Zaatar Herb Blend

Name: Zaatar Herb Blend
Total time: 10 min
Yield: About 1 cup/110 g
Cuisine: North African
Ingredients: 1/2 cup dried wild hyssop (or thyme); 1/4 cup ground sumac; 1/4 cup white sesame seeds (toasted); 1/2 tsp coarse salt

Foundational Levantine dry condiment made of ground wild hyssop/thyme, toasted white sesame seeds, tart sumac, and sea salt.

10 minutesYield · About 1 cup/110 gRegion · Cairo

Ingredients

What you’ll need

1/2 cup dried wild hyssop (or thyme)
1/4 cup ground sumac
1/4 cup white sesame seeds (toasted)
1/2 tsp coarse salt

Method

How it comes together

1
Rub dried wild hyssop/thyme leaves through a fine-mesh strainer to grind them into a soft, fluffy green powder.
2
Toast white sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat (350°F / 175°C) for 2 minutes until golden. Let cool.
3
Whisk hyssop powder, toasted sesame seeds, ground sumac, and coarse salt in a bowl until completely uniform.
4
Store in an airtight jar. Use within 1 year.

Accuracy note

The flavor of true Origanum syriacum differs from common thyme; a substitute should be labeled as such.

Chef’s note

Wild hyssop (ezov) is the authentic herb used in za'atar, giving it a slightly minty, pine-like aroma.