Za'atar Spice Recipe
With savory, nutty, salty and spicy notes, za'atar, a middle eastern herb and spice blend, adds exotic and addictive flavor to many dishes, including soups, stews, flatbreads and hummus. It takes under 10 minutes to make a jar!
Servings: 8 tablespoons (approx)
Calories: 19kcal
Equipment
- Blender or spice grinder
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (preferably unhulled)
- 2 tablespoons dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried marjoram
- 2 tablespoons ground sumac
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium low heat for about five minutes or until nutty and aromatic. They should color slightly but don't let them burn.
- Place the herbs--marjoram, oregano, thyme, sumac and red pepper flakes -- in a blender bowl or spice grinder and blend into a powder. You can also do this with a mortar and pestle.
- Remove the ground herbs to a bowl and add the toasted sesame seeds. Mix.
Notes
Blended za'atar or whole za'atar?
Some cooks prefer leaving the dried herbs as they are and not blend them. I like blending so the mix incorporates more flavor into the recipe, but you can leave them whole if that's your preference.
Storage instructions
Store the za'atar spice blend in an airtight jar or container in a cool, dark cupboard, or in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 19kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 149mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 117IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 2mg