Za’atar Spice Blend

Now is the time to make your very own Za’atar Spice Blend! Not only is this spice mix crazy simple to make, but it’s the perfect seasoning blend for grilled or roasted vegetables, to add to your tahini dip or to jazz up a salad dressing.

If you’ve been searching for an authentic za’atar spice recipe, you’re in the right spot!

I love making middle eastern cuisine and enjoying the flavours of the middle east. I can say without a doubt that this spice mixture is one of my favourites out of all the spices. It’s absolutely delicious on so many dishes and is truly a simple recipe to make. I also love that there are so many ways to use za’atar that can easily change up the flavour of recipes.

From salad dressings, soups, and roasted chickpeas, to add to scrambled eggs, these are just a few ideas of ways that you can use this zaatar spice blend for your own recipe at home.

How Does Za’atar Taste?

The flavour of this simple recipe is a unique blend of bitter, sweet, tangy, salty, and herbal. Adding in olive oil helps to intensify the flavour and helps to create a wonderful marinade as well.

The spice blend of this za’atar recipe does a great job of adding an earthy flavour that will vary slightly depending on what you add it to. Some people also like to add other herbs as well to try and get the most flavour and spice in their dish.

Where did Za’atar Originate?

This spice blend originated in the Middle East and is something that is quite common in Middle Eastern grocery stores as well.

The wild herb za’atar is actually a plant related to mint is native and grows there in the hills. Za’atar though is not made up entirely of this plant but rather a mix of spices and seeds.

Za’atar Ingredients

The great thing about making your own za’atar seasoning blend is that you can really make it your own with spices varying from place to place. You can make a za’atar spice recipe using whole or roughly ground spices or powder in form as well.

To make a whole form za’atar recipe, a pestle and mortar would be used to break down and blend the spice mix. If you are looking for a finer grind or powdery texture then using a coffee or spice grinder works best.

For this za-atar spice recipe, the ingredients are as follows:

• toasted sesame seeds
• ground sumac
• dried thyme
• dried marjoram
• dried oregano
• sea salt

How To Make Za’atar Spices?

To make this za’atar recipe couldn’t be easier! Place all ingredients in a small bowl or cup and mix well to combine.

That’s it – that’s all you have to do to make this spice blend!

Can I add other spices or ingredients to this za’atar spice recipe?

While the above ingredients are the way to make a traditional za’atar spice, you can alter the recipe in any way that your taste buds want you to. Every family has their own version is seems so you really can’t go wrong.

Adding a little bit of lemon zest can be a fun pop of citrus flavour (or dried orange zest, too!) and don’t forget that you can always increase the amount of dried thyme or dried oregano that you add as well.

How to Use Za’atar?

This Middle Eastern spice blend gives you so many options. Zaatar spice would be delicious added to hummus, added as a seasoning blend on pita chips, mixed in as the main seasoning for baba ganoush, or even used to sprinkle over the top of french fries as well.

This simple spice mixture is also delicious sprinkled on goat cheese, greek yogurt, as well as roasted veggies, too! The ways to use this spice mix really are limitless.

When you use quality herbs as this za’atar recipe calls for, it creates the perfect dry rub for meats or a simple addition to any Middle Eastern dish as well.

How to store Za’atar

To keep this spice blend as fresh as possible, you need to store it in an airtight container a cool dark place. As long as it’s in a dark place away from heat and sunlight, all should be fine for storing this simple recipe.

How to Make Toasted sesame seeds

The easiest way to make toasted sesame seeds for this or other recipes is to add them to a frying pan on medium-high heat. Toast them for about 5 minutes giving them a toss every once in a while to make sure both sides get a golden brown finish.

Keep a close eye on the seeds so that you don’t burn them.

Do you have to add olive oil to this zaatar spice blend?

This za’atar spice recipe doesn’t require adding olive oil to it at all! Most people will actually make this Middle Eastern spice blend and then either use it to complement other recipes or use it as a dry rub.

If you do want to pair it with olive oil, just add it a little at a time to get the density you would like. Adding olive oil to za’atar is a great way to make a delicious marinade for grilled meats or even for a fantastic salad dressing.

How long does this za’atar spice recipe last?

With proper storage, this za’atar spice blend should stay fresh for up to 6 months. Just be sure to keep it stored in a dry place so that no moisture gets into the container or jar to affect the za’atar spice.

Sesame seeds can spoil so some people will suggest putting this spice blend in the fridge but I have never had a problem so long as this recipe is consumed within 6 months. Trust me this won’t be a problem considering all the ways you can use this blend.

You’re going to love this Middle Eastern recipe for za’atar with sesame seeds! Not only is this one of the easier za’atar recipes to make, but the crunch of the sesame seeds will have you coming back for more! Now is the time to put this on your radar for must-make recipes!

Recipes You Can Use This Za’atar Recipe In

Simply add a little to some olive oil and toss for roasted veggies or swap out the recipe’s current spice mix and try it with Za’atar instead!

• Air-Fryer Roasted Vegetables
• Easy Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms
• Garlic Roasted Broccoli
• Homemade Pita Chips
• Harissa White Bean Dip

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