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Za'atar

Spices & seasonings · Spice blends

Za'atar

Levantine blend of dried thyme-like herbs, sumac, toasted sesame and salt, eaten with olive oil and bread.

Also called: zaatar, zahtar, zatar

A kind of spices

4 recipes with it

Read the full spice guide: flavour, history and how to use it

Make it yourself: Za'atar

Photo: Fshadid, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

What it is

Za'atar is both a wild herb (related to oregano and thyme) and the blend made from it: dried herb, sumac, toasted sesame seeds and salt. It is green-brown, tangy and nutty. Recipes vary by country; Palestinian blends are often greener and more herb-led, Lebanese ones more sumac-sour.

How it’s used

  • Man'oushe flatbread
  • Dipping bread with olive oil
  • Sprinkled on labneh, eggs and hummus
  • Roasted vegetables and chicken

Characteristics

Taste
Herbal, tangy, nutty, salty.
Sold as
dried
Cooking uses
Mainly a seasoning, Used as a garnish, Suitable for baking

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Airtight jar; the sesame can go rancid, so use within a few months.

Diet, allergens and safety

Contains Sesame.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Contains sesame.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
276 kcal
Protein
9.11 g
Carbohydrate
63.94 g
Fat
7.43 g
Fibre
37 g
Sugars
1.71 g

USDA FoodData Central: Spices, thyme, dried (a close stand-in).

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Dried thyme, sumac and sesame — Mix 2:1:1 with salt.

Related ingredients

Recipes with za'atar

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