Balsamic Sumac

What is sumac?

I found this sumac in Turkey, a spice as beautiful as it is good. With its bright red color, it energizes your cooking, both visually and in taste. It is sometimes called 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 mentioned 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 and is one of the seven elements that are placed on the table on the occasion of the New Year. Sumac is an amazing product. If food lovers know it as a spice, you should know that sumac is also a natural dye used to dye Persian carpets. 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 flavor of sumac?

Sumac is a very specific spice. Some are similar, this one is unique. Indeed, we discover vinegar flavors, it may seem surprising at first. This spice is a little bitter and acid, it is also slightly salty. Its taste is also quite surprising insofar as the nose feels a spice 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 "sumac vinegar".

The harvest of sumac

The sumac comes from the sumac of the curriers, Rhus coriaria. Rhus is a wild shrub of the Anacardiaceae family, which includes the cashew tree and the mango tree. The sumac is a dark red berry that is harvested when ripe. Like most berries, it is then dried before being ground into a delicate powder.

How to use sumac?

With its vinegary and acidic flavors, sumac will bring a unique flavor to your dishes. This spice is widely used in the Middle East cuisine, it remains unknown in Europe. And yet, it has all the assets to seduce you.

Our recipe ideas with sumac

Cream of cauliflower soup with sumac

Are you looking for original appetizers and light flavors? Why not make a cauliflower cream with sumac. It's easy. Cut the cauliflower into florets, fry some shallot and butter in a pan, then add the cauliflower, vegetable stock and fresh cream. Add salt and pepper and blend to obtain a smooth cream. Add sumac to the preparation and serve with carrot sticks.

Chickpea, cucumber and feta salad with sumac

Let's stay in the Mediterranean culture with 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 yogurt sauce with lemon and sumac, it's delicious.

Marinated chicken skewers with sumac

Do you like barbecues for their conviviality? Try new recipes to vary the pleasures. Here, you have two options. You can cut 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 own chicken skewers and serve them with a sumac flavoured yogurt sauce. Accompany your brochettes with cucumbers and semolina.

The health benefits of sumac

Sumac is appreciated for its specific taste as well 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 the ageing of the cells, but also against the cardiovascular diseases. It is also believed to have anti-cholesterol and anti-diabetes properties. Consuming sumac also allows 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 affections, in particular the cutaneous inflammations.

The conservation of sumac

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