Balsamic Sumac

What is sumac?

It's in Turkey that I found this sumac, a spice as beautiful as it is good. With its bright red colour, it energizes your kitchen, both visually and tastefully. In fact, it is sometimes called sumac purple sumac. "Summaq" in Arabic comes from Syriac, a language in which the term means "red. " This spice is widely cultivated in the Mediterranean basin. It has been talked about since the time of the Greeks and Romans who used it to replace vinegar. In the Middle Ages, the spice trade was booming. Also, Arab merchants brought sumac to Europe. In Iranian culture, sumac is a symbol of good life, it is one of the seven elements that are placed on the table on New Year's Day. Sumac is an amazing product. If food lovers know it as a spice, sumac is also a natural coloring agent used to dye Persian carpets. Moreover, note that the Rhus (which produces sumac) is a genus of trees composed of 125 species, very few of which offer edible fruits.

What is the flavour of sumac?

Sumac is a very specific spice. Some look alike, this one is unique. In fact, it has a vinegar flavor, which may seem surprising at first glance. This spice is a little bitter and acidic, it is also slightly salty. Its taste is also quite surprising in that the nose is more fruity and fragrant, closer to a balsamic vinegar than an acid vinegar. Note that the tree in which this spice grows is also called "vinegar sumac ".

The sumac harvest

The sumac comes from the sumac of the tannery, Rhus coriaria. The rhus is a wild shrub of the cashew tree family in which we find the cashew tree, the tree that gives us cashew nuts, or the mango tree. Sumac is a dark red berry that is harvested when ripe. Like most berries, it is then dried before being crushed to make a delicate powder.

How to use sumac?

With its vinegar and acid flavours, sumac will bring a unique flavour to your dishes. This spice is widely used in Middle Eastern cuisine, it is still unknown in Europe. And yet, it has all the assets to seduce you.

Our recipe ideas with sumac

Creamed cauliflower with sumac

Are you looking for original aperitifs and lighter flavours? Why not make a cauliflower cream in which you incorporate sumac. It's simple. Cut the cauliflower into bouquets, fry shallot and butter in a pan, then add the cauliflower, vegetable stock and crème fraîche. Add salt and pepper and mix to obtain a smooth cream. Add sumac to the preparation and propose with carrot sticks.

Chickpea, cucumber and feta salad with sumac

Let's stay in this Mediterranean culture by offering you a delicious salad that will refresh you during the summer. Simply make a salad with diced cucumber and feta cheese and add previously cooked chickpeas. For the dressing, you can opt for a simple combination of olive oil and lemon in which you add sumac. But you can also make a yoghurt sauce with lemon and sumac, it's delicious.

Chicken skewers marinated with sumac

Do you like barbecues for their conviviality? Try new recipes to vary the pleasures. Here, two solutions are available to you. You can cut up pieces of chicken and marinate them in olive oil and sumac. Then place them on a skewer and cook them on the barbecue. The second option is to simply make your chicken skewers and serve them with a sumac-flavoured yoghurt sauce. Accompany your skewers with cucumbers and semolina.

The health benefits of sumac

Sumac is as appreciated for its specific taste as for its virtues. It is a healthy product rich in magnesium, fatty acids, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, but also in vitamins B, C and PP. Like many spices, sumac is a powerful antioxidant. Also, it fights against cell ageing, but also against cardiovascular diseases. It is also believed to have anti-cholesterol and anti-diabetes properties. Consuming sumac also helps to fight against digestive problems (bloating, constipation, diarrhea, etc.). It also has diuretic virtues that help fight against urinary problems. Again like many spices, sumac is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. It fights against various diseases, including skin inflammations.

The conservation of sumac

I advise you to keep your sumac bag away from light and humidity.