Za'atar Spice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Za Atar spice 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.

How to use Zaatar Spice? Keep this seasoning blend handy and you will think of it as a finishing flavor for all kinds of dishes, like fried eggs, salad dressings, roasted and fresh vegetables and chicken, dips such as hummus and baba ganoush, bread, potatoes, atop avocado toast and kale chips.

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.

Even though it varies greatly depending on where you are in the Middle East (specific recipes are sometimes closely-guarded secrets!), za'atar is generally a combination of dried oregano, thyme, and/or marjoram (woodsy and floral), with sumac (tangy and acidic) and toasted sesame seeds (nutty and rich).

Za'atar is a lemony hyssop or thyme, sumac, and sesame seed blend. Both are available at the Co-op; sumac can also be gathered locally in the fall.

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

Za'atar. Also among popular Middle Eastern blends is Za'atar, a mixture with a very different base and flavor profile than baharat.

Trader Joe's Za'atar is “aromatic, versatile and about to become your favorite,” the bottle's label boasts, noting that it can be used in hummus or Greek yogurt, olive oil and pita bread and on meat, fish, vegetables or potatoes.

The two things to remember about zaatar is that it will burn and become bitter at high temperatures and that it loses aroma and pungency with age.

Za'atar can be used as a seasoning, to finish dishes and as a condiment. Use za'atar anywhere you want to add or accentuate bright, herbaceous and earthy flavors, and in dishes that would benefit from a nutty, toasty crunch. Use it as a spice rub for grilled or roasted proteins including chicken, beef, lamb or fish.

Is zaatar inflammatory? ›

2. Anti-inflammatory Properties: Many of the herbs in za'atar, like thyme and oregano, contain compounds that possess anti-inflammatory properties, potentially aiding in reducing inflammation in the body.

Za'atar mixture is commonly employed in the Mediterranean diet and is rich of bioactive compounds. Za'atar components modulate gut microbiota, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and obesity. The combined action of Za'atar components might generate beneficial effects for human health.

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.

Za'atar is a mix of spices, including dried oregano, thyme, or marjoram, sumac, and toasted sesame seeds, known to have health benefits such as suppressing coughing and lowering 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.

In 1977, the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture declared wild za'atar a protected plant in Israel, strictly regulating its harvesting. The criminalization of za'atar harvesting continues to be enforced in Israel and occupied territories of the West Bank by the Israeli Nature and Parks Association (INPA).

2. Anti-inflammatory Properties: Many of the herbs in za'atar, like thyme and oregano, contain compounds that possess anti-inflammatory properties, potentially aiding in reducing inflammation in the body.