How To Make The Most Of Your Sumac

What is sumac? What does it look like? What does it taste like, and where can I find it?

Sumac is a bright red, fuzzy fruit that grows in clusters on a small bush. These “fuzz balls” are usually dried before consuming, and they taste bright and citrusy with a slight sour tang. When you get it in the market, it usually looks deep red and is coarsely ground. It basically has all the benefits of a citrus fruit like lemon or lime without any of the mess and juice that is required to extract that citrus flavor from a whole fruit. This makes it ideal to use in spice rubs or any recipe where you aren’t interested in increasing the liquid content.

You probably didn’t know that sumac is poisonous- unless of course, you have had experience with the itchy, uncomfortable rash that poison sumac can cause. Don’t worry; poison sumac is the white fruit, not the red, edible one. Red sumac is actually far from poison; it’s really good for you! It’s loaded with antioxidants, vitamin A, and vitamin C, and most importantly, it’s delicious.

Sumac’s claim to fame (until now) has been as one of the key ingredients in za’atar. It should come as no surprise then, that sumac is highlighted in many recipes for Middle Eastern cooking. But wait, it’s not just limited to that! Chefs all over the world have been using sumac in anything from appetizers to desserts, usually very creatively.. Personally, I credit chef, cookbook author, and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi for bringing sumac into the spotlight. Many of his recipes feature sumac in the most beautiful way possible, per his usual style.

My personal favorite way to utilize sumac is in a recipe of sumac pickled onions. It’s the kind of thing you can throw on a salad, taco, sandwich, hot dog (just a spoon??), etc. to make everything taste about 10 times better. I’ve thrown some of these citrusy onions into my recipe below, so feel free to take the extra sumac onions and store tightly sealed in your fridge for up to two weeks of maximal deliciousness on e’rythang!

There is no strict technique to using sumac. It’s not like you have to put it in your dish only at the start of cooking or only at the end. You are more than welcome to use it on both occasions or all occasions- just add a dash and see how it goes! But before you start, take a little taste of the raw spice so you know what you’re adding to your food. Always gauge your flavors and measure them out into your hand or a small bowl before adding copious amounts (or any amounts) of a spice to your dish. We’ve all had those terrible occasions where we messed up that crazy expensive piece of meat because the cap fell off the… insert spice here.

Does pure sumac need a hechsher? No! According to the CRC, pure sumac is fine without one. But since you and I most likely do not frequent Middle Eastern spice markets (unless you live in Israel), your best option for getting sumac is to get Pereg brand. It’s sold in many kosher supermarkets.

Okay, I get it! I need sumac in my life. Can we get to this recipe already?

Yes. I’m glad you asked.

Whole fish is super impressive because there is always that unsaid expectation that maybe you caught and prepared your meal, which is undeniably awesome. No one has to know otherwise. My go-to whole fish recipe always uses a ton of citrus. I love the way it brightens the flavor, but I don’t love running the risk of denaturing the proteins with all that acid! Here’s a thought… What would happen if we used sumac instead? I suspect good things will happen.

Tabouli Stuffed Branzino with Sumac Pickled Onion

Serves two very hungry people or four not super hungry people

For the Fish

2 whole branzini

For the Pickled Onions

1 red onion, sliced thin

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup sugar

1 cup boiling water

1 tablespoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon sumac

For the Tabouli

1 cup fine bulgur

1 and 1/3 cups boiling water

1/4 cup chopped parsley

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoons honey

2 tablespoons sumac

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Get the full recipe

Directions

1. Set the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. In a medium bowl, add the vinegar, sugar, water, salt, pepper and sumac to make the pickling liquid. Add in the sliced onions, set aside, and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

3. In another bowl, add the bulgur and boiling water. Cover and allow to sit for 10 minutes.

4. In the meantime, open the fish and clean out the insides if your fishmonger has not done so already. Pat the fish dry.

5. Prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

6. Uncover the bulgur and fluff with a fork. Add the parsley, olive oil, sumac, salt and pepper to the bowl and mix to create tabouli.

7. Stuff the cavity of the fish with the bulgur mixture. Remove onions from the pickling liquid. Top the bulgur tabouli with one to two tablespoons of onions. Store the remaining onions for later use.

8. Brush the top of the fish with olive oil and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper along with a pinch of sumac.

9. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until an internal thermometer registers at least 135˚ Fahrenheit.

10. Allow the fish to cool for 5–10 minutes before transferring to a platter and serving. Serve alongside remaining pickled onions and bulgur.

Other creative ways to use sumac:

On popcorn with a little salt and butter
Atop your stunning loaves of challah
As a balance to the sugar in your favorite meat recipe
Boiled in tea with a bit of honey and then frozen (pink lemonade popsicles anyone?)
In/on yogurt
On crispy chickpeas
Sprinkled over tomatoes
As a spice rub for lamb or London broil (no marinade time necessary!)
On top of hummus (not so creative but must be said)
Mix 1 cup sugar + 1 cup coconut oil + 2 tablespoons sumac for an anti-aging sugar scrub
Boiled into a sugar syrup for a sumac cocktail
In frosting (yesss!)
Ground with sugar to make a sweet and sour candy sugar
Mixed with hot sauce and honey for wings (getting super excited about this one!)

Sumac is an incredible spice with a lot of versatility and personality. How are you going to use it? Let us know in the comments!

Article Tags

Branzini Branzino Bulgur Citrus Citrusy Cooking in heels Cookinginheelss Fish Pickle Pickled onions Spices Stuffed fish Sumac Tabouli Toppings Versatile Whole fish Za'atar