A traditional Middle Eastern spice blend featuring dried herbs, sesame seeds, and tangy sumac. This aromatic mixture is essential to Levantine cuisine, perfect for sprinkling on flatbread with olive oil, seasoning vegetables, or adding depth to meats and dips. Each family has their own proportion, but this classic blend balances earthy thyme and oregano with nutty sesame and tart sumac.
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If your sesame seeds are not already toasted, add them to a dry skillet over medium heat and toast for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly until golden brown and fragrant, then transfer to a plate to cool completely.
Combine the dried thyme, dried oregano, sumac, and dried marjoram if using in a medium bowl.
Mix the ingredients thoroughly with a spoon or your fingers, rubbing the herbs gently between your fingertips to release their essential oils and ensure even distribution throughout the blend.
To achieve a finer texture, pulse the mixture briefly in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle 2-3 times, being careful not to grind it into a powder because you want to maintain some texture from the sesame seeds and herbs.
Transfer the finished za'atar blend to an airtight glass jar or container and label with the current date for freshness tracking.
