How to make onions less strong for a salad?

Soak Them in Ice Water Just leave the onions in the water for ten or so minutes, and you'll have remarkably less intense onions.

What are the 5 ingredients that are most commonly consumed in Turkish cuisine?

Tomatoes, eggplants, onions, zucchini, cucumber and garlic are the main vegetables found in Turkish cooking. They're used in everything from dips and salads to fritters and casseroles.

What is the difference between Greek and Turkish salad?

Both the Greeks and the Turks make tasty salads from a variety of raw fresh vegetables; the Greeks may add Feta cheese, while the Turks may spice it up with peppers. Both the Greeks and the Turks prepare stuffed vine leaves.

Why do you soak onions in water?

When preparing raw onions, soak in cold water before hand to remove some of the pungency and soften the flavor. However since soaking too long will dilute the flavor, soaking in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes is recommended.

Why do you soak onions in salt water?

Wait 10 minutes, then serve. The salt softens the onion's fibrous texture and mellows the sharpness of their flavor. There are other ways to tame raw onion, of course. You could soak slices in lemon juice for 20 minutes, which lends a slightly pickled flavor, as in this Tomato and Herb Salad with Sumac.

Do you put raw onions in salad?

They are delicious in salads and their tender green leaves are edible. Like green onions, there is rarely a need to rinse them off after cutting to mellow their flavor; their flavor is mellow already. Red onions vary greatly in their pungency, but the rinsing technique works great with them.

What is the main ingredient in Turkish food?

Key ingredients Frequently used ingredients in Turkish specialties include lamb, chicken, beef, fish, rice, eggplants, green peppers, onions, garlic, lentils, beans, zucchinis, chickpeas and tomatoes.

What are key Turkish ingredients?

Common ingredients used in Turkish cooking include lamb, beef, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, and various herbs and spices such as parsley, mint, cumin, and sumac. Yogurt and olive oil are also frequently used in Turkish cuisine.

What is Turkish cuisine made of?

Turkish cuisine, which consists of dishes prepared with cereals, various vegetables, meat, naturally grown herbs, olive oil, butter, yogurt, milk, molasses and dried and fresh fruits; can be grouped under at least 18 headings.

What makes Turkish food different?

Turkish cuisine has a wide variety of foods, including cereals, pastries, vegetables, and self-growing herbs mixed with meat. There are also many soups and other traditional Turkish foods that incorporate butter, sunflower oil, and olive oil as an ingredient.

Easy Turkish Sumac Onions Recipe (Turkish Onion Salad) (2024)

By: Author Tressa Jamil

Posted on Published: December 22, 2022- Last updated: March 8, 2024

2 Comments

Marinated sumac onions or Turkish onion salad are a tangy side dish or topping that takes 5 minutes to make. Pair the sumac onion salad with grilled meats like kabobs, salads, vegetable dishes, and wraps like Turkishtantuni.

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Easy Turkish Sumac Onions Recipe (Turkish Onion Salad) (1)

Table Of Contents

What are Sumac Onions?
Ingredients You'll Need
Additions and Substitutions
How to Make Sumac Onions
Expert Tips
Serving Suggestions
What to do With the Leftovers
Frequently Asked Questions
Sumac Onions

What are Sumac Onions?

Turkish sumac onions are thinly sliced red onions massaged with and marinated in sumac, olive oil, and lemon juice (sometimes red wine vinegar) to flavor and soften the onions.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Onion: I prefer the sharpness of red onion, but you can also use white or yellow onion.
Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice from one lemon is all you need for a nice pop of acidity. Other recipes rely on red wine vinegar or pomegranate molasses instead of lemon to provide tartness.
Parsley: Fresh parsley adds color to the salad and compliments the flavor of the other ingredients.
Spices: Season the onions with sumac and salt. Sumac is a popular Middle Eastern spice found online and in health stores. However, I recommend visiting a local Middle Eastern store to explore; the ground-up sumac berries give the dish its signature color and flavor.
Olive Oil: Be generous with the olive oil; since it is a prominent ingredient, I recommend using high-quality olive oil if you can.

Additions and Substitutions

Add a pinch of ground Aleppo pepper for even more flavor.

How to Make Sumac Onions

The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Add the ingredients to a serving bowl and massage to combine for about 2-3 minutes.

Easy Turkish Sumac Onions Recipe (Turkish Onion Salad) (2)

Step 2: Taste and season with sumac. Then, cover and set it aside for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Easy Turkish Sumac Onions Recipe (Turkish Onion Salad) (3)

Expert Tips

If you find the raw onion flavor too strong, soak the onions in cold water for 20 minutes to lessen the intensity. Drain the onions, pat them dry, and continue with the salad.

Serving Suggestions

Sumac marinated onions often accompany chicken and red meat dishes but also act as a garnish for sandwiches, salads, and soup; brighten any meal with this healthy side dish.

Lamb:Boneless Leg of Lamb
Kabobs: Adana Kebab, Shish Kebab, Shish Tawook,Beef Seekh Kabob,Koobideh Kabob, Kefta Kebab,Joojeh Kabob
Wraps:Falafel Gyro,Tantuni, Döner Kebab, Shawarma
Chicken:BBQ Baked Chicken Legs,Al Faham Chicken

What to do With the Leftovers

Refrigerate –Store the leftovers in an airtight container 4-5 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sumac?

Sumac ‘summāq’ means ‘dark red’ in Arabic, and it refers to a spice commonly used throughout the Middle East to top popular meals like fattoush. It comes from sumac berries, which are dried and ground into a coarse red powder for culinary purposes.

What are the onions on a kebab?

Sumac onions are a staple in kebab restaurants. They will serve them on top for meals like tantuni or on the side if ordering something like adana kebab.

How do you make raw onions less spicy?

Soak the onions in hot water for 10 minutes. Drain the onion, pat them dry, and proceed with making the salad.

What does sumac taste like?

Like lemons, sumac is tart and slightly sweet. It’s a perfect way to acidity to any meal without citrus.

What are the benefits of sumac?

According to an article written by contributors forLebanese International University, studies show that sumac contains antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, and the spice is helpful for meat tenderization and preservation.

More Mediterranean Recipes:

Skhug
Moroccan Shakshuka
Haydari
Biwaz

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Sumac Onions

Tressa Jamil

Marinated sumac onions or Turkish onion salad are a tangy addition to grilled meats, kabobs, salads, and vegetable dishes.

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Marinating Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine Turkish

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 96 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

1 large red onion, thinly sliced
1 lemon, juice
1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon ground sumac
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Add the ingredients to a serving bowl and massage to combine for about 2-3 minutes.
Taste and season with sumac. Then, cover and set it aside for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Expert Tips:

If you find the raw onion flavor too strong, soak the onions in cold water for 20 minutes to lessen the intensity. Drain the onions, pat them dry, and continue with the salad.

Nutrition Disclosure:

The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.

Nutrition

Did you make this recipe? Let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and follow @thejamilghar or tag #thejamilghar on Instagram!