10 Best Sumac Substitutes for Cooking
Sumac is not a commonly known spice, so if you have a recipe that calls for it you may be looking for a sumac substitute. Sumac spice is made by grinding the berries of the sumac plant. It imparts a tart acidic flavor to foods and a reddish-orange color. Many Middle Eastern recipes call for sumac, but most don’t have this exotic spice at home.
Where can I find sumac if I want to try it? What can you use for a sumac substitute? When experimenting with new dishes at home, it can get expensive to buy specialty ingredients, especially if you only need a pinch. Sumac is a spice used in Mediterranean dishes, but there are ways to use sumac substitutes if you don’t want to buy it. While nothing perfectly substitutes for sumac, you probably have several good options in your pantry.
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What Is the Purpose of Sumac in Cooking?
Sumac is a unique spice that imparts a tart, lemony flavor to foods as well as a reddish-orange color. Sumac is common in Middle Eastern or Mediterranean cooking and is often sprinkled on food before serving. While not every grocery store will carry this exotic ingredient, it can be worth searching out and adding to your go-to list of spices thanks to its unique flavor profile. If you can’t find it, there are several ways to substitute for sumac in recipes.
Anytime you want to learn more about unfamiliar spices, start with cooking classes near you. Educate yourself by watching professional chefs who know how to properly incorporate exotic flavors into ethnic dishes. Online cookery classes are also a good idea if you want to learn more about a specific ingredient.
10 Best Substitutes for Sumac in Cooking
Sumac substitutes are mainly selected for their ability to add acidic tartness to dishes rather than for coloring. Consider this when deciding which sumac spice substitute is best for your application.
What if you want to buy sumac but you're unsure where else to use it? Do spices expire? It’s always best to use the real thing if your recipe calls for sumac, but it’s also not economical to buy a whole jar for one recipe. You can most likely settle for sumac substitutes without losing the integrity of your dish.
1. Lemon Juice
Because sumac brings a lemony flavor to dishes, lemon juice is the most obvious sumac substitute. It’s also easy to use a little lemon juice at a time until you find the right balance of acidity for your dish. You’ll miss out on the color, but the flavor won’t suffer. Simply add a few drops at a time, tasting as you go, to ensure the acidity is just right.
2. Red Wine Vinegar
Many of us have red wine vinegar in our home pantry and this will work as a sumac spice substitute in a pinch. The beauty of red wine vinegar as a sumac substitute is that you get both the acidity you need plus a hint of color from the red wine. Use it in salad dressings, marinades and cooked dishes. Start with a small amount and adjust to taste.
3. Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is a good option as a sumac substitute for the same reasons that red wine vinegar is. Balsamic vinegar is sweeter in flavor, so use slightly less than the amount of sumac that your recipe calls for. Its syrupy consistency works well in dressings, marinades and drizzled over roasted vegetables.
4. Lemon Zest
If you don’t want the liquid that comes from using lemon juice as a sumac substitute, consider lemon zest. The zest of a lemon delivers an even brighter flavor than the juice. This is a good substitute for sumac seasoning when you intend to use it as a garnish on finished dishes. Simply grate the outer peel of a lemon, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath.
5. Tamarind Paste
Tamarind paste is another exotic ingredient that most of us do not have on hand, but it may be easier to find in a store than sumac. Tamarind paste contributes a sweet-sour flavor to dishes and works well as a substitute for sumac seasoning in curries and stews. It’s particularly good in sauces and marinades where its tangy flavor can shine.
6. Pomegranate Molasses
Pomegranate molasses can be an ideal substitute for sumac spice because you get both tartness and color. Pomegranate molasses is sweeter than sumac spice, so start with small amounts and taste as you go. This sumac substitute works best when you incorporate the seasoning into cooked dishes rather than using it as a finisher.
7. Lemon Pepper
Because sumac brings a tart-lemony flavor to foods, using lemon pepper as a sumac substitute is a reasonable idea. Lemon pepper is typically sold as a dry spice and a little can go a long way. This is a good choice for a sumac substitute when you plan to sprinkle the seasoning over finished foods. It’s perfect for seasoning meats, vegetables and even popcorn.
8. Rice Wine Vinegar
Rice wine vinegar can be used as a sumac substitute but its acidity is slightly milder than red wine and balsamic vinegar, and it doesn’t impart any color. Look for other sumac substitutes if you can and use this as a last resort in cooked dishes. It’s subtle enough to be used in dressings and sauces without overwhelming other flavors.
9. Amchoor
Amcoor is dried mango powder. It offers both tartness and color to dishes, so it’s a good choice for a sumac spice substitute. That said, sumac is probably easier to find in stores, so try to get real sumac if you can. Amchoor is particularly good in Indian and Southeast Asian dishes where its tangy flavor complements the other spices.
10. Za’atar
One of the best sumac spice substitutes is another spice that contains sumac. Za’atar is a blend of Middle Eastern spices readily available in specialty stores. Za’atar is an ideal choice as a sumac substitute plus it has many other cooking applications, so it’s a better investment than other exotic choices. Use it to season meats, vegetables and breads for an authentic Middle Eastern flavor.
Sometimes spices are key to the outcome of a dish. The unique flavor and color of sumac often make it a critical ingredient in maintaining the integrity of the final product. Sumac is not something most of us already have on hand though, so knowing how to select sumac substitutes is important. If you can find the real thing, it’s always best to go with that over a sumac substitute. If you can't, be sure to keep this guide to sumac substitutes handy!
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