Za’atar (or zaatar) is a spice blend of sumac, thyme, roasted sesame seeds, marjoram, and oregano. It’s often sprinkled onto pita bread with olive oil (this makes an amazing tasting flat bread when baked). It’s also used to season meats.
Zaatar (or za’atar) is a Middle Eastern spice blend, and while the ingredients can vary per region, it’s usually a mix of thyme, toasted sesame, and sumac. It is probably the one and only spice I could eat all by itself by the teaspoon full — yes, it is that good!
Zaatar has a way of hitting all five flavor points on the tongue, so it goes great on a lot of things. You could sprinkle it on hummus or yogurt, and it also tastes fantastic on roast chicken too. In Jordan, we’d have zaatar on pita bread for breakfast with yogurt and honey.
Zaatar spice blend
yield: 1
prep time: 5 MINUTES
cook time: 15 MINUTES
total time: 20 MINUTES
Ingredients
- 2 tsp sesame seeds
- 2 tsp sumac
- 2 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp thyme
Instructions
- Add the sesame seeds to a small sauté pan and dry toast them (no oil) on medium heat. Toast the sesame seeds until they’re a golden color and fragrant, stirring frequently so they toast evenly and don’t burn.
- Next, mix all of your spices together in a large bowl.
- Pour into a plastic quart-sized bag or mason jar for storage.
- Sprinkle on hummus, yogurt, chicken, fish, even popcorn! Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Amount Per Serving: CALORIES: 7 TOTAL FAT: 0gSATURATED FAT: 0g TRANS FAT: 0g UNSATURATED FAT: 0g CHOLESTEROL: 0mg SODIUM: 20mg CARBOHYDRATES: 1g FIBER: 1gSUGAR: 0g PROTEIN: 0g
