It’s time to try the most amazing sauce/dip you’ve ever had. I became totally enamored with Lebanese Garlic Sauce when I lived in San Diego and frequented a local restaurant there. I ordered it every chance I could get. It’s a thick dip greatly flavored with garlic. You’ll want to dunk your flatbread into it many times. The garlic lives with you for a bit beyond indulging, but it’s totally worth it because this sauce is so delicious!
Ingredients needed:
garlic cloves kosher salt vegetable oil freshly squeezed lemon juice ice water
How to make Lebanese Garlic Sauce:
You must have a food processor to make Lebanese Garlic Sauce. And you will need a LOT of garlic- 3/4 cup of peeled garlic cloves! It’s exhausting to peel garlic, so I suggest you pick up the cloves already peeled. Process cloves and kosher salt together until the garlic is finely ground and forms a paste with the salt.
How to add the oil:
Adding the oil in a proper way is important in order for this sauce to turn out perfect. It’s a bit of a tedious task, but the vegetable (or canola) oil must be added to the food processor very, very slowly (a little at a time). The lemon juice is added alternately with the oil. The process of incorporating the oil and lemon juice takes about 20 minutes. It should be done slowly so the mixture emulsifies properly. Follow the directions in the recipe exactly, and you will have success. Do not use olive oil or you will have a very different flavor for this dip. You need a neutral-tasting oil like vegetable or canola.
The sauce becomes thickened with the addition of the oil and lemon juice. For the final step, blend in a little ice water.
Transfer the Lebanese Garlic Sauce to a bowl. Drizzle olive oil on top (optional). Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
Can you see how totally creamy that sauce is?? It’s best to refrigerate Lebanese Garlic Sauce overnight before serving. Keep stored in the fridge in an airtight container, and you can continue to enjoy it for up to one month.
Serve as a dip for pita or Middle Eastern flatbread (Trader Joe’s carries a great flatbread too!) Grilled lemon chicken is wonderful to serve with Lebanese Garlic Sauce. And it’s great used as a substitute for mayonnaise on a chicken sandwich or lamb burger. Enjoy!
