This sumac dressing is a Middle Easter-inspired vinaigrette ready in less than 5 minutes! Its vibrant blend of tangy sumac and rich olive oil can elevate any salad, grilled vegetables, and more. Try it with my arugula spinach salad and you'll be hooked!
Looking for more salad dressing ideas? Check out my Miso Tahini Dressing and Sweet Potato Beet Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy to make. This sumac dressing is ready in less than 5 minutes!
- Effortless way to add flavor. Whether you add this to salads, marinades, or drizzle it over dips, this vinaigrette is a great way to boost the flavor of a dish.
- Keeps for up to a week. This recipe is great for meal prep because it lasts for several days in the fridge, and tastes even better the more it sits.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Olive oil: Use good-quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best results. You can substitute it with avocado oil.
- Sumac: This is a key ingredient in this sumac dressing, giving it that Middle Eastern flavor. If you don't have sumac on hand, you can use za'atar seasoning, lemon pepper, or lemon zest, but keep in mind it won't be quite the same.
- Dried mint: It can be substituted with double the amount of fresh mint.
- Lemon juice: It adds acidity and brightness to the vinaigrette. Good substitutes are red wine vinegar, lime juice, or apple cider vinegar.
- Honey: It helps to balance out the rest of the flavor. You can substitute it with maple syrup, agave syrup, pomegranate molasses, or another liquid sweetener of choice.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds depth of flavor, however, if you don't want the dressing to be as pungent, use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and exact measurements.
Variations
This sumac dressing is delicious as is, but you can take it to the next level by adding one of the following ingredients.
- Smoky: Add 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika and mix well.
- Herby: Add 2-3 tablespoon of chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, cilantro, or dill.
- Creamy: Add 1 tablespoon of yogurt.
- Cumin: Add 1 teaspoon of ground cumin.
- Spicy: Add ½ - 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes or 1 chopped red chili.
- Dijon mustard: Add 1-2 teaspoon of Dijon mustard.
- Sesame: Swap half of the olive oil for sesame oil and stir 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds.
How to Make Sumac Dressing
Step 1: In either a small bowl or a mason jar, add all of the ingredients for the sumac dressing - olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, sumac, dried mint, honey, salt, and black pepper.
Step 2: Using a whisk, mix until the dressing is emulsified.
Step 3: Taste and adjust the flavor if needed, adding more lemon juice for tanginess, honey for sweetness, or salt for saltiness.
Step 4: Either store it in the fridge for later or go ahead and dress your salad right away.
Expert Tips
- Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. This makes the bulk of the sumac dressing and so the flavor of the olive oil must be good.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice. This is essential for a delicious vinaigrette, no bottled lemon juice here!
- Shake the dressing in a mason jar. This way you can store it in the fridge right away and you won't have to clean dishes afterwards.
- It's okay if the dressing separates. The dressing will separate as it sits in the fridge so make sure to give it a good shake before dressing your salad.
- Adjust to taste as you go. You can start with lesser amounts of the sumac, lemon juice, and honey, and work your way up from there.
Recipe FAQs
Sumac comes from sumac berries which are dried, ground, and sifted to turn into a coarse powder. It has a crimson color and is commonly used in Middle Eastern and North African cuisines.
Sumac has a very distinct flavor - it's earthy, floral, tangy, and a little sour. It's similar to freshly squeezed lemon juice but more complex.
Many well-stocked grocery stores, especially those with a diverse selection of international foods, may carry sumac. Check the spice aisle or the section dedicated to Middle Eastern or Mediterranean products.
You can also purchase it online on Amazon, or wherever spices are sold in bulk.
Sumac is a versatile spice that can be used in many things. Most often you'd see it in marinades, and sauces for meat and fish, or sprinkled over homemade hummus or veggies. However, you can use it in anything you like such as in single-serve shakshuka, sprinkled over fried foods like deep-fried tofu, and even on popcorn and ice cream!
Serving Suggestions
I love using this sumac dressing in my arugula spinach salad, Mediterranean salad with orzo, or this sweet potato beet salad.
Of course, the most popular use for it is in Lebanese fattoush salad.
In general, this vinaigrette goes well with any kind of raw or roasted veggies such as with these Salad Kabobs and Roasted Frozen Brussels Sprouts.
Storage
- Fridge: Transfer the sumac dressing to an airtight container or a jar with a lid. Store in the fridge for 5 to 7 days.
- Freezer: This recipe is not freezer-friendly.
Similar Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Sumac Dressing (Mediterranean Vinaigrette)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2-4 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoon sumac
- ½ teaspoon dried mint
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In either a small bowl or a mason jar, add all of the ingredients for the sumac dressing.¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, 2-4 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 teaspoon honey or maple syrup, 2 cloves of garlic, minced, 2 teaspoon sumac, ½ teaspoon dried mint, ½ teaspoon salt, Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- Using a whisk, mix until the sumac dressing is emulsified.
- Taste and adjust the flavor if needed, adding more lemon juice for tanginess, honey for sweetness, or salt for saltiness.
- Either store it in the fridge for later or go ahead and dress your salad right away.
Notes
- Fridge: Transfer the sumac dressing to an airtight container or a jar with a lid. Store in the fridge for 5 to 7 days.
- Freezer: This recipe is not freezer-friendly.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with third-party calculations without including the optional ingredients.
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