What is Za'atar and How to Use It (BEST Za'atar Recipes) (2024)

FAQs

What do I use zaatar for? ›

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.

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.

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.

Often it is baked into flatbread, mixed with olive oil or tahini to make a dip, tossed into salads, rubbed onto meat, or sprinkled over hummus. If you are using za'atar in a cold dish or any preparation that it will not be heated up in, first bloom it to unlock all of its flavor.

Nutritional Value of Zaatar:

It is also a very powerful antioxidant. Sesame seeds are thought to be one of the healthiest foods because they are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and nutrients that are good for your health.

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.

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

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 can be sprinkled on poached or fried eggs, or on shakshuka, enhancing the overall breakfast experience. Another great (and simple) use is to season chicken with za'atar, roast or grill it and serve it over rice. And oven-roasted potatoes pair well with a generous sprinkling of za'atar and olive oil.

What is the flavor of sumac? ›

The flavor of sumac can be likened to the tang of fresh-squeezed lemon juice; it's tart and sharp, but also contains a hint of sweetness, along with lingering floral notes. “It's a subtle tang with some fruitiness that you wouldn't get from lemon juice,” says food blogger Amina Al-Saigh.

Other Latin names for the herbs called za'atar in Arabic include Origanum syriacum (also known as Bible hyssop, Arabic oregano and wild marjoram) and Origanum majorana (sweet marjoram).

Zaatar translates roughly to wild oregano, you don't really find it in the UK but I guess it's a cross between Thyme and Oregano. In Lebanon it grows wild in the mountains and people forage it to make their supply for the whole year. The common Zaatar mix is made with sumac and sesame seeds.

In much of the Middle East, za'atar recipes are closely guarded secrets, and there are also substantial regional variations. Unsurprisingly, these variations are a matter of extreme national pride. There are some standards: the most common herbs are thyme and oregano, and they make up the bulk of the blend.

People most commonly use sumac as a spice. Like many other culinary spices, sumac can enhance the flavor and color of a variety of dishes. It's particularly popular in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines. Sumac has a rich red color, a citrus-like fragrance, and a distinct tart flavor similar to lemon juice.

Za'atar compounds have also been studied from a gastrointestinal perspective, concerning both gut microbiota and gastrointestinal diseases. Antioxidants such as Za'atar polyphenols may provide beneficial effects in the complex interplay between the diet, gut microbiota, and intestinal permeability.

There have been studies claiming that regular consumption of za'atar in your diet can improve your brainpower and cognition. The spice blend contains circulation-boosting power due to its rich mineral content that can enhance your brain and incite neural activity.

While the term zaatar is commonly used as the name for the popular Lebanese spice blend, it is also the Arabic name for this wild thyme which grows in Lebanon and the Middle East. As a wild herb it has a stronger, more pungent flavour than standard thyme, and it also has notes of oregano in its character.