Sumac Extract
A dark reddish-brown, intensely sour liquid sauce made by soaking dried sumac berries in water and straining, or pressing them. Used as an alternative to ground sumac in sauces and marinades.
What Is Sumac Concentrate?
Sumac concentrate is a fluid sauce, dark red-brown in color, obtained by soaking dried sumac berries in hot water and then straining or pressing them. It is the concentrated liquid form of the sour-fruity taste carried by ground sumac.
In Middle Eastern and Southeastern Anatolian cuisine, it is preferred in recipes where a homogeneous sourness is desired, unlike the grainy texture of ground sumac which does not blend into sauces.
Nutritional Values of Sumac Concentrate
100 grams of sumac concentrate contains approximately 40 kcal of energy; it is low-calorie, containing natural fruit acids from sumac and trace amounts of vitamin C. Values vary by brand, and are approximate.
How Should Sumac Concentrate Be Consumed?
Like other sour sauces, sumac concentrate is used in measured amounts as a salad and marinade component, as part of a balanced diet.
This information is general; sumac concentrate is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.
How Should Sumac Concentrate Be Selected?
Good sumac concentrate has a dark red-brown color, a distinctly sour-fruity smell, and an ingredients list with few additives.
- Color should be dark red-brown
- Smell should be distinctly sour-fruity
- Ingredients list should have few/clean additives
How Should Sumac Concentrate Be Stored?
Sumac concentrate can be stored in the refrigerator, in a closed bottle, for a few months; keeping it cold after opening preserves its freshness.
Using Sumac Concentrate in the Kitchen
Sumac concentrate is most often used in salad dressing, kebab marinade, and onion-sumac salad (especially alongside grilled meat); compared to ground sumac it blends in more easily and gives a more homogeneous sourness.
Does Sumac Concentrate Serve the Same Purpose as Ground Sumac?
It serves a similar function, but while the liquid form blends more easily into sauces, the powder form is preferred as a garnish and in dry marinades; they can partly be used in place of one another.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sumac concentrate be made at home?
Yes; a simple version can be prepared at home by soaking dried sumac berries in hot water for a few hours and then straining.
What can be used instead of sumac concentrate?
Lemon juice can provide a similar sourness, but it does not fully replicate sumac's characteristic fruity-tannic note.
Is sumac concentrate found in Turkey?
It is not common; it can be found at gourmet spice shops and places selling Middle Eastern products, and can also be easily made at home.