Za'atar Spice Recipe (2024)

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By Sylvia Fountaine | Feasting at Home • November 10, 2011

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4.9 from 62 reviews

171 comments

An authentic Za’atar Spice Recipe, a Middle Eastern spice blend that can be used in a multitude of ways. Use this as a rub for chicken, beef, lamb or fish, sprinkle it over hummus, Labneh or baba ganoush! Video.

Looking for more spice blends? Try ourChinese Five Spiceand ourGaram Masala Recipe!

Za'atar Spice Recipe (1)

The true miracle lies in our eagerness to allow, appreciate, and honor the uniqueness, and freedom of each sentient being to sing the song of their heart.― Amit Ray

What is za’atar?

Here is a simple recipe for Zaatar Spice – a flavorful Middle Eastern spice blend used in many dishes throughout the Middle East, and like curry, varies from region to region depending on where you are.

What is Zaatar made of?

Za’atar Spice is a blend of savory dried herbs like oregano, marjoram or thyme, and toasted earthy spices like cumin and coriander, with sesame seeds, salt and the most important ingredient of all… sumac! Sumac gives it the delicious unexpected tanginess that to me, is the key to the best zaatar.

How to make Zaatar | 60-second video

How to use Zaatar Spice?

My Egyptian father would make his own version of zaatar (this one here!) and would sprinkle it over hummus, labneh, baba ganoush or over freshpita bread drizzled with olive oil before going in the oven to toast. But there are a multitude of uses for Za’atar spice and I’m so excited for you to get acquainted with it and discover your own delicious uses!

  • Avocado Toast with Poached Eggs, Arugula and Zaatar
  • Zaatar Meatballs with Green Tahini Sauce
  • Lebanese Slaw (Salatet Malfouf)
  • Roasted Eggplant with Zaatar
  • Grilled Zucchini with Zaatar, Garlic and Labneh
  • Roasted Sunchoke and Barley Bowl with Zaatar Tahini Sauce
  • How to Make Labneh
  • Authentic Baba Ganoush (Grilled or Baked!)

You can also purchase Za’atar Spicehere at our Bowl and Pitcher Storeand most Middle Eastern stores or upscale specialty grocery stores. I really love this Villa Jerada Zaatar Spice Blend! We also have their sumac.

Za'atar Spice Recipe (2)

I hope you enjoy making the Za’atar. Please share how you use it in the comments below.

xoxo

Sylvia

Other flavorful Spice Blends to try:

  • Dukkah Recipe
  • Ras el Hanout Spice Blend
  • Homemade Taco Seasoning
  • Furikake Seasoning Recipe
  • Homemade Yellow Curry Powder
  • Garam Masala Recipe
  • Chinese Five Spice

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Za'atar Spice Recipe (3)

Authentic Za’atar Spice Recipe

★★★★★4.9 from 62 reviews

  • Author: Sylvia Fountaine | Feasting at Home Blog
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Total Time: 5 mins
  • Yield: ½ Cup 1x
  • Category: Spices
  • Method: Toasted
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Description

An authentic recipe for Za’atar Spice – a flavorful Middle Eastern Spice that can be used to season hummus, baba ganoush, vegetables, meats, etc.(My Egyptian Dad’s recipe.)

Ingredients

Scale

  1. 1 tablespoon dried thyme- crushed (or sub oregano)
  2. 1 tablespoon cumin (see instructions about whole or ground)
  3. 1 tablespoon coriander
  4. 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  5. 1 tablespoon sumac
  6. 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  7. 1/4 teaspoon or more aleppo chili flakes- optional

Instructions

  • Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container.
  • For the most flavor, toast whole seeds (cumin seedsand coriander seeds) until fragrant, then grind.This will make the most flavorful zaatar. If you don’t have whole seeds, feel free to use ground spices.

Notes

There are many variations of Zaatar. This was my dad’s recipe- he was Egyptian. Other regions have different versions. There is not one “right” way. It varies from area to area, and even household to household.

This Villa Jerada Zaatar Spice Blend is lovely if you rather purchase it! Made in Seattle!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/2 tablespoon
  • Calories: 15
  • Sugar: 0.1 g
  • Sodium: 88.2 mg
  • Fat: 1.6 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 0.8 g
  • Fiber: 0.4 g
  • Protein: 0.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: zaatar, za'atar, zaatar recipe , zaatar spices, za'atar recipe, za'atar spices, za'atar spice recipe

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Comments

  1. So good!

    Reply

  2. perfect mix, and always fresh (contrary to most of the za’atar spices sold by stores). Loved it!

    Reply

    1. Great to hear!

      Reply

  3. Excellent!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Marsha. Yes it hard to keep track of all the goodies sometimes!

      Reply

  4. “Thanks for sharing this fantastic video and recipe on Za’atar! It’s always great to learn more about authentic Middle Eastern flavors. If you’re in the USA and looking for genuine Za’atar from Palestine, I’ll definitely check out greenlandfood.net. It’s essential to support and savor these traditional tastes. Keep up the excellent work!”

    Reply

    1. Thanks Ahmed, appreciate this!

      Reply

  5. I love this spice mix, like others, I use it on just about everything! It is so flavorful. The first time I made it, I could not find sumac but even without, delicious.

    Reply

    1. Awesome to hear CAP!

      Reply

    2. Sumac is available in Turkish stores.

      Reply

  6. I try to make my own spice and herb blends–I love trying international dishes and experiencing the “local” flavors that make the regional food so divine, I just found a recipe for chicken with za’atar and I’m going to make a jar of it for not just this dish, but maybe to toss the blend into other dishes,

    Reply

    1. Great to hear Barbara!

      Reply

  7. Hi Sylvia, very proud of you for honoring yr Father and mentioning he’s Egyptian, I’m from Egypt, Zaatar wasn’t as popular as Dukkah, although I
    loved Zaatar, I bought a version made by Castle Foods
    but it looked brownish in the jar, and had paprika?? Could
    I add some Oregano and Thyme to fix the recipe, what’s yr expert opinion,thanks Sylvia, Edward

    Reply

    1. Of course- adjust it to taste!

      Reply

  8. I made this recipe. What a wonderful addition to my spice journey.

    Reply

    1. Glad you are enjoying it Shirley!

      Reply

  9. Thank you, I love this recipe. Next time I’ll use whole spices, today I just needed a quick version and it was perfect.

    Reply

    1. Oh good Cinde- the whole toasted spices do elevate when you get more time!

      Reply

  10. Used to make spiced chickpeas. Was really good.

    Reply

    1. Yum… sounds tasty!

      Reply

  11. DELICIOUS. I doubled the recipe and did 1/2 thyme and 1/2 oregano and had to sub regular red chili flakes as aleppo chili flakes are impossible to find where I am. That was 3 days ago and today I already am having to make more!

    Reply

    1. Great to hear Megan!

      Reply

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Za'atar Spice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Za atar seasoning made of? ›

Za'atar is a spice blend composed of herbs such as thyme, oregano, marjoram or a combination of the three, along with other spices including sesame, sumac, cumin or coriander.

What is a good substitute for za'atar seasoning? ›

Ground thyme is the most common substitution for the za'atar herb, but other variations on the recipe call for equal-parts mixtures of any number of herbs: thyme, oregano, marjoram, cumin, or coriander.

What is in Trader Joe's Za Atar seasoning blend? ›

Ingredients. Toasted sesame seeds, spices (thyme, marjoram, coriander, oregano) chickpea flour, sea salt, sunflower oil, citric acid (acidulant), lemon oil.

Is zaatar good for high blood pressure? ›

Za'atar has been shown to help people with bronchitis stop coughing fits, and dried sumac, which is one of the main ingredients, has been shown to lower blood pressure and help people with type 2 diabetes.

What does Zaatar do to your body? ›

Za'atar is a mixture of different plant leaves, fruits, and seeds and contains hundreds of antioxidant compounds, especially polyphenols, and fiber, with pre-clinical and clinical evidence suggesting health-promoting effects in cardiovascular and metabolic disease.

What do we call Zaatar in English? ›

Zaatar or Za'tar (zaah-tur) is a common noun in the Arabic language and refers to both a Middle-Eastern herb spice mixture and importantly a distinct herb plant in the mint family. The herbal plant is referred to in English as bible hyssop or Syrian oregano, but the mixture is just called zaatar.

What does za'atar taste good on? ›

It's great to simply season some avocados or tomatoes for a snack (drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil), to generously season pillowy homemade bread rolls, to jazz up some breakfast eggs and spinach pasta, or to include with olive oil for dipping as part of a big Mediterranean spread.

Is sumac spice the same as za'atar? ›

Some uncommon Middle Eastern spices such as sumac, za'atar, and dukkah have become my go-to's. They're perfect on fish, salads, meats, and vegetables. Sumac is a red-purple powder that adds a lovely lemony flavor and gorgeous color. Za'atar is a lemony hyssop or thyme, sumac, and sesame seed blend.

Is Zaatar hard to find? ›

Fresh za'atar is difficult to find in the US, but its relatives like oregano and marjoram, and even thyme, are bountiful.

What herbs Cannot be taken with high blood pressure? ›

Examples of herbal supplements that may affect your blood pressure or blood pressure medicines include:
  • Arnica (Arnica montana).
  • Ephedra (ma-huang).
  • Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius, Panax ginseng).
  • Guarana (Paullinia cupana).
  • Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra).

What spice reverses high blood pressure? ›

For centuries, people have used cinnamon in Traditional Medicine to treat cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure. Consuming cinnamon is considered a smart choice, helping you to reduce 6.2 mmHg systolic blood pressure and 3.9 mmHg diastolic blood pressure.

Is zaatar inflammatory? ›

The O. syriacum extracts contain different classes of polyphenols including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and phenolic terpenes – with a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

What does zaatar taste like? ›

What does za'atar taste like? “Since it's not one singular spice, za'atar has a lot of balance in its overall flavor — vegetal, nutty, lemony, and zesty,” explains Engel. The flavor will vary depending on the blend you choose to source or make.

What is the difference between sumac and za'atar? ›

Some uncommon Middle Eastern spices such as sumac, za'atar, and dukkah have become my go-to's. They're perfect on fish, salads, meats, and vegetables. Sumac is a red-purple powder that adds a lovely lemony flavor and gorgeous color. Za'atar is a lemony hyssop or thyme, sumac, and sesame seed blend.

Is Zaatar inflammatory? ›

The O. syriacum extracts contain different classes of polyphenols including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and phenolic terpenes – with a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

What's the difference between Zaatar and Baharat? ›

Also among popular Middle Eastern blends is Za'atar, a mixture with a very different base and flavor profile than baharat. It is a much more herbaceous, nutty blend, consists of a mix of dried herbs (basil, thyme, oregano, or hyssop), toasted sesame seeds, sumac, and salt.

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