Sumac
سماق / summāq; sumak
- Flavor and role
- A crimson powder of dried, crushed berries from the sumac family, with a lemony, tangy, salty taste. It is sensitive to heat, so it is mostly sprinkled on finished dishes.
- Typical dishes and uses
- Fattoush salad, onions served with kebabs, musakhan (Palestinian chicken), za'atar. In this book: can be used in tabbouleh and souvlaki.
- Substitutes
- 1 tsp sumac = ½ tsp lemon zest + a pinch of salt (or a little lemon juice).
- Storage
- Light and heat quickly dull the colour and aroma. Sealed and refrigerated or frozen, it keeps its bright colour and aroma for about 1 year.
- Main countries
- Türkiye · Iran · Lebanon
- Used in this book
- Home-Style Döner KebabFattoushJoojeh Kabab (Persian Saffron Chicken Kebab)Izgara köfteLahmacunCharcoal baba ganoush with pine nuts and pomegranate molassesLamb and Beef Dürüm Döner with Homemade LavashFava and Chickpea Falafel with Parsley Tarator and Sumac OnionsBaked Falafel Crunch BowlFatteh with Slow-Cooked Chickpeas, Fried Pita and Ghee-Toasted NutsRestaurant-style fattoush with za'atar pita crisps and pomegranateMexican-style fattoush with tortilla crisps and avocadoLabneh fattoush toastWhipped Ful & Tahini Toast with Za'atarHoriatiki-fattoush with za'atar fetaStacked Gyros Loaf with Sumac Onions and Dill TzatzikiHummus bil Lahme with Spiced Beef and Pine NutsJareesh Mozzarella Croquettes with Sumac Tahini DipJerusalem Mixed Grill with Homemade Amba and Charred OnionsJerusalem Grill Golden Rice BowlSaffron-Lime Butter Joojeh Kabab with Chelow RiceSaffron Joojeh Chicken Tacos with Sumac Onions (Persian × Mexican)Saffron Joojeh Chicken Caesar Salad with Sumac Pita CroutonsLamb Karnıyarık with Pepper-Paste Sauce and Sumac OnionsFried Kibbeh Footballs with Pine Nut Filling and Tahini SauceKibbeh Smash Burger with Tahini-Garlic SauceSmash köfte burger24-hour cold-proved lamb lahmacunCrispy lahmacun bulgur bowlCold-Fermented Manakish with Homemade Za'atar and LabnehTower-Roast Chicken Shawarma with ToumShawarma Loaded FriesCharcoal Shish Tawook with Sumac OnionsShish Tawook Salad with Toum-Caesar Dressing and Pita CrispsTabbouleh with Tomato-Water Dressing and PomegranateCrispy Tabbouleh Fritters with Garlic YogurtSaffron Crispy Rice Salad with Herbs, Feta and WalnutsBaked Beef Yalancı Mantı with Brown Chili Butter
Updated 2026-10-10