Mystery Spice - Ground Sumac

[BeanQuisine]

Bought some ground sumac recently and it doesn't seem to have much in the way of an aroma or taste at all. Is it only apparent if used in large quantities? And what dish would you usually use it on/in?

I only tend to buy spices if I have a specific recipe in mind but sumac is widely used in middle Eastern type recipes.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/sumac-recipes

I did actually buy it for a Middle Eastern lamb recipe, but in the quantity specified I don't think I was able to detect any contribution from the sumac.

Maybe mine is just an especially weak batch. 😄

I have sumac which has a delicate scent. It comes in flakes (1mm ish) and you sprinkle it over food at the end of cooking rather than adding a pinch of powder at the start.

Try it sprinkled over hummus. It should have a sharp, lemony tang.

I put it in my za”atar blend. It’s lovely.

OK, I'll try it directly on things like hummus and salads. And be a bit bold with the quantity.

It’s lovely sprinkled over salads. We like it on fruit-particularly watermelon. Have a look at Ottolenghi’s recipes-he uses it a lot.

Over chips, in salad dressings.

We make sumac chicken with it. It's lush.

Fatoush salad - delicious

It’s lovely on smashed avocado

Where did you get it? I’ve bought it from a supermarket and it didn’t taste of much, but whatever the brand is in my local greengrocer - that’s amazing.

Just from a local supermarket, their own brand, usually pretty good.

I've since used it on baked fish and it did go well, but I had to shake a lot on to get any taste.

Drizzle with tahini, olive oil, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice then a good sprinkle of the sumac.

It's brilliant on fattoush

Yes, I’m usually an own brand buyer, but wasn’t impressed with (maybe Sainsbury’s?) the one I got. If the picture works, this is the one I use.

I’m pretty generous with my spices, doubling at least (unless hot chilli) and do use sumac in North African and middle eastern dishes, has a fruity flavour

It’s good on focaccia, fusion cuisine is my thing!

There's an international supermarket near us which has an enormous range of the most incredible and exotic herbs and spices. I love going in there just to look at them all. Smells amazing too.

I have a spice shop quite close by where I go often. Sumac should have a strong smell. Almost like it catches in the back of your throat.

I made this the other day, it is seriously one of the best salads I’ve ever had. The sumac makes it.

i should also say my spice lady stocks goji berries! Though I’m sure you could substitute with cranberries.

ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipes/chopped-broccoli-salad-peanut-goji-dressing

Sumac is kind of lemony tasting. It goes really well on Greek, Turkish, ME dishes. And on chicken traybakes.

Trying it on hummus right now, works very well indeed. 👌

That's because sumac doesn't really have a flavour as such, it's acidic and adds sourness to dishes. Usually on salads and grilled meats.

Hummus for breakfast? Excellent choice!