mixture is too thick, thin it out by adding a little water gradually.
- Store and Serve: Transfer the wild pesto garlic toum to a bowl or jar. You can enjoy it immediately or refrigerate it to develop deeper flavors before serving.
Notes
- This sauce is best used fresh but can be refrigerated up to 3-4 days in an airtight container.
- Use sunflower seeds as a budget-friendly nut alternative or pine nuts for a more traditional pesto flavor.
- Adjust garlic quantity if you prefer a milder or stronger garlic flavor.
- Perfect as a dip, spread, or sauce for grilled meats and vegetables.
- Keep refrigerated and use within a few days for best freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern Fusion
