Substitute for sumac?

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

I saw something for the weekend yesterday and fancied making one of the recipes. It calls for ground sumac. I am not sure how it will affect it if I leave it out, but doubt I can get hold of any in our small supermarket in Belgium.
I will check back later.

it's quite a citrussy taste IIRC so maybe some lemon zest and sweet paprika would be a suitable substitute?

is it a middle eastern type dish you're making?

I assume it is ME, although I lived there for three years and never came accross it. The recipe is Lamb fattoush.

Lemon juice and some black pepper will be fine. It won't be quite the same but it will still be good. Sumac is sort of sweet and sour tasting. Paprika would add the right sprinkling of pinkness.

Thanks, I did manage to get some. It was bloody horrible anyway with or without sumac.