Is Lemon A Good Sumac Substitute (Za’atar)?

Sumac is a popular Middle Eastern spice that comes from some of the numerous sumac species that exist. The fruit that these particular species bare are crushed up and made into a coarse powder form that is crimson or dark red in color.

While predominantly used in Middle Eastern cuisine, parts of the tree are also used for medicinal reasons as well as in the leather trade due to sumac’s dyeing properties.

First off before we look for a substitute, let’s take a look at how to make za’atar yourself because it’s not terribly difficult and you may already have the ingredients at home.

Homemade Za’atar Recipe

Here’s a simple homemade za’atar recipe for you:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon ground sumac
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

1. In a dry skillet, toast the sesame seeds over medium heat until lightly golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool.
2. In a small bowl, combine the dried thyme, toasted sesame seeds, ground sumac, ground cumin, salt (if using), and black pepper.
3. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly combined.
4. Taste and adjust the seasoning according to your preference. You can add more sumac for tanginess, more cumin for warmth, or more salt and pepper for additional flavor.
5. Transfer the za’atar spice blend to an airtight container or jar and store in a cool, dry place.

Usage: Za’atar can be used in various ways in your cooking. Here are a few ideas:

• Sprinkle za’atar on roasted vegetables, such as cauliflower, carrots, or potatoes, before baking for a flavorful twist.
• Use it as a topping for hummus, labneh, or yogurt for a tangy and aromatic kick.
• Mix it with olive oil to create a delicious dip for bread or drizzle it over salads.
• Sprinkle za’atar on grilled or roasted meats, such as chicken or lamb, for an extra layer of flavor.
• Incorporate it into marinades, dressings, or sauces to infuse your dishes with the distinctive flavors of za’atar.

Feel free to adjust the quantities and ingredients in the recipe based on your personal taste preferences.

Sumac Substitutes

As sumac has a tangy, acidic, sour taste, it has a resemblance to lemon juice. As such sumac is often substituted for lemon juice with foods like hummus, salads, meats and fish. Lemon juice, lemon zest, lemon pepper seasoning and vinegar are often used as substitutes for sumac.

If you’re only looking for a visual substitute as a garnish, you may consider paprika given the similar coloration to sumac.

What Is Sumac?

Sumac is a spice that comes from the dried fruit of the sumac tree. The sumac tree is actually a group of about 35 species. Only some of the species produce fruits that are dried and ground up to yield the sumac spice. They are a red colored stone fruit and they only come from female plants.

While the sumac tree grows around the world and in particular in North America, East Asia and Africa, the spice itself is predominantly used in the Middle East in both the Arab world and Iran and increasingly in Turkey. This is changing as more Middle Eastern and African spices are used in the west and customers become aware of them.

One commercial use for sumac due to its high tannic acid levels is as a dye for leather and clothing. Both Skunkbrush sumac and Smooth sumac were very popular dye options for early Native Americans. Sumac’s high tannic acid level makes it a direct dye, one that requires no other specific substances to act as a dye.

Sumac Spice

When ground, the sumac spice has a coarse feel to it rather than being a fine powder. It is crimson red similar to the color of paprika and you’ll mostly find two types of sumac to purchase and as part of spice blends:

• Fragrant sumac
• Smooth sumac

Smooth sumac and staghorn sumac are the ones predominantly found in North America although little leaf sumac, Sicilian sumac and winged sumac are other popular types.

Sumac or Za’atar

Za’atar (or Zaatar) isn’t a replacement for sumac because it contains sumac which is why you hear the two mentioned in the same sentence. Za’atar is a popular Middle Eastern spice blend whose ingredients change depending on what part of the world you’re in. In general terms Za’atar combines sumac with dried oregano, thyme, toasted sesame seeds, cumin, coriander and possibly chili flakes if desired.

Once mixed, the spice blend can be used on hummus or to season meats, baba ganoush, vegetables and other foods.

Medical Properties

Given its versatility, you can also turn sumac into a juice commonly called sumac-ade by crushing sumac berries and steeping them in cold water. It is very high in vitamin C and the juice may help to reduce muscle pain from exercise. Native Americans used sumac to treat wounds while also consuming it to assist with colds, fever and scurvy.

While used as a dietary supplement in foods and drink, sumac is also available in tablet form. Sumac is very high in antioxidants, may help to lower blood sugar levels, while also offering antiseptic qualities.

Research has shown that dietary sumac can help hypertension sufferers to decrease blood pressure. Other research has found positive impacts on type 2 diabetes patients in terms of glycemic status that requires further testing.

Sumac Poison Rash

You may have read about the possibility of getting poisoned by sumac or getting a rash similar to poison ivy. There is a poison sumac tree which is different from the sumac you get the spice from. So if you are simply consuming sumac spice from a legitimate source, you won’t have a problem as it is a spice that you can consume.

The problem lies when you walk among poison sumac and touch it with your bare skin. In this case, poison sumac is similar to poison ivy and can cause a bad, itchy rash. Having said that, poison sumac tends to grow in marshes, swamps and bogs ie. wetlands. They have white or grayish white berries that hang down from them which is how you can tell the difference between them and regular sumac trees whose red berries are upright.

So poison sumac is only a concern if you happen to touch the poison sumac tree in the wild, not the tree that produces the spice that you consume.