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    Home » Turkish Recipes

    Turkish Sumac Onions Recipe (10 minutes!)

    Published: May 6, 2022 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    216 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Turkish sumac onions are ready in 10 minutes and make an ideal companion to a wide variety of dishes. Crispy red onions are marinated with lemon juice, sumac and herbs - all you need to add a lot of bright flavors to any dish!

    close up shot of sumac onions

    If you love Turkish recipes, today's take on red onion salad is for you! You can enjoy these crispy marinated onions in sandwiches, on salads or with grilled meat. Just like ezme, gavurdagi (Turkish tomato salad with walnuts) and piyaz (Turkish white bean salad), this marinated onion recipe is easy yet packed with tons of flavor.

    Table Of Contents:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients and substitutions
    • Do this if the onions are too strong
    • How to make sumac onions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Turkish recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • The recipe calls for just a handful of ingredients that you probably already have.
    • It's ready in only 5 minutes, there is no cooking involved.
    • It keeps well in the fridge for a few days, so you can make it ahead of time.
    • Sumac onions are incredibly flavorful and make a delicious condiment for kebabs and other dishes.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    To make Turkish onion and sumac, you need red onion, olive oil, sumac, lemon, parsley and aleppo pepper.
    • Red onion: Raw red onions have better flavor compared to the white ones. However, you can also white or yellow onions.
    • Sumac: This is the main ingredient in this salad. Sumac has a tart, lemon-like flavor and it's usually dark red in color.
    • Parsley: Freshly chopped parsley add great flavor to this dish.
    • Lemon: For bright flavor and freshness.
    • Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil works best in this recipe.
    • Seasoning: You need salt, black pepper and Aleppo pepper or Urfa pepper.

    Do this if the onions are too strong

    If you find the red onions to be too strong for your taste, soak them in cold water for 10 to 20 minutes after slicing. Then rinse and place them in a bowl and proceed with the recipe to make this red onion salad with sumac and parsley.

    How to make sumac onions

    1. Peel the onions and slice them thinly crosswise or lengthwise. Place them in a bowl and make sure the onion slices are not stuck to each other.
    2. Add the chopped parsley, sumac, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and Aleppo pepper to the onion. Stir well to combine.
    3. You can serve it immediately or cover it and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving it as a condiment or topping alongside kebabs, chicken or sandwiches.
    slice the onion and mix with parsley. Add the spices, lemon juice and olive oil. Serve with your favorite main dish.

    Variations

    You can add other ingredients such as pomegranate molasses or chopped fresh mint for more flavor.

    Serving suggestions

    There are so many ways to use up sumac onions. From topping lahmacun, doner kebab and kofta kebab to stuffing it into sandwiches such as lamb burger, beef shawarma, falafel, chicken shawarma or gyro, however you use these marinated onions, it's going to be delicious.

    I personally love serving them alongside grilling recipes such as spatchcock chicken, shish kebab and grilled zaatar chicken. It adds just that bright and fun zing that any summer day grilled meat needs!

    a bowl of red onion and sumac on a wooden board.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long do sumac onions keep in the fridge?

    You can keep these in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Can I make this red onion salad ahead of time?

    Yes, you can make this recipe a few hours in advance and serve when the main dish is ready.

    What can I use instead of sumac?

    Sumac has a special and unique sour flavor and color and cannot be substituted by any other spice.

    Can I use white onion for this recipe?

    Yes, you can use white or yellow onion for this recipe as well.

    More Turkish recipes

    • Turkish Simit Recipe (Step-by-Step tutorial)
    • Turkish Bulgur Pilaf Recipe
    • Vegan Turkish lentil meatballs are usually served with lettuce.
      Turkish Vegan Lentil Balls (Mercimek Köftesi)
    • Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Mercimek Corbasi)

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Turkish Sumac Onions Recipe

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Turkish sumac onions are ready in 10 minutes and make an ideal companion to a wide variety of dishes. Crispy red onions are marinated with lemon juice, sumac and herbs - all you need to add a lot of bright flavors to any dish!
    4.88 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Appetizer, condiments, Side Dish
    Cuisine Turkish
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 68 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 red onions thinly sliced
    • 1 cup parsley chopped
    • 2 tsp sumac
    • 1 lemon juice of
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
    • ÂĽ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Peel the onions and slice them thinly crosswise or lengthwise. Place them in a bowl and make sure the onion slices are not sticking to each other. If they are, separate them using your hands or a fork.
    • Add the chopped parsley, sumac, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and Aleppo pepper to the onion. Mix well to combine.
    • Serve it immediately or cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving it as a condiment or topping alongside kebabs, chicken or sandwiches.

    Video

    Notes

    • Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. 
    • You can add 1 to 2 tablespoons of pomegranate molasses and some fresh mint if desired. 
    • Serve it with gilled dishes such as shish kabob and spatchcock chicken or with dishes like kofta kebab and chicken shawarma. You can also add it to sandwiches such as falafel or gyro. 
    • You can use white or yellow onion instead of red onion. If the onion is too strong in flavor for your preference, soak the slices in cold water for 20 minutes, then rinse and let it dry for a few minutes before continuing with the recipe. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 68kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 601mgPotassium: 212mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1420IUVitamin C: 38mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. veenaazmanov

      July 26, 2022 at 11:14 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is perfect as a salad or as a topping too. This is so easy and yet so crispy and flavorful.

      Reply
    2. Tayler Ross

      July 26, 2022 at 10:49 am

      5 stars
      I made these onions to go with dinner last night and they were wonderful! So quick, easy and full of flavor!

      Reply
    3. Dana

      July 26, 2022 at 10:44 am

      5 stars
      These were a perfect topping for our chicken kebabs! Love the tip for if they're too onion-y. It worked perfectly.

      Reply
    4. Amy

      July 26, 2022 at 9:47 am

      5 stars
      Wow these were so good and so easy! We went to Turkey a few years ago and absolutely fell in love with the food there. These were awesome with our grilled kabobs this weekend!

      Reply
    5. Dijana

      July 26, 2022 at 9:44 am

      5 stars
      This is so good and exactly what my kebab needed! Will make it again for sure!

      Reply
    6. Maddie

      May 17, 2022 at 5:54 pm

      5 stars
      I made this dish to go with our lamb kofta and Shadi's toum last night. I added 1 Tbsp of Pomegranate Molasses and the dish was lovely. Thank you.

      Reply

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    216 shares