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–+ servings
Sumac Onions in a bowl

Quick Turkish Sumac Onions (5 Minutes Prep)

Safira
Quick Turkish Sumac Onions (5 Minutes Prep) - These Turkish Sumac Onions are the game changing condiment you didn’t know your dinner table needed. Tangy, punchy, vibrant, and ridiculously easy to whip up, they’re perfect for adding that zingy, fresh contrast to rich grilled or BBQ’d meats, wraps, kebabs, rice dishes, or even sandwiches. Sumac marinated onions are an easy way to add flavor to any meal. They’re a tangy condiment that taste delicious on top of proteins, salads or rice bowls. This salad will keep fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days. It absorbs more flavour the longer it sits and the flavour of the Onion mellows, so can be made ahead of time for an easy meal prep.
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Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Side, Side Dish, Sides
Cuisine Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Turkish
Servings 2
Calories 24 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Red Onion Sliced
  • 2 teaspoon Sumac
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil A good glug
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
  • Handful Parsley
  • Pinch Salt

Instructions
 

  • Cut Onion into thin slices with a very sharp knife or mandolin.
    Tip - You can soak the Onions in Water for a few minutes to reduce the flavour and sharpness but I have never done this.
  • Roughly chop up fresh parsley
  • In a bowl add Onions, Sumac, Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Parsley and Salt.
  • Scrunch everything together. 
  • Taste and adjust to your preference.
  • Optional - Leave to marinate for 5 minutes and it’s ready to serve!

Notes

Tips and Tricks

  • Red Onion - Use red onion for its natural sweetness and colour contrast. White onion works but won’t look as vibrant.
  • Don’t skip the scrunch - That softens the raw onion and helps it soak up flavour.
  • Store in an airtight container - Store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Perfect for prepping ahead of time.
  • Cut the Onions into thin slices - If you don’t have a mandolin, use a sharp knife.
  • Marinate for 5 minutes before serving - This is optional but the flavour does develop the more it sits. It becomes more mellow but also develops the most gorgeous pink hue.

Variations

Add some chopped Mint.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover sumac onions in an airtight container or sealed mason jar in the fridge for up to one week.
Sumac onions are best enjoyed cold from the fridge or at room temperature

What to Serve With Sumac Onions

Chicken Doner, Chicken Shawarma or Adana Kebab, Kebab Koobideh– an instant flavour upgrade
Chicken Wraps – salty, tangy, dreamy
As a side for oven baked Meat - Lebanese Potato and Chicken Traybake with Lemon, Garlic Sauce - Djej w Batata

With Rice – Best Nando’s Spicy Peri Peri Rice
With Grilled Veggies – the onions lift the whole plate

FAQs

What does Sumac taste like?

Sumac has a sour and light lemon flavour and it has an earthiness.

Can I use a White Onion?

Red onion is what is used traditionally but white onions also work.

How do you make Onions less sharp?

You can soak the Onions for 5-10 minutes after slicing to remove the sharpness but I don’t like to do this as I feel it takes away too much from the flavour profile.

Nutrition

Calories: 24kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 88mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 0.1mg
Keyword Lachmachun, Pickled Onions, Red Pickled Onions, Sumac Onions, Turkish Onions
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