This quick and easy 5-minute lemon sumac dressing is perfect for brightening up your salads, roasted vegetables, grilled meats, and more!
What is Sumac?
Sumac is a deep red Middle Eastern spice made from dried and ground sumac berries. It has a citrusy, tart flavor similar to lemon but not quite as astringent. Sumac is often used in Middle Eastern cooking to flavor meats, vegetables, and rice dishes.
This recipe combines sumac spice with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and honey to create a flavorful and versatile dressing. It’s quick and easy to make and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week!
Need a simple salad recipe for your sumac dressing? Check out this Strawberry Spinach Arugula Salad with Feta.
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s delicious! Sumac’s tangy flavor makes any vinaigrette taste better. Even the most simple green salad will taste amazing doused in sumac dressing!
- It’s versatile. Besides being a salad dressing, this easy sumac vinaigrette can also be used to marinate chicken, fish, or tofu.
- It’s easy to make. You only need a few simple ingredients, and it takes minutes to whisk together, making it a great option if you’re short on time.
HEALTH BENEFITS: Sumac is a beautiful spice that’s as healthy as it is delicious! It contains potent compounds that may help reduce inflammation, improve blood sugar control, lower cholesterol levels, and promote gut health. [Source]
Ingredients
To make this salad dressing with sumac, you will need:
- Ground Sumac: Adds a unique and delicious dimension to salad dressings. It may sound fancy-pants, but thanks to its gaining popularity, sumac is now easy to find in the spice aisle of most grocery stores.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A healthy source of fat that adds a rich, fruity flavor to the dressing. Olive oil also helps your body absorb the fat-soluble nutrients in your salad, like vitamins A, D, E, and K.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: For brightness and acidity. It helps to balance out the richness of the olive oil.
- Honey: Adds sweetness and helps to balance out the acidity of the lemon juice.
- Fresh Garlic: For a savory edge.
- Sea Salt Flakes (or Kosher Salt): To bring out the flavors.
- Black Pepper: For a touch of warmth.
Instructions
These visual step-by-step instructions provide a quick overview of how to make sumac dressing. You can find the complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. ⇩
1: This is a 100% no-fuss recipe. Simply add the ingredients to a jar.
2: Pop the lid on and shake vigorously until the ingredients are well combined. And you’re done!
Top Tips
Whisk or shake the dressing vigorously. This will help to emulsify the ingredients and create a smooth and creamy dressing.
Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. The quality of the olive oil will make a big difference in the flavor of the dressing.
Substitutions
- Ground sumac: Sumac is the star ingredient in this dressing, so substituting it will give you a different recipe altogether. That said, you could try using za’atar seasoning instead of sumac, a Middle Eastern spice blend containing sumac, oregano, thyme, and sesame seeds. It will give you a delicious dressing with a similar vibe.
- Fresh Lemon juice: For acidity, you can use lime juice, apple cider vinegar, or red wine vinegar instead of lemon juice.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Avocado oil would be a good alternative.
- Honey: You can substitute another sweetener, such as maple syrup, agave nectar, or pomegranate molasses.
- Fresh garlic: You could use a quarter teaspoon of garlic powder instead of a garlic clove.
Variations
- Herby Sumac Salad Dressing: Adding dried or fresh herbs to this sumac vinaigrette recipe adds additional savory flavors. Some great options include oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Finely chopped fresh mint is my favorite.
- Creamy Sumac Dressing: Add a tablespoon of yogurt to your dressing to make it thicker and creamier. And FYI, a sumac yogurt dressing also makes for a great dip.
- Onion Sumac Dressing: If your favorite salads come with a bite, you may like onion in your dressing. Finely chopped shallots or red onions work brilliantly. Or, a pinch of onion powder will give you a more subtle onion flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy lemon sumac dressing:
- Salads: Sumac dressing is my favorite salad dressing. It’s a popular dressing for traditional fattoush salad, a Lebanese fried bread salad made with leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and fried pita bread. It’s also fantastic on tomato-based salads and more hearty salads loaded with roasted vegetables and grains. In fact, it’s a great addition to all kinds of different salads!
- Roasted Vegetables: It’s a great recipe to spruce up roasted vegetables, such as broccoli, squash, Brussels sprouts, and parsnips.
- Meats and Seafood: It can be used as a marinade or sauce for grilled meats and seafood.
- Dips and Sauces: It’s a great topper for creamy dips. Drizzle the simple vinaigrette over hummus, whipped feta, or baba ganoush, and you’ll be so pleased you did. It’s so good.
Storage
- Fridge: Store the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Give the dressing a good shake before using, as the ingredients may settle at the bottom. If you notice any mold or off-flavors, discard the dressing.
- Freezing: Sumac dressing is not suitable for freezing.
FAQs
Sumac dressing is a vinaigrette made with ground sumac, lemon juice, olive oil, and other seasonings. It has a tangy, citrusy flavor and is often used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking.
Sumac has a sharp, acidic taste, similar to lemon, with a spicy, earthy aroma. It pairs fantastically with lemon and works well as a seasoning instead of salt.
Yes, you can make sumac dressing ahead of time. Make it up following the recipe and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Shake the dressing well before using, as the ingredients may settle at the bottom.
No. To make this recipe vegan, simply swap the honey with maple syrup.
Yes. This sumac vinaigrette recipe is naturally gluten-free.
More Healthy Recipes
Looking for more delicious recipes? Try these next time…
Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating below! It would make my day if you could also leave a comment to help other readers and this blog. Stay in touch by SUBSCRIBING to my newsletter and following along on social media ~ INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, and FACEBOOK. I can’t wait to connect!
📖 Recipe
Sumac Dressing with Lemon (Ready in 5 Minutes!)
If you love this recipe, rate it with 5 stars below!
PRINT PIN RATEEquipment
- Garlic Press
- Mason Jar with a Lid, or a small bowl and a whisk
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1¼ teaspoons ground sumac
- 1½ teaspoons honey, or maple syrup
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- ½ teaspoon sea salt flakes
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare: Gather and prepare your ingredients.
- Dressing: In a jar with a lid, add all the ingredients, including extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, sumac, honey, garlic, and salt and pepper. Pop on the lid and shake vigorously until the dressing is well combined. You can also combine the ingredients in a bowl with a whisk. Give it a taste to check the seasoning.
- Serve: Once the dressing is to your liking, use it immediately to dress your salad or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Notes
- Fridge: Store the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Give the dressing a good shake before using, as the ingredients may settle at the bottom. If you notice any mold or off-flavors, discard the dressing.
- Freezing: Sumac dressing is not suitable for freezing.
Nutrition Information (Per Serving)
Nutrition Disclaimer: Nutritional information is estimated using an online nutrition calculator. For accuracy, we recommend you calculate using the exact ingredients and brands you used.
Leave a Reply