Za’atar Spice Mixture

Za’atar a passionately aromatic spice Middle Eastern spice mixture that has so many wonderful applications in your cooking.

Za’atar

Za’atar a passionately aromatic spice Middle Eastern spice mixture for Israeli beef roast that has so many wonderful applications in your cooking. Generally, the mixture is made with dried herbs like marjoram and/or thyme, but to get a vibrant color with intense fragrance you can use fresh herbs.

Zaatar Seasoning

And, there’s no ‘rule’ that you must stick to just lemon thyme salmon or marjoram, at least in my world of spice mixtures! So for this recipe, I’ve used fresh oregano as well as thyme. Za’atar, a beautiful word meaning ‘thyme’ in Arabic, just rolls off your tongue when you say it.

Zaatar Spice

Actually, the only ‘labor intensive’ thing about this recipe is stripping the herb stems so you have just the leaves. The array of ways you can use this spice mixture is endless and only limited to your imagination!

Za’atar Recipe

But when you taste spice mixtures~adventurous palates, your palate becomes mesmerized with the hints of woodiness, earth tones, and hints of citrus. Yes, you can purchase za’atar in some grocery or specialty stores and online, but why not experience making it on your own.

Recipes with Za’atar

When you love to cook dishes that are lip-smacking and enjoyable then this spice is used to give them a great feel. The aroma of the spice is perfect and tastes awesome. Za’atar can be the bright note that both enlivens and anchors sliced tomatoes, the unifying factor in a salad of refreshing smashed cucumbers and salty, fatty feta, and the substitute for lemon and herbs on a roast chicken.

Za’atar Seasoning Recipe

The delicious aroma of the spice will make you drool when the food is being cooked. It will help you with the best food to come out and offer a lip-smacking taste.

Za’atar Seasoning Uses

I go through this spice mix so quickly that I grab it only to find it bare, right next to the sweet paprika that is still full. There’s a lot to like about za’atar! It’s bright, earthy, herby, and toasty, making daily foods (boiled eggs, garlicky yogurt, canned chickpeas) exciting and special foods (roast chicken, green sauce, homemade hummus). Let’s just say that if I had to choose a favorite spice mix in a life or death scenario, it would be za’atar.

Za’atar Spice Mixture

Yield: Makes: About ½+ cup

Za'atar a passionately aromatic spice Middle Eastern spice mixture that has so many wonderful applications in your cooking.

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Ingredients

• ½ cup fresh thyme leaves
• 2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/3 cup fresh oregano leaves
• ¼ cup sesame seeds, gently roasted
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 2 Tbl. sumac
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. coarse ground pepper

Instructions

In a coffee grinder (dedicated entirely to herbs and spice mixture grinding), put the fresh thyme and dry thyme. Cover and blend for about 15 seconds. Add the fresh oregano leaves and blend again into a fine mixture. Remove to a bowl.

Add the sesame seeds and pulse several times (you don’t want them completely pulverized). Add the sesame, cumin, sumac, salt and pepper to the thyme/oregano and blend well. Store in an airtight container. Or keep in the freezer where it will stay fresh for 6+ months.

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