Sumac Onions Recipe

What Are Sumac Onions?

Growing up successful Turkey, sumac onions were ever connected nan table. For us, they were what pickled onions are for galore American homes: a simple, tangy broadside that brightens up almost immoderate meal.

While we called it “sumac onions” and served it much for illustration a condiment, immoderate group besides mention to it arsenic a “red bulb salad” and service it arsenic a broadside dish. Both are perfectly acceptable.

Now, successful lawsuit you are not familiar, nan cardinal constituent is sumac. It is simply a heavy reddish herb made from dried berries (not peppers, though galore group deliberation so) pinch a tangy lemony spirit and somewhat earthy taste. Unlike chili powders, it isn’t spicy hot.

When mixed pinch thinly sliced reddish onions, sumac helps tame their sharpness, turning them into a somewhat saccharine and refreshing bite. That’s why you’ll often spot sumac onions served alongside meat-centric dishes for illustration lamb, beef, aliases chickenhearted kebabs. They trim done nan richness and spice, bringing a invited crunch and a popular of brightness to each bite.

Simple Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll request only a fewer basal pantry staples to make this sumac onions recipe. You tin find nan complete database of ingredients successful nan recipe paper below, but present are a fewer adjuvant notes from my look testing:

Red Onion: Since this is nan main ingredient, usage a caller reddish bulb and portion it arsenic thinly arsenic possible. A crisp weapon useful well, but a mandolin ensures moreover slices. In a pinch, you tin substitute achromatic aliases yellowish onions, though nan spirit will beryllium somewhat different.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A mild-flavored oliva lipid useful best.

Lemon Juice: My mom ever utilized citrus juice, arsenic astir Turkish families do, but different acidic ingredients for illustration pome cider vinegar, reddish vino vinegar, aliases lime juice besides work. Keep successful mind, though, that nan spirit floor plan will alteration depending connected nan acerb you use.

Kosher Salt: I utilized Diamond kosher salt, but if you are utilizing different brands for illustration Morton’s aliases oversea salt, I would usage half nan magnitude and set it arsenic necessary.

Sumac: Usually disposable successful nan Middle Eastern conception of astir supermarkets, sold arsenic sumac herb aliases sumac powder. If you’re caller to sumac, I really for illustration Eastanbul sumac spice (affiliate link). Keep an oculus connected nan best-by date, since sumac typically has a shorter support life than galore different spices, astir 6 months.

Red Pepper Flakes (Urfa Chili aliases Aleppo Pepper): Optional, but nan authentic type often uses a pinch of Urfa chili aliases Aleppo pepper. If you can’t get your hands connected either 1 of those, immoderate different reddish capsicum flakes you person connected manus would besides work.

Fresh Chopped Parsley: Finely chopped parsley is traditional, but you tin move it up depending connected nan crockery you are serving it with. For example, caller mint pairs beautifully erstwhile serving pinch lamb.

Pomegranate molasses (optional): A drizzle of pomegranate molasses is optional, but it would adhd a bully sweetness, particularly if you are serving this pinch kebabs.

Tomatoes (optional): If I americium serving this sumac bulb crockery pinch lamb kabobs for illustration nan accepted Adana Kebab, I adhd a fistful of halved cherry tomatoes. They bring a popular of colour and an other touch of freshness.

How to Make Sumac Onions (Step-by-Step Guide)

Making Turkish sumac onions is arsenic straightforward arsenic it gets. You don’t request immoderate typical equipment, conscionable a crisp weapon and a bowl. Follow these elemental steps, and you’ll person a tangy, refreshing broadside fresh to service pinch your favourite dishes.

Step 1 – Slice nan onions: On a sturdy cutting board, trim nan reddish bulb successful half lengthwise. Remove nan skins and portion thinly into half-moon shapes. A crisp weapon useful best, but ever support nan level broadside of nan bulb against nan committee for safety.

Step 2 – Mix nan ingredients: Place nan sliced bulb successful a mean bowl. Add nan oliva oil, citrus juice, kosher salt, sumac, and Aleppo capsicum (if using).

Step 3 – Massage: Using cleanable hands, mildly massage nan onions for 1-2 minutes, until they person softened somewhat and absorbed nan seasonings.

Step 4 – Garnish and rest: Sprinkle pinch chopped parsley and flip to combine. If you person nan time, screen and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes earlier serving to fto nan flavors meld.

Delicious Ways to Serve Sumac Onions

The pairing options are endless for this Turkish bulb salad. While you tin service it pinch astir immoderate savory dish, present are immoderate of my favourite ways to bask it:

• With Kebabs & Grilled Meats: Sumac onions are nan classical pairing pinch nan rich, steaming kebabs that Turkish, Lebanese, and different Middle Eastern cuisines are known for. I particularly emotion to service connected apical of my Adana Kebab, Chicken Shish Tawook, and Oven Chicken Kebabs.
• With Shawarma: Their tangy wound balances nan spices successful shawarma beautifully. Try them pinch my Easy Chicken Shawarma aliases Beef Shawarma.
• In Bowls: Add freshness and brightness to atom aliases crockery bowls. They’re cleanable connected apical of a Chicken Shawarma Bowl aliases a Homemade CAVA Bowl.
• With Seafood Dishes: They brace wonderfully pinch Grilled aliases Baked salmon, adding opposition to nan richness of nan fish.
• Make it a portion of your mezze platter: Serve it on pinch different mezze platter staples for illustration Hummus, Muhammara, and Baba Ganoush.
• Vegetarian & Vegan Favorites: Sumac onions bring life to plant-based meals, adding a burst of freshness that makes each wound much satisfying. I emotion serving them alongside Rice pinch Vermicelli aliases crispy Falafel.

Storing Leftovers & Making Ahead

Making Ahead: This look is cleanable for repast prep since nan onions proceed to mellow and create spirit arsenic they sit. You tin make them 2–3 days successful beforehand and shop them successful an airtight instrumentality aliases mason jar successful nan fridge.

Storing Leftovers: Keep leftovers refrigerated for 3 to 4 days. Just springiness them a speedy operation earlier serving to operation nan seasonings backmost in.

Freezing: Freezing isn’t recommended, arsenic nan onions suffer their crisp texture erstwhile thawed. For nan champion sensation and crunch, bask them fresh.

FAQs

Other Middle Eastern/Mediterranean Condiments You Might Like

If you bask this bulb sumac salad, chances are you’ll emotion different Middle Eastern and Mediterranean condiments too. Here are a fewer to effort next:

• If you’re a instrumentality of nan bold, spicy flavors of nan region, my homemade harissa recipe is simply a must-try.
• Bright and earthy pinch citrus and garlic, tahini sauce is 1 of nan easiest ways to adhd extent to grilled meats aliases roasted vegetables.
• When you want to mellow retired nan richness of kebabs aliases grilled meats, everyone’s favourite creamy Greek achromatic sauce (known arsenic tzatziki) made pinch cucumber, garlic, and dill is difficult to beat.

Categorized as: Condiments, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Grain Free, International Recipes, No Cook, Nut Free, Side Dishes, Special Diet, Turkish Cuisine, Vegan, Vegetable Side Dishes, Vegetarian