If I had to pick my favorite spice mix, zaatar would probably be high up on the list, if not my favorite. Middle Eastern in origin, this spice mix can be bought at any Middle Eastern grocery store, but if you're gluten free like I am, you'll likely need to make it at home, as zaatar sometimes contains toasted wheat flour as part of the ingredients...
Zaatar is generally made from the herb hyssop, in the mint family. My mom grows it in her garden, so I am able to get it for free, but if you can't buy or get hyssop easily, you can make your own zaatar with marjoram or oregano or a mix of the two, as both are closely related to hyssop and have a similar flavor profile.
I use foraged sumac (deseeded and made into a spice) in my zaatar mix- if you can't forage it, you can buy it (also at Middle Eastern grocery stores) or use citric acid in its place.
Zaatar is yummy on rice and chicken, but is typically eaten either mixed with olive oil as a dip for bread, or brushed onto flatbreads with olive oil and baked. This is known as pita zaatar and is a popular street food in the Middle East. Breads are also eaten with Greek yogurt topped with olive oil and zaatar. Delicious!
My favorite way to use zaatar was one that I thought really weird at first- on pizza! The tastiest pizza I ever tasted was with a pizza base, tomato sauce, green olives, diced tomatoes, diced onion, feta cheese, and zaatar.
Here's my "pita zaatar" I made with my gluten free flat bread. It was certainly a hit!
If you've never tried zaatar before, give it a shot! You may fall in love with it like I have!
Homemade Zaatar Spice Mix Recipe- Gluten Free
Ingredients:7 tablespoons hyssop, marjoram or oregano or a mix
1-2 teaspoon sumac or citric acid
1-1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions:
1. Place herbs, sumac/citric acid, and salt in a coffee grinder/mortar and pestle and grind.
2. Add sesame seeds.
Enjoy!
Have you ever eaten zaatar before? How have you eaten it? What is your favorite way to use zaatar? Have you used it in any way that I haven't mentioned already?
Does this look like a recipe you'd try?
1-1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions:
1. Place herbs, sumac/citric acid, and salt in a coffee grinder/mortar and pestle and grind.
2. Add sesame seeds.
Enjoy!
Have you ever eaten zaatar before? How have you eaten it? What is your favorite way to use zaatar? Have you used it in any way that I haven't mentioned already?
Does this look like a recipe you'd try?
Tags
dairy free
egg free
foraging
free stuff
frugal recipes
frugal strategies
gluten free
made from scratch
recipes
spice mixes
spices
vegan
vegetarian
zaatar is the best! We use it all the time and love it. Thanks for a homemade recipe..
ReplyDeleteI had za'atar (that's how I have seen it spelled) on pita at a Middle Eastern bakery. I want to try it in yoghurt.
ReplyDeleteI think I have some in the cupboard (store bought); if not, I have all the ingredients except hyssop. My neighbourhood has a herb store partnered with a bead store. One man is expert in herbs, the other in beads. Not your usual combination!
I've never heard of it, but I know that zaatar in Arabic means oregano
ReplyDeleteWe've always made our own due to tree nut allergies (sumac is in the same family). It keeps really well in the fridge, if you make too much.
ReplyDeleteI like to toss it with roasted potatoes-it makes a nice crust with some olive oil. Zaatar is one of those things I make, and then go crazy looking for ways to use it up before it goes rancid. We've been on a pizza kick around here of late, and I can't wait to try your idea out.
We've always made our own due to tree nut allergies (sumac is in the same family). It keeps really well in the fridge, if you make too much.
ReplyDeleteI like to toss it with roasted potatoes-it makes a nice crust with some olive oil. Zaatar is one of those things I make, and then go crazy looking for ways to use it up before it goes rancid. We've been on a pizza kick around here of late, and I can't wait to try your idea out.
Looks funky!
ReplyDeleteIs the hyssop dried first?
ReplyDeleteOne of our favorite spices- glad to have a gluten free version. Thanks Penny
ReplyDeleteI make a breakfast treat from a wholemeal flat bread spread with cream cheese (labneh), zaatar, and sliced tomatoes. Fry an egg in olive oil and, when it is almost ready, microwave the flat bread for 30 seconds. Put the fried egg on top and enjoy!
ReplyDelete