Tahini Tomato Sumac salad is so creamy and refreshing with the perfect tang from the sumac that hits your taste buds just right and immediately makes you think of summertime.
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What is Sumac and where does it grow?
Sumac is derived from the Aramaic word which means “dark red”. The spice is from a red berry that is found in places like Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, parts of Iran, and other parts across the Mediterranean. It is a staple spice in a middle eastern kitchen used on anything from meats, to salads, to drinks. In my own kitchen, Sumac is probably my most used spice.
If anyone saw me in person when I first was introduced to Spice Tribes sumac, then I probably opened the bottle and made you smell it because I have not smelled sumac that amazing since I was physically in Damascus so many years ago. Spice Tribe is a single origin spice company which means every single spice container has the exact city and country of where it came from on the container itself. Their sumac comes directly from Gazientep, Turkey.
What does Sumac taste like?
Sumac is very similar to lemon juice with more sweetness. It pairs well with cumin, allspice, and a variety of other spices.
Spices
Because the spices are from a specific single source it is easy to make sure they
- are ethically sourced,
- farmers are paid fairly,
- and the spices are not tampered with
Years ago, I was invited to speak at the Good Foods Award, in San Francisco after winning the Good Foods Award for my moms red pepper dip, Muhammara. Good Food Awards celebrates responsible food companies and builds widespread support for farmers and growers. I am passionate about ethically sourced ingredients and the importance of responsible retail which is why I fell in love with Spice Tribe.
As an added benefit, because Spice Tribe works directly with farmers, they cut the middle man, which basically means the products are fresher (in fact, they are so fresh they will actually vary in flavor from season to season), they use zero salt, no GMOs, preservatives or fillers.
Check out Spice Tribe and get lost on their site as each spice will whisk you to another land.

This refreshing and creamy salad has the perfect amount of pop from the sumac
- 2/4 cup tahini
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- Juice of 1 lemon about 1/3 cup
- 1/4 cup water
- Salt to taste I use 1 tsp
- 3 tsp Spice Tribe Sumac separated
- 2 cups cherry tomatos halved
- 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves
- fresh dill optional for garnish
- Mix tahini, garlic, lemon, water, 1 tsp sumac, & salt in a small mixing bowl
- add tahini to bottom of the plate
- add cut tomatoes & mint on top
- generously sprinkle with sumac and garnish
If tahini is too thick and not creamy, add cold water 1 Tbsp at a time.
If tahini dressing is too liquidy, add more tahini to thicken it up
Adjust salt to taste
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