If you’re searching for a light and flavorful side dish to complement grilled meats, this onion and sumac salad is a perfect choice. Known in Turkey as soğan salatası, it’s often served with kebabs, kofta, or grilled lamb. The salad is fresh, tangy, and incredibly easy to prepare, making it a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine.
You’ll Love This Salad
This salad is refreshing and cuts through the richness of grilled or roasted meats. The crisp red onions bring crunch, the fresh parsley adds an herbal note, and the sumac spice ties everything together with its lemony tang. In many Turkish restaurants, you’ll find this salad brought to the table alongside bread and grilled skewers—it’s a must-have companion to tender, juicy meats.
What is Sumac?
If you’ve never used sumac before, you’re in for a treat. This ruby-red spice is made by grinding dried berries from the Rhus coriaria shrub. With a tart, citrus-like flavor, it is widely used in Turkish, Lebanese, and Mediterranean cooking to brighten dishes without overpowering them, while also adding a bit of color. In fact, before lemons became common in the region, sumac was one of the primary souring agents in cooking. Today, it remains a versatile seasoning for salads, marinades, and dips such as hummus.
You can find sumac spice in Middle Eastern or Turkish grocery stores, but it’s also easy to order online. Look for a fine, deep-red powder with a fresh, tangy aroma.
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Ingredients
- two red onions
- 2 teaspoons sumac
- a bunch of parsley
- juice from one lemon
- one tablespoon olive oil
- a pinch of salt
Instructions
Cut the onion in half, then slice it thinly.
Place the onion slices in a bowl of water for 10-15 minutes to remove the sharpness.
Pick the parsley leaves and chop them finely.
Mix the well-drained onion, sumac, and parsley.
Add the juice of one lemon and a tablespoon of olive oil.
Season with salt to taste.
Notes
Optional: add one teaspoon of pomegranate syrup.
How to Serve
This salad is traditionally served with Adana kebab, kofta, grilled lamb, or steak, but it also works well as a topping for wraps, pita sandwiches, or falafel. It’s a simple way to bring authentic Turkish and Middle Eastern flavors to your home kitchen.
Enjoy this quick and healthy onion and sumac salad as part of a Mediterranean-inspired meal, and you’ll see why it has stood the test of time.