A blend of sumac and simple herbs go into making of this aromatic Za’atar Spice. This Middle Eastern seasoning, with it’s tangy & herb flavors, give dishes an exotic flare.
You will LOOOVE having this seasoning in your pantry!
Za’atar is an aromatic spice that can take a blah recipe and turn it into a KA-POW recipe!
Best part is it is so easy to make. With the exception on one spice, you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry right now.
🤔 What is zaatar?
Za’atar is a mix of different dried herbs, sumac and sesame seeds. Making zaatar is a tradition passed down over generations. There are many variations of this seasoning, but there are 2 ingredients that each recipe always has. One is sesame seeds and the other is sumac
❓ What is sumac?
Sumac is a flower that grows in subtropical climate. There are about 35 different types of flowers that are classified as part of the sumac family. The flower is dried and turned into sumac powder so that it can be used in various cuisines. It’s easy to find sumac in health food stores or on (Affiliate Link) Amazon.
🥣 What is in it?
- Ground sumac
- Sesame seeds
- Dried thyme
- Dried oregano
- Dried marjoram
- Cumin
- Coriander powder
- Crushed red pepper
- Salt (optional)
Every family has their own variation of za’atar seasoning recipe. Some like to add dried basil, turmeric, ajwain seeds and black sesame seeds.
👩🍳 Substitution tip: If you don’t have ground sumac, you can always substitute it with (affiliate link) lemon pepper seasoning. It won’t have the same color but the taste will be similar.
👩🍳 How to make zaatar
1. In a bowl, add all the ingredients.
2. Mix the ingredients well. You can also use a blender or mortar and pestle to make a zaatar powder.
3. Transfer to a glass container with a tight lid. It’s now ready for use.
I almost always use a mortar and pestle to grind my spices, like pumpkin spice. I come from a generation of women who never owned blenders. I have so much respect for them because they would always hand ground spices like no blender can.
🍶 Storing it
Store za’atar in a tight lid, glass container. Place the container in a cool, dry place which is away from direct sunlight.
This glass spice containers are my favorite and they can be found on (affiliate link) Amazon.
🍅 Storage Tip: Always store seasonings in glass bottles and keep them away from direct sunlight. That will increase it’s shelf life.
Answering Common Questions
Za’atar has a long shelf life. It will be good for about 6 months. Ideally, you want to use it within 3-6 months.
Sumac deep rich red color makes it misleading. People automatically assume that it must be spicy. That is the complete opposite of sumac’s taste. Sumac has a tangy flavor where it tastes closer to lemon zest.
Use lemon pepper, if you don’t have sumac. It has a similar tangy flavor, but a different color.
Yes, za’atar spice has salt added in it. However, I don’t add it into mine because most of the recipes that use it have their own salt amount. So, to avoid confusion, I keep salt out. Also, za’atar can be used in dessert recipes where salt ruins the taste.
🥄 Za’atar spice uses
- Tabouli recipe (It’s made using amaranth grain)
- Roasted Brussels sprouts are such an easy holiday side dish.
- Energy bites with za’atar are a quick protein packed snack.
- Mint salad dressing makes it easy to flavor your salad.
- Muhammara is a traditional Turkish appetizer that tastes better with za’atar.
- Vegan split pea soup will become your favorite soup recipe ever!
- I love flavoring my breakfast red potatoes with it.
⏲ Shelf life tip: Za’atar has a long shelf life of 6-12 months. However, use it up within 3-6 months.
❤️ Other homemade spices you will love
Want even more zaatar spice uses? I have a zaatar roundup with even more dishes that use it. Za’atar can flavor potatoes and even breadcrumbs.
Explore the wonderful world of homemade seasonings. Want to know where to start exploring the wonderful world of DIY seasonings? Check out this deep-dive post of homemade spice blends.
Now that you know how easy it is to make za’atar spice, will you be making this often?
🤝 Sharing is caring
Don’t be shy, chime in below in the comments. Let me hear your opinion on this zaatar seasoning recipe. If you enjoyed this, please give it 5 stars and share it on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram.
How to make zaatar spice
Equipment
- 1 Mortar and pestle optional
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Ground sumac
- 2 Tbsp dried oregano
- 2 Tbsp dried thyme
- 1 Tbsp marjoram
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp coriander
- 3 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper adjust for spice level
See notes for salt information
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients in a glass bowl.
- Using a wooden spoon, mix all the ingredients.
- (Optional) You can use a mortar pestle to grind into powder form
- Using a funnel, transfer the seasoning into a spice bottle
I just started using zatar spice blend after watching salt fat acid heat, whose author is Iranian heritage. Also from watching Relaxing Village on you-tube
I have watched the show you refer to. She is very talented.
I love making my own spices and this za’atar blend is off-the-charts delish! I am already onto my second batch. I use it on everything, and even tried it in your salad dressing – it was fabulous!
Thank you, Jenn. I love putting it in salad dressings.
I’m sharing this recipe with all my friends. I love that we can now make our own Za’atar Spice. Thank you for the simple recipe!
Thank you, Sandy
I need this spice for a dish and stumbled upon this recipe. It was perfect and added just the flavor I was looking for.
Thank you, Lisa
I love making my own spices as it just makes more sense to avoid random ingredients. This zaatar spice was so much better than store-bought and worked beautifully in homemade soup!
Thank you, Shelby! I just made lentil soup today with za’atar in it.
Zaatar is one of my favorite spices that I always buy in the Middle east. This was the first time I made it by myself, and it turned out very tasty.
Thank you, Vladka. I am so happy to hear that.