Sumac: The thin red thread of Syrian cuisine

Sumac is a popular spice in Syrian cuisine, made from a berry that’s dried and ground. Chef Anas Atassi was raised in Saudi Arabia but returned to Syria every summer, where the spice was used from breakfast through the evening’s dessert. He also describes different types of za’atar, including a version that his grandmother still makes and ships to him in Amsterdam. Atassi shares a dish for horak osbao, popular in Damascus and Aleppo, from his latest book, “Sumac: Recipes and Stories from Syria.”

Horak Osbao

Lentil and Pasta Stew with Tamarind and Pomegranate

SERVES 4-6

The Arabic name for this dish, hora'a bi osba'o, literally means "burned fingers." As the story goes, the first person to have discovered how delicious this dish is could not wait for it to cool down before tasting it. Try it at your own risk!

Syrian cuisine is still quite regional. Since this dish is from Damascus, and my family is from Homs, it is not part of my family's repertoire of recipes. In fact, I didn't taste it for the first time until I was at university! It's a bit strange to think I hadn't encountered it before then, but ever since that first taste, it's been one of my favorites. I make it often at home.

Ingredients

• ⅔ cup (150 ml) of extra-virgin olive oil

• 4 red onions (sliced into thin rings)

• 1 ¼ cups (250 g) of green lentils (rinsed)

• 3 cups (750 ml) of chicken stock

• 5½ oz (150 g) of fettuccine (broken into pieces)

• 3 tablespoons of pomegranate molasses

• 2 tablespoons of tamarind paste

• Juice of 1 organic lemon

• 7 garlic cloves (pressed)

• 1 large bunch of cilantro (coarsely chopped)

• Salt and pepper

• Pomegranate seeds

• 1 organic lemon (cut into wedges)

Instructions

-Heat a scant l/2 cup (100 ml) of the olive oil in a large nonstick pot over medium heat.

-Cook the onion rings, stirring frequently, for about 15 minutes, until dark brown and caramelized.

-Take care to not have the heat set too high because onions burn easily.

-Line a plate with paper towels.

-Remove half of the caramelized onions from the pot and place them on the paper towels to drain the excess oil.

-Add the lentils and chicken stock to the onions left in the pot.

-Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and boil gently for 20 minutes, or until tender.

-Add the fettuccine, pomegranate molasses, tamarind paste, and lemon juice.

-Cook for another 10 minutes, adding more water if needed. It should be thick and saucy, but not too watery. Turn the heat off when the pasta is tender.

-Cover and let rest for 10 minutes, or until the remaining moisture is absorbed.

-Meanwhile, heat the remaining 3½ tablespoons (50 ml) of oil in a nonstick pan on medium heat.

-Fry the garlic until golden.

-Stir in the chopped cilantro (reserving some for the garnish) and fry for another 1 minute.

-Stir the fried garlic and cilantro into the horak osbao.

-Add salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle with the reserved fried onions and chopped cilantro.

-Make it even tastier by topping it with some pomegranate seeds and serving it with lemon wedges.