Middle Eastern Grilled Chicken with Toum

Introduction

Middle Eastern Grilled Chicken with Toum is a show-stopping dish famed for its intoxicating blend of spices, irresistibly juicy grilled chicken, and the bold, garlicky punch of toum—a fluffy Lebanese garlic sauce that takes your meal to new heights. This recipe delivers restaurant-worthy flavors with surprising simplicity, making it the perfect centerpiece for any casual get-together, backyard BBQ, or quick weeknight dinner.

Why You’ll Love Middle Eastern Grilled Chicken with Toum

This dish stands out for its harmonious balance: succulent chicken marinated in a blend of aromatic spices and yogurt, then grilled to tender perfection. The toum amplifies every bite, lending sharp, creamy garlic notes that cut through the richness of the chicken—making each mouthful lively and memorable. Whether you serve it over fluffy rice, wrapped in warm pita, or alongside a crisp salad, it always earns rave reviews.

Mastering an Unforgettable Toum

Toum is the heart of this recipe. It’s an airy, potent garlic sauce that rivals the best aioli, effortlessly prepared with garlic, oil, lemon juice, and a splash of ice water. The emulsification process yields a genuinely addictive dip that pairs not only with grilled meats but also with veggies, fries, or even as a sandwich spread. The trick: start with fresh garlic and be patient with the blending.

How to Grill Perfect Middle Eastern Chicken

Marinating the chicken in yogurt and spices ensures tenderness and flavor infusion. Grill over moderate heat to get golden, lightly charred edges without drying out the interior. Let the chicken rest a few minutes before slicing to keep it juicy. Fresh herbs like parsley or mint can be sprinkled over the top for an extra pop of color and freshness.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your Middle Eastern Grilled Chicken with Toum on a bed of herbed rice, in a wrap with crunchy pickled vegetables, or as part of a mezze platter. For gatherings, pair with grilled vegetables, hummus, and fresh salad for a complete Middle Eastern feast. It’s a versatile recipe that fits nearly any meal plan or occasion.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields approximately 4 generous servings. Each portion—when served with a spoonful of toum—contains around 350 to 400 calories, mostly from lean protein and heart-healthy fats. It’s a satisfying, flavorful dish that fits well into balanced meal plans.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Marinate the Chicken: In a large bowl, whisk together yogurt, olive oil, minced garlic, cumin, paprika, coriander, turmeric, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Add chicken, toss to coat, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (preferably 4 hours or overnight).
2. Prepare the Toum: Place garlic cloves and salt in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped and pasty. With the processor running, very slowly drizzle in half the oil in a thin stream. Add lemon juice. Then, alternate adding the remaining oil and ice water, both very slowly, until the mixture becomes a fluffy, white emulsion. Taste and adjust salt or lemon as needed. (If too strong, add a bit more oil or water.)
3. Grill the Chicken: Preheat grill (or grill pan) to medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade, shake off excess. Grill 5–7 minutes per side, or until charred and cooked through (internal temp 165°F).
4. Rest and Slice: Transfer chicken to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and rest 5 minutes. Slice or serve whole.
5. Assemble and Serve: Spread toum generously over chicken. Garnish with fresh herbs. Serve with pita, rice, and/or grilled veggies as desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Middle Eastern Grilled Chicken with Toum fits beautifully into weekly meal prep routines—it’s flavorful for dinners and makes for unbeatable leftovers. Save and schedule this recipe to plan your week’s meals and auto-generate smart shopping lists that consolidate ingredients across all planned recipes.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across multiple recipes
– Organizes shopping lists by grocery store sections
– Prevents duplicate purchases and forgotten ingredients
– Streamlines meal prep and shopping for busy weeks

Pro tip: Schedule your weekly meals to see how your ingredients overlap—CookifyAI helps you buy exactly what you need, minimizing waste and maximizing value.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus 1 hour marinade)
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (includes marinating)