20 Best Sumac Recipes (Learn How To Cook With Sumac) (2024)

Thanks to its citrusy tang, these sumac recipes are a great way to brighten up your weekly menu.

From sweet meringue to tasty salads, this is one versatile spice.

20 Best Sumac Recipes (Learn How To Cook With Sumac) (1)

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Plus, it’s a terrific way to get more minerals and antioxidants into your diet.

Though people mostly eat sumac berries, the shoots are also edible.

In fact, the dried and powdered plant makes a pretty popular spice that’s often used to season meat.

And since it’s believed to help regulate blood sugar, improve heart health, and help with muscle pain, there’s no better time to try these delicious sumac recipes.

1. Fattoush Salad with Chickpeas

This particular salad is a Middle Eastern favorite that combines fresh veggies, mint, and chickpeas with toasted pita croutons.

You’ll need ground sumac for the tangy lemon dressing. The great thing about this recipe, though, is that you can use the zesty, six-ingredient sauce for any salad you want.

So if you try it and find that you like it, feel free to use it often.

2. Fattoush Salad

This salad is almost the same as the one above, but you’ll leave out the chickpeas.

Doing so draws more attention to the bright, tangy dressing and the mint leaves.

Of course, if you think you’ll miss that kick of protein, you could always add some chicken or keep it veggie-friendly and add tofu.

3. Ottolenghi’s Eton Mess

If you’re looking for something sweet and colorful that smells as amazing as it tastes, you’ve got to give this admittedly messy dish a try.

It’s a 20-minute, no-bake dessert that’s ideal for summertime. It’s fruity, fragrant, and has the lightest, most wonderful taste imaginable.

There’s nothing else quite like it, so it’s hard to describe. You’ll just have to trust me.

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I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed.

4. Snap Pea, Mint and Feta Fattoush Salad

Here’s another tasty salad full of fresh, crunchy veggies and plenty of herbs and spices.

The mint adds a delightfully refreshing flavor, while the sumac and feta provide tangy citrus notes.

It takes about 30 minutes to pull together, but it’s a surprisingly filling salad that won’t leave you feeling unsatisfied or wanting meat after you eat it.

5. Baba Ganoush Recipe

If you love rich and creamy hummus, then you’ll likely also enjoy its lesser-known cousin, baba ganoush. It’s a lot like hummus, only it’s made from eggplants.

It’s a bit smoky and insanely flavorful, featuring such robust ingredients as garlic, sumac, tahini, and lemon juice.

The toasted pine nuts add both flavor and crunch.

6. Kasha Varnishkes with Sumac Fried Brussels Sprouts

I’ll admit that this isn’t one of the prettiest dishes on the list, but don’t let that stop you.

The pasta and mushrooms are mild and tender and take on the flavor of everything you add to the dish.

The Brussels sprouts are delicious, and the egg adds a nice splash of color and protein.

It’s a naturally vegetarian-friendly meal that may be outside of your usual repertoire, but I think you’ll enjoy it.

7. Quinoa Salad with Za’atar, Herbs & Pistachio

If you love salads but are looking for something a bit denser and heartier, you can’t go wrong with this quinoa salad.

It’s naturally gluten-free and vegan-friendly, and it tastes fantastic.

It has all the crisp garden freshness of any salad, but the quinoa makes it much more filling than some salads with only greens and veggies.

8. Yogurt Sumac Sauce

This recipe is less of a “dish” and more a condiment that you can put on any Middle Eastern or Mediterranean meal that you make.

Honestly, it tastes great on food from any region!

It requires just five minutes and seven ingredients, and it adds a bit of tangy creaminess to anything you put it on.

9. Sumac-Anise Hyssop Spice Mix

If you’re looking for the perfect sweet and salty spice to add to your summer fruits, you can’t beat this four-ingredient recipe.

All you’ll need is sumac, flaky salt, dried mint, and dried anise hyssop. Mix them up, and add them to your favorite summer melon. Yum yum yum!

10. Low-Carb Lebanese Sumac Salad

This five-ingredient sumac salad dressing is another excellent way to enjoy sumac on your salads. It’s zesty and has a bright, citrusy flavor that’s hard not to love.

The salad is wonderfully flavorful and has a bit of spice from the red banana peppers, while the mint leaves add a very refreshing touch.

11. Stovetop Beef Kabob and Basmati Rice (Chelow Kabob Deegi)

This yummy rice and beef dish is the national dish of Iran, and after one taste, you’ll understand why. It’s incredible.

The rice is a gorgeous golden color, and the splash of red sumac on top of it makes it even lovelier.

The beef is tender and so exquisitely seasoned that you’ll want to lick your fingers after eating it.

The tomato adds another dash of color and flavor, too. It’s just an all-around phenomenal dish.

12. Baharat Roast Chicken

The thing that makes this roast chicken so good is the marinade. If you get that part right, you’ll have the most amazing, succulent chicken ever.

You’ll make it with sumac, garlic, cumin, baharat seasoning, chicken stock, olive oil, lemon rinds, coriander, salt, and pepper.

It’s a magnificent flavor blend that you’ll want to use on everything.

13. Shish Tawook

This sweet and tangy lemon-garlic chicken is tender, juicy, and 100% yummy.

It’s basically just chicken in an herby yogurt marinade, but its simplicity doesn’t take away from its deliciousness.

14. Za’atar Roasted Chicken Over Sumac Potatoes

You can whip up this insanely good roasted chicken and potatoes with three main ingredients (chicken, potatoes, and shallots) and plenty of herbs and spices.

If you’re looking for an easy dinner recipe that’ll delight your taste buds and transport you to Israel with every bite, this is the one you want.

15. Kabob Koobideh

Usually sold as “street meat” in Iran, kabob koobideh is one Iranian dish you don’t want to miss. It’s a perfectly spiced kabob made from lamb and beef with roasted veggies on the side.

It’s a filling, easy-to-make meal of meat and veggies that even the staunchest “plain, down-home cooking” fan will love.

16. One Pan Sumac Chicken Thighs

If you’re anything like me, you appreciate easy one-pot meals that cut down on the dishes.

These chicken thighs are a no-fuss, no-muss dish that you can have ready in an hour tops.

They’re juicy and fall-apart-in-your-mouth delectable. They have an incredible sweet and savory taste that features the citrusy flavors of oranges and sumac.

That, along with the garlic and fresh thyme, makes these thighs very hard to resist.

17. Turkish Sumac Onions

This simple five-minute recipe requires fewer than ten ingredients and no cooking on your part. Simply slice the onions and add the other ingredients when you’re ready.

It’s a crunchy, tangy, and colorful dish that you can add to burgers, sandwiches, wraps, or serve with chicken breasts.

18. Sumac Roasted Sweet Potatoes

If you’re looking for a new way to enjoy sweet potatoes, these babies can be ready in less than 30 minutes.

All you’ll need are cubed sweet potatoes, powdered sumac, olive oil, pink Himalayan sea salt, smoked paprika, and chili powder.

The spice mixture will give your potatoes plenty of sweet heat and allow you to experience them in a totally different light.

19. Roasted Cauliflower Salad

This different – but delicious – salad features cauliflower and butternut squash.

They’re tender, perfectly roasted, and covered in a sweet, zesty lemon-honey vinaigrette.

The salad also contains greens, toasted nuts, and raisins to add more flavors and textures to the already wonderful sumac recipe.

And, as I’ve already mentioned, if you enjoy the sumac-infused dressing, you can use it on any salad you like.

20. Hummus

This rich, velvety smooth hummus features the flavors of tahini, garlic, sumac, salt, and lemon juice.

It’s simple to make and even simpler to devour, so make extra if you’re planning on sharing it with others. Otherwise, it gets eaten far more quickly than you’d imagine.

20 Best Sumac Recipes (Learn How To Cook With Sumac) (2)

20 Best Ways to Cook with Sumac

Thanks to its citrusy tang, these sumac recipes are a great way to brighten up your weekly menu. From sweet meringue to tasty salads, this is one versatile spice.

Instructions

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20 Best Sumac Recipes (Learn How To Cook With Sumac) (3)

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20 Best Sumac Recipes (Learn How To Cook With Sumac) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to use sumac? ›

Try sprinkling a pinch of sumac over hummus and creamy dips, salads, side dishes, and fish. Here are some of our favorite recipes that get a flavor kick from sumac.

What is sumac good for in cooking? ›

The flavour of sumac is so universally appealing that it's hard to go wrong. Add it to salad dressings or the salads themselves, in fact, add it wherever you would use lemon or lime. It's great on fried fish and on the chips too, rice dishes, and Middle Eastern fare such as hummus, bean or chickpea salads.

How to prepare sumac for cooking? ›

Sumac has a real tartness and is used somewhat like lemon in the Middle East where it is a very common spice. To prepare the sumac as a spice, I start by removing the little individual red berries (drupes) that make up the stag. I take all the berries and put them in the blender and process for a minute or two.

What culture cooks with sumac? ›

In addition to its Native American uses, sumac is often used across the Middle East and the Mediterranean, in places like Turkey and Greece, to season meat and vegetables. It's a key ingredient in the Palestinian dish of msakhan, giving the onions their color, and is also an important component of za'atar.

What flavors pair well with sumac? ›

Cooking with sumac spice

Arabs use it to add tang and tartness, and in general, it is a great way to add lemony flavor to dishes or rubs. And because of its acidity, it pairs wonderfully with meat like lamb, helping to cut through the richness and balance it out.

What is the best sumac to eat? ›

The other 4 Ohio species all belong to the genus, Rhus, and sport red, edible drupes. As a rule of thumb, sumacs with red berries are safe while those with white berries should be avoided (2). The most common wild species at Holden is the staghorn sumac, Rhus typhina.

What does sumac do to your body? ›

Rich in antioxidants

Sumac contains a wide array of chemical compounds with potent antioxidant activity, including tannins, anthocyanins, and flavonoids ( 1 ). Antioxidants work to protect your cells from damage and reduce oxidative stress within the body.

Can you eat too much sumac? ›

If you experience any negative symptoms like itching, swelling or hives after eating sumac, discontinue use and talk to a trusted health care practitioner. If you take any medications to help lower blood sugar or cholesterol levels, be sure to keep your intake in moderation and consider discussing with your doctor.

Is sumac good or bad for you? ›

Sumac is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory spices out there. 1 It ranks high on the ORAC chart, which means it's packed with antioxidants and has the ability to neutralize free radicals that can cause cancer, heart disease, and signs of aging.

What is the best thing to put on sumac? ›

Applying topical OTC skin protectants, such as zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, and calamine dry the oozing and weeping of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Protectants such as baking soda or colloidal oatmeal relieve minor irritation and itching. Aluminum acetate is an astringent that relieves rash.

Can you eat sumac raw? ›

The most commonly eaten parts of sumac plants are the ripe red berries. These acidic and tart berries can be eaten raw or dried, though they're most popularly used in the form of a berry tea or sumac-ade. Sumac-ade is best when sweetened with maple sugar and can be served hot or cold (Moerman 1998: 471-473).

How to make tea from sumac? ›

Fill a large vessel with cold water. Add sumac and mint. Add peach, blueberries, cherries, or other fruit of your choosing. Stir to combine, then cover it and let steep in the sun for about 3 hours.

When to use sumac in cooking? ›

Because it has that neutral, earthy kind of sour note, sumac goes great in places where you might not want the liquid from citrus juice. Sprinkle it directly on melons, or use it in a dry marinade where you don't want direct acid to "pre-cook" the proteins, but still want the sourness, like with fish dishes.

How did Native Americans use sumac? ›

Ethnobotanic: This was a widely used species among Native American tribes. The uses included the making of a root and leaf tea to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and mouth/throat ulcers. The leaves of the plant were smoked for asthma. The blossoms were used by the Chippewa in a mouthwash for teething children.

Which sumac is poisonous? ›

Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) is a native plant that grows exclusively in very wet or flooded soils, usually in swamps and peat bogs. Every part of the plant contains an oil that inflames skin and results in painfully itchy blisters and rashes.

How do you use sumac medicinally? ›

Powdered bark of Sumac is made into a good antiseptic salve. An infusion of the leaves is used for asthma, diarrhea and stomatosis. A poultice of the leaves used to treat skin rashes. Sumac leaves are also chewed for sore gums and rubbed on sore lips.

What are the pros of sumac? ›

Sumac can be used in many dishes, including traditional Middle Eastern dishes and as an addition to other cuisines. Some health benefits of sumac include anti-inflammatory effects, metabolic and cardiovascular health support, antimicrobial properties, and potential muscle pain reduction.

What is the difference between regular sumac and poison sumac? ›

Poison Sumac differs from other sumacs in having shorter leaves, fewer leaflets, and smooth leaf edges.

How do you know when sumac is ready? ›

You can test sumac drupes for ripeness by rubbing your fingers on them—if your fingers turn deep red, get slightly sticky and taste nice and tart, the sumac is ready to harvest by cutting whole cones with garden shears.

References

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