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Syrian Za’atar

The Quirky Foodster Team

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About 1 cup
Servings

Ingredients

  • Dried za'atar herb — 1/2 cup
  • Sumac — 1/4 cup
  • Toasted sesame seed — 1/4 cup
  • Salt — 1 tsp
  • As for classic za'atar, with Syrian versions sometimes including a small proportion of dried mint alongside the core herb-sumac-sesame base

Method

  1. Simply combine the dried herb, sumac, toasted sesame, and salt — no further cooking or grinding required beyond toasting the sesame.
  2. Only the sesame seed requires toasting, done separately before combining with the other room-temperature ingredients.

Origin: Syria.

Use: Mixed with olive oil as a dip for bread, or sprinkled directly onto flatbread dough before baking (manakish).

Storage: Keeps 2-3 months sealed and dark before the herb component loses potency; sesame’s oils can also turn slightly stale over time.

Variations: Za’atar blends vary considerably from region to region.

Substitutions: A mix of dried thyme, oregano, and marjoram can approximate the herb base where true za’atar herb is unavailable.