Homemade Za’atar Seasoning Blend
As indicated in the intro to this recipe, za’atar is an instant flavor popper and maker! It will definitely become your go-to for everyday grilling and roasting, your secret ingredient in sauces and dips, and your special touch for store-bought hummus and cheese spread. There’s a bit of homegrown comfort in making your own seasoning blend—za’atar is no exception. You can identify all of the ingredients, know their origin, and control for salty-ness, herby-ness, or tangy-ness. My recipe is intentionally neutral so that it marries well with the widest variety of foods. Start here with fresh dried herbs and spices (don’t pull those year-old canisters from the back of your spice rack), and then adjust to your liking. More sumac, salt, or sesame seeds are totally acceptable!
- 2.5 tbsp. white sesame seeds
- 2.5 tbsp. ground sumac (see TIP A below)
- 2 tbsp. dried thyme
- 2 tbsp. dried oregano
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 2.5 tbsp. white sesame seeds
- 1.5 tbsp. dried lemon-pepper seasoning blend (see TIP A below)
- 2 tbsp. dried thyme
- 2 tbsp. dried oregano
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
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In an empty, clean spice jar or other airtight container, combine all of the ingredients for either the "Traditional" or "Easy" blend. Shake or stir until evenly distributed. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months (or longer). Discard when the seasoning blend no longer emits a strong, fresh fragrance upon opening the container.
TIP A: Ground sumac (or sumac powder) can be as hard to find as the seasoning blend za'atar. But, good news—there's a very good and easy-to-find substitute! Some specialty stores or Middle Eastern grocers will carry ground sumac. I get mine at The Spice House in Chicago. It is typically comprised of ground sumac berries and a pinch of salt. It's reddish-brown appearance may lead you to believe that it is spicy or hot in flavor, but in fact it's quite tart and a bit sweet. Many compare its flavor to lemon, cranberries, or vinegar. If you can't readily find ground sumac then a good everyday substitute is a high-quality dried lemon-pepper blend. Follow my Easy Blend recipe above. Look for a lemon-pepper blend that leads with lemon (i.e. dried lemon peel is the first ingredient) and has simple, recognizable ingredient list thereafter (like ground black pepper, salt, granulated garlic or onion, and maybe a pinch of sugar).