This Sumac Dressing is packed with spices and flavor, is super easy to make, and is a great topper for green salads. Plus, it keeps well in the fridge, so you can enjoy it all week long.
Sumac is a bit of a nontraditional ingredient in American kitchens, but it's got a familiar tart flavor that's similar to lemon juice. That's why it works perfectly as a dressing/vinaigrette - that sharpness is a great complement to a green salad (just think about how many classic dressings, i.e. caesar, use lemon).
You might be able to find sumac in the spice aisle of your local grocery store, and if you do, there's no better way to try sumac than in this easy sumac dressing!
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Why We Love This Recipe
- So much flavor: With sumac, cumin, lemon juice, and oregano, this dressing is a collision of tart and smoky flavors that's the perfect complement to salad greens, which usually need a helping hand in the flavor department.
- Super simple: This sumac dressing has just a few ingredients that you probably already have on hand, like olive oil, lemon juice, and some spices. Best of all, you just need to whisk or shake everything together. It only takes about 5 minutes.
- Unique: This sumac dressing is a great way to shake up your salad rotation, and is a welcome departure from the same balsamic vinaigrettes you've had hundreds of times!
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this sumac dressing:
Ingredient Notes
- Sumac: If you've ever had za'atar or a traditional fattoush salad, then you've tasted sumac. It's tart like lemon juice but floral as well. There's a good chance you can find sumac at your local grocery store, and if not, you can always buy it online. If you can't get ahold of sumac, you can try using lemon pepper, lemon zest, or za'atar instead, but it won't be quite the same!
- Olive oil: This is a great time to use a higher quality extra virgin olive oil. We typically stick with less expensive olive oil when using it to sauté or as the base for a dish. Higher quality olive oil will shine through in recipes like a homemade vinaigrette or as a finishing element.
- Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed is always best, and we would definitely recommend it in this dressing.
- Agave: We like the neutral flavor of this sweetener, but you could also use honey or maple syrup.
- Oregano: We used regular dried oregano, if you have Mexican oregano on hand, that will work too.
- Garlic powder: If you don't have any on hand, you can sub in onion powder instead.
- Salt: We always use Diamond brand kosher salt unless otherwise noted. We don't suggest (ever) using table salt. Sea salt can work as a substitute, but if you're using a fine grain sea salt, start with less and taste before adding more.
How to Make Sumac Dressing
(1) Add everything to a small mixing bowl, and whisk until combined. You can also add everything to a mason jar, screw on the lid, and shake to combine.
Serving Suggestions
- This sumac dressing would be perfect on a fattoush salad.
- You can also try it on any green salad or tomato-based salad. Since greens and tomatoes love acid, sumac is the perfect complement.
- Use it instead of olive oil as a dip for breads.
- Use it as a marinade for kebabs, like this Mediterranean Grilled Tofu.
- Use it anywhere you'd use a balsamic dressing!
Tips and Sumac FAQs
- Storage: This sumac dressing keeps well stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, but make sure to shake or stir it well before serving since some of the spices may settle to the bottom of your container.
- Easier prep and storage: You can add all of the ingredients to a mason jar, and just shake them up to make your dressing. Then you can put the mason jar in the fridge for easy storage.
- Separation is natural: Since we're using all natural ingredients (and no stabilizers), the dressing will separate as it sits. Be sure to shake or whisk well before serving to make sure all of the spices are evenly distributed.
Chances are you will be able to find Sumac in your local grocery store. Frontier Co-op, Morton & Bassett, and Badia produce sumac that's available at Kroger, Meijer, and Whole Foods nationwide.
Sumac is made from the dried berries of sumac trees/shrubs. If you live in the Eastern US, chances are you've seen the red, fluffy flowers of a Sumac tree. Sumac has a bright and tart flavor that's similar to lemon, and is a commonly used spice in Middle Eastern and North African cuisines.
More Dressings & Dips to Enjoy
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Sumac Dressing
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup (8oz) 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Sumac Dressing is packed with spices and flavor, is super simple to make, and is a great topper for green salads. Plus, it keeps well in the fridge, so you can enjoy it all week long.
Ingredients
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon agave syrup (or honey or maple syrup)
- 2 teaspoons sumac
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add everything to a small mixing bowl, and whisk until combined. You can also add everything to a mason jar, screw on the lid, and shake to combine.
Notes
Try this sumac dressing on a fattoush salad, any green salad or a tomato-based salad. You can also use it as a marinade or as a dipping sauce for bread.
Storage: This sumac dressing keeps well stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, but make sure to shake or stir it well before serving since some of the spices may settle to the bottom of your container.
Olive oil: This is a great time to use a higher quality extra virgin olive oil. We typically stick with less expensive olive oil when using it to sauté or as the base for a dish.
Sumac is made from the dried berries of sumac trees/shrubs. If you live in the Eastern US, chances are you've seen the red, fluffy flowers of a Sumac tree. Sumac has a bright and tart flavor that's similar to lemon, and is a commonly used spice in Middle Eastern and North African cuisines.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salads
- Method: No cook
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 64
- Sugar: 0.4 g
- Sodium: 87.4 mg
- Fat: 7.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.9 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 0.1 g
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