Za'atar
Za'atar is a spice blend from the Middle East. It's made by mixing dried or fresh herbs like thyme, oregano, and marjoram with salt and roasted sesame seeds to create green za'atar. Adding sumac gives you red za'atar. Sumac can be difficult to find in some areas, so I've substituted it with paprika, which reproduces the reddish color but not the tangy flavor. If you want to experiment with authentic sumac, you can find it at Middle Eastern grocery stores.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried marjoram
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 level tablespoon sweet paprika (or sumac)
zest of 1 lemon (dried)
40g sesame seeds
How to prepare za'atar
- Put all ingredients (except the sesame seeds) in a spice grinder or coffee grinder and blend until they become a powder. Pour into a bowl.
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan (without oil) for about 5 minutes. You can taste them to check if they have a toasted flavor.
- Briefly grind the sesame seeds in the grinder - they don't need to become powder, just lightly crushed. Add to the bowl with the spice mixture and stir well. Store za'atar in a sealed jar.
- Use it as a dry spice or as a paste. To make the paste: mix 2 tablespoons za'atar with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon lemon juice until smooth. Add more olive oil if needed. Use the paste to marinate chicken or fish for grilling or roasting, or to spread on Arabic flatbread. Za'atar can also be mixed with yogurt cheese for breakfast sandwiches, or sprinkled over hummus.
Za'atar
