Sumac onions recipe: Add some zing to your grilled meats with this 5 minute Turkish sumac onion salad, featuring thinly sliced red onions tossed with sumac, fresh parsley, and lemon juice for a bright, refreshing taste.
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Red onions are sharper and sweeter than the other onion varieties, which makes them a popular choice for raw preparations such as salads or pickling. In addition they are rich in antioxidants and antibacterial properties and also help improve gut health by aiding in digestion.
Cut them into halves and soak them in water as you prepare other ingredients to reduce the pungency and prevent teary eyes.
Lately, I've been obsessed with this humble onion salad. This dish is simple, quick, and packed with so much flavor. You'll only need a few ingredients and 5 minutes to make this crunchy, tangy condiment. The recipe is also light, naturally vegan and gluten-free.
Sumac Onions
If you have ever dined at a Turkish or Middle Eastern restaurant and ordered kebabs, you would likely have noticed chicken and meat kebabs served with a side of onion salad.
Sumac onions or onions with sumac are made by pickling sliced red onions in a marinade, typically consisting of sumac and lemon juice. The sumac gives the onions a zingy flavor and adds a distinctive reddish color.
Sumac onions are often used as a topping or accompaniment in various dishes, such as salads, sandwiches, kebabs, grilled meats, and wraps.
What is Sumac?
Sumac is a spice native to the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean region. It is made by drying and coarsely grinding the berries of the Sumac plant.
The spice has a tangy lemon-like flavor and dark red color, which make it a versatile ingredient for enhancing the taste and color of various dishes, including salads, marinades, and dips.
Sumac can be found in grocery stores and supermarkets with Middle Eastern or Mediterranean ingredients. You can even purchase it from online retailers. I got mine from Amazon.
More Onion Based Recipes
The Ingredients
Sumac: is the key ingredient that gives the recipe its distinct flavor. So it should not be substituted.
Red onions: red onions are the best for this salad.
Parsley: Freshly chopped parsley adds a pop of green color and provides a refreshing balance to the recipe.
Lemon juice: fresh lemon juice adds more depth of flavor to the dish.
Red chili flakes: to add a hint of spice to the dish. Alternatively, crushed peppercorns or sliced fresh chili would also work. You can even omit it if you wish.
Salt: for seasoning. I used sea salt, but you can use kosher salt, pink Himalayan sea salt, flaked sea salt, or regular table salt.
Olive oil: adds some richness to the dish. Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
The traditional sumac onions recipe typically includes only these ingredients, but feel free to add your twist to the recipe to suit your palate.
How to make Sumac Onions
- To prepare the onions, peel and cut the onions into halves. Slice the onions thinly using a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer for even slices. Transfer the sliced onions to a large bowl. If raw onion's sharpness bothers you, you can soak the onion halves in water for about 20 minutes. This will reduce the pungency and prevent your eyes from becoming teary when you slice them.
- Finely chop parsley and put them in the same bowl.
- Add sumac, salt, red chili flakes, lemon juice, and olive oil. Mix everything.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- The sumac onions are ready to serve. You can serve them immediately or let the onions marinate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together before serving.
Notes
When making sumac onions, it's important to taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking. This ensures the flavors are just right and match your taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sumac onions can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can serve this cold directly from the fridge or allow it to get to room temperature before serving. However, I don't recommend freezing.
Yes, you can use a different type of onion for sumac onions. While red onions are commonly used, other onion varieties, such as white onions or shallots, can be used as well. The delicate flavors of the dish will still be there without the color and strong taste of red onions.
If you try the recipe, please take a moment to leave a comment and rating. I love hearing from you and it also helps other readers who are thinking of making the recipe.
Recipe
Sumac Onions Recipe
Equipment
- Knife
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 3 medium size red onion thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon sumac powder
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup fresh parsley finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- To prepare the onions, peel and cut the onions into halves. Slice the onions thinly using a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer for even slices. Transfer the sliced onions to a large bowl. If raw onion's sharpness bothers you, you can soak the onion halves in water for about 20 minutes. This will reduce the pungency and prevent your eyes from becoming teary when you slice them.
- Finely chop parsley and put them in the same bowl.
- Add sumac, salt, red chili flakes, lemon juice, and olive oil. Mix everything.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- The sumac onions are ready to serve. You can serve them immediately or let the onions marinate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together before serving.
Notes
- If raw onion's sharpness bothers you, you can soak the onion halves in water for about 20 minutes. This will reduce the pungency and prevent your eyes from becoming teary when you slice them.
- When making sumac onions, it's important to taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking. This ensures the flavors are just right and match your taste.
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