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    Home » Recipes » Salsas & Dressings

    Sumac Sauce

    Published: Feb 3, 2026 by Sonila · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This tangy Sumac Sauce will brighten up any chicken meals. With few tweaks you can use this sauce as a dip or as salad dressing too!! Simple & delicious with Middle Eastern / Mediterranean flavors mixed in this easy sauce.

    Sumac Sauce Served as a Dip

    Traditional way to serve this sauce is with chicken kabobs, basmati rice and a small salad. Just drizzle the sauce over chicken and rice, yummm! I love using the sauce with falafel too.

    But since the sauce is so delicious, I sometimes just make it as a dip with veggies. Other times, you can thin the sauce a little and make it into a salad dressing.

    Sumac Seasoning

    If you searched for this recipe, chances are you have already tried a recipe with sumac or are familiar with it. However, if you were wondering what sumac is here’s a little explanation:

    • Sumac is a Middle Eastern spice made from grinding dry wild berries from the sumac shrub. It’s reddish or dark burgundy in color and it tastes pretty tangy and zesty. It’s great flavor combo for grilled foods like chicken and veggies!

    Ingredients

    This sauce is pretty simple. I’ll tell you what ingredients I use most of the time and some variations.

    • Greek yogurt
    • Mayonaise
    • Garlic
    • Olive oil
    • Lemon juice
    • Sumac
    • Sea Salt

    Additional ingredients for variations include the following:

    • Shallots – some people add a little bit of shallots to the sauce when blending it.
    • Turmeric – turmeric powder compliments the flavors and add more bright colors to the sauce. A pinch goes a long way.
    • Some people use sour cream, cottage cheese and other variations of dairy instead of the Greek yogurt.

    Tips for making the sauce

    Here are my tips for making a creamy, luscious sumac sauce.

    • Use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt. If sauce is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of water as you blend at a time until you achieve the desired consistency.
    • Use good quality sumac and real lemon juice.
    • Adjust for taste and consistency after blending the first time. Most Mediterranean recipes are perfect not because of precision of using ingredients in the recipe but rather because of quality and tasting/adjusting as you cook!
    A round plate showcasing a yellow sauce (sumac sauce) in the middle, surrounded by carrot sticks, cucumber sticks, chips, pita bread etc.

    Sumac Sauce

    Sonila
    This sumac sauce is bright, tangy and zesty full of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors. So simple and easy to make, few ingredients and it elevates any dish to gourmet.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 240 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Blender

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup Greek yogurt
    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • 1 tbsp sumac add more if needed
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • 2 tbsps lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • pinch sea salt adjust to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Add Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, sumac, garlic, olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy!
    • Taste and add sea salt as needed. If sauce is too thick add 1 tbsp of water and blend again. If making a salad dressing with it, add 2-3 tbsps of water.
    • Serve with chicken kabobs, basmati rice, falafel or a dip. Enjoy:).

    Notes

    • Nutrition values are estimate. 
    • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. 

    Nutrition Label

    Nutrition Facts
    Sumac Sauce
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 240 Calories from Fat 225
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 25g38%
    Saturated Fat 4g25%
    Trans Fat 0.1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 7g
    Cholesterol 13mg4%
    Sodium 187mg8%
    Potassium 55mg2%
    Carbohydrates 2g1%
    Fiber 0.1g0%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 3g6%
    Vitamin A 20IU0%
    Vitamin C 3mg4%
    Calcium 33mg3%
    Iron 0.1mg1%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 240kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 3gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 187mgPotassium: 55mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 0.1mg
    Keyword Sumac Sauce
    Tried this recipe?Mention @mediterranean_latin_love or tag #mediterraneanlatinloveaffair!

    If you would like to save this recipe for later, please pin one of the pictures in Pinterest so you can easily retrieve this recipe in the future. Please let me know in comments how you served the sauce and if you made any changes to the recipe.

    Thank you for reading my blog and cooking my recipes, it means a lot to me and my family.

    Sonila

    A plate showing a yellowish sauce (sumac sauce) served as a dip with veggies, pita and chips.
    Sumac Sauce

    More Sauces & Dips

    Here are some more sauce and dips from my blog if you’re looking for more ideas:

    • Green Goddess Dip
    • Roasted Red Pepper, Yogurt and Feta Cheese Dip
    • Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette
    • Cilantro, Garlic and Yogurt Dip

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    • A green deep in a round plate, surrounded by peppers, celery, toasted bread etc.
      Mediterranean Green Goddess Dip
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      Sriracha Aioli

    Filed Under: Mediterranean Food, Recipes, Salsas & Dressings Tagged With: Mediterranean Diet

    About Sonila

    Mom of 2, wife, engineer, food blogger & recipe creator! Sonila was born in Albania, her heritage inspires her Mediterranean recipes while that of her husband the Latin ones. Sonila has 2 degrees in Engineering from University of Miami.

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    Sonila Zarate
    Sonila Zarate

    Mom of 2, wife, engineer, food blogger & recipe creator! Sonila was born in Albania, her heritage inspires her Mediterranean recipes while that of her husband the Latin ones. Sonila has 2 degrees in Engineering from University of Miami.

    More about me →

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    Sonila Zarate

    Mom of 2, wife, engineer, food blogger & recipe creator! Sonila was born in Albania, her heritage inspires her Mediterranean recipes while that of her husband the Latin ones. Sonila has 2 degrees in Engineering from University of Miami.

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