Mixed nuts made with za’atar and lemon. This is a very easy snack that happens to be very healthy. The Za’atar add a nice aroma to the nuts and flavorful.  These nuts are ready in less than 5 minutes

I made this recipe for a guest post on Jenny Melrose Family’s Blog.  Reprinted on Healing Tomato with permission

Have you discovered za’atar spice yet?

If you have, you know that its one of the most flavorful spices and lends a heavenly aroma to any recipe you put it into.

I have been eating Za’atar for a long time without realizing it. It was only recently that I found its name and started using it more frequently in my cooking.

Front view of Mixed Nuts with Za'atar spice in a mason jar. Surrounded by za'atar spice and lemon rounds

Tips for making these nuts

  • Keep the freshness of the mixed nuts by storing them in a sealed container or in snack bags
  • Mixed nuts are a perfect healthy snack for kids and adults alike.
  • Add some spice by adding red pepper flakes.
  • The mixed nuts can easily be turned into more of a trail mix by adding raisins, chocolate chips or pretzels.
  • I put these mixed nuts in tiny zip-lock snack bags and kept them by my desk.  It was so cool to have healthy snacks within reach, instead of grabbing a bag of chips! Or worse, some chocolate chip cookies!
Overhead view of Mixed Nuts with Za'atar spice in a mason jar. Surrounded by za'atar spice and lemon rounds

Answering your questions

What is Za’atar (or Zaatar)?

Za’atar is a blend of spices used in Middle Eastern and some Jewish cooking. Each family seems to have their own recipe blend which makes it unique. Some will add cumin to it and others will add sage.

What to make with za’atar?

Amaranth Tabouli with Za’atar
Muhammara
Mint Vinaigrette
Energy Bites

Check out my collection of the best za’atar recipes.

How do you pronounce Za’tar?

It has two syllables -> “Za” and “tar”.
The Za is pronounced like Tsar without the R
The Tar is harder to pronounce because you have to roll the tongue from the back to the front. It’s closer to how you say Turkey. Check out Dakkan Foods video where she shows you how to pronounce za’atar.

How long will it last?

This spice can last for years. Store it in your pantry in a glass bottle and keep it away from direct sunlight.

Overhead view of Mixed Nuts with Za'atar spice in a mason jar. Surrounded by za'atar spice and lemon rounds

Introduction of Za’atar in Western Cuisine

Many immigrants coming from the Middle Eastern countries brought their version of this recipe to Western countries when they immigrated.  They also brought their time-tasted recipes

The spice and recipes are so flavorful that American and European chefs took notice of this spice and started using it in their recipes.  Have you seen it being used prominently in pasta recipes?  I love that it’s being used in marinara recipes.

It’s so good in marinara and pizza sauce recipes that I am thinking of modifying my recipes to include it.

To get started, I decided to use it in a simple snack recipe.

Spicy Mixed Nuts Vs Sweet Mixed Nuts

It’s really strange for me to see sweet or candied nuts.  Growing up, we always made a savory or spicy version of mixed nuts.  We loved mixing cayenne pepper with cashews.  Or, black pepper and peanuts.

For this reason, I decided to make a savory recipe using mixed nuts.  It comes naturally to me.  Next time, I am trying a candied version of cashews or almonds.

It doesn’t get easier than mixing nuts and za’atar.  Just put all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well.  The lemon zest adds so much aroma along with the za’atar.  You can keep using it for about 3-6 months.

Any leftover peanuts are turned into peanut satay sauce and leftover cashews are turned into candied cashews or arugula spread.  So, it’s all win-win.

The beauty of this recipe is that you can add any nuts, pretzels, popcorn, raisins, etc. It will work perfectly in a trail mix recipe!

What is your favorite way to use Za’atar spice?

Related: Learn all about Amaranth Grain

Front view of Mixed Nuts with Za'atar spice in a mason jar. Surrounded by za'atar spice and lemon rounds

Must Make Mixed Nuts with Za’atar Spice

Rini
Quick and easy healthy snack made with Mixed Nuts and Za’atar
Ingredients
Go Ahead, Rate it now!
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Total Time 4 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Servings 2 people
Calories 805 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place all the nuts in a bowl and raisins (if using)
  • Add the Za'atar, zest, lemon juice and salt
  • Use a scooper to mix everything together
  • Serve immediately or store it in glass containers for future use

Nutrition

Calories: 805kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 24gFat: 62gSaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 604mgPotassium: 1066mgFiber: 13gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 150IUVitamin C: 9.2mgCalcium: 223mgIron: 10.6mg
Keyword healthy nuts recipes, how to make mixed nuts, mixed nuts recipe
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2 Comments

  1. The ingredients list lemon juice, but the directions do not include it. When do you add the lemon juice?

    1. Hello Judy, Thanks for your question and apologize for teh delay in responding. I updated the recipe information. Add the lemon juice at step number 2. Thank you.