Directions

1. Make the Toum: Place peeled garlic and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse the garlic for 30 seconds, scrape down the sides of the bowl, then repeat three more times until garlic is finely chopped.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and continue processing until a smooth paste forms, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl every 45 seconds or so. You want the wet, finely chopped garlic mixture to end up with a texture similar to mashed potatoes. Pinch it between your fingertips, and it should no longer feel gritty. (If you don’t blend the garlic enough at this stage, it won’t become fluffy and emulsified later.)
3. With the food processor running, start incorporating 4 tablespoons of oil, drizzling it in at a slow, steady stream. Once the oil is incorporated, slowly add another 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Repeat this step three more times, each time adding 4 tablespoons of oil, then another 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. The mixture should have a fluffy consistency.
4. Finally, with the food processor still running, add the remaining oil in a slow stream until totally incorporated, then do the same for the ice water.
5. Once finished, transfer to a lidded container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
6. Next, make the potatoes. Preheat oven to 350F. Scrub potatoes to remove any dirt. Place potatoes in a large pot, filling with enough water to cover them. Salt the water if desired. Bring potatoes to a boil. Cook potatoes until soft. Small ones should take around 20 to 25 minutes, large ones might take 30 minutes. It's ok if the skin splits.
7. When potatoes have finished cooking, drain and let them dry and cool down for 10 minutes.
8. Place potatoes on a cutting board or baking pan to smash. You can use a potato masher, which works best for smaller potatoes, and for large potatoes a flat plate works best. Potatoes should be crushed to 1/2 inch thickness for smaller potatoes or 1 inch for larger potatoes.
9. Spread the potatoes so they have a little space in between. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, melted butter, 1 tablespoon Zahtar, granulated garlic, salt and pepper and fresh rosemary. Not too much salt (I used about 2 teaspoons of Kosher salt), as you will finish the potatoes off with Cyprus Sea Salt Flakes. Drizzle atop the potatoes.
10. Bake for 40 minutes or until deep golden and crispy. Do not flip as this will cause the potatoes to break.
11. Plate the potatoes and sprinkle with more fresh chopped rosemary, 1/2 tablespoon Za'atar and the Cyprus White Flake Sea Salt. Serve alongside the Toum or use the sauce as a garnish for the potatoes.