Lemon Sumac Chicken Thighs

My little secret when I want to make an easy, low-effort meal is always chicken thighs. I’m a big advocate for chicken thighs. The bone-in, skin-on kind. They don’t need much to taste good, a little salt and pepper combined with all that skin fat is enough to produce a lot of flavor. A good marinade is a game changer though, and the possibilities are endless. For this Lemon Sumac Chicken Thighs the goal is to keep things fairly simple, but the result is a splendid mix of tart, zesty, and earthy flavors.

The real star in this dish is the sumac and it’s a great ingredient to have in your kitchen. This Middle Eastern spice – harvested from the berries of the sumac shrub – has a wonderful earthy-tart flavor and a deep red hue. Its tangy and tart notes make it a really versatile ingredient that elevates marinades, vinaigrettes, and rubs for meat and vegetables.