What's the Story with Za'atar?
Za'atar makes waves with vibrant flavors
Za'atar continues to grow aggressively in popularity throughout the country, but it's still far from well known. Currently early in the adoption stage, za'atar has, however, been featured heavily in culinary and lifestyle magazines.You can hear all about it in publications like Specialty Food Magazine, Fine Cooking, and even the Boston Globe. But what's all the fuss about? What makes this seasoning so special?Let's check it out.
What is Za'atar?
Za'atar is both a Middle Eastern herb that's very rare and almost never exported (so you likely won't find any here in the states) and a spice blend. For the purposes of this blog, when we refer to za'atar it's the spice blend we speak of.
You can find it in dried (most common), oil-based (more common), and fresh (least common) formats in most grocery stores. Za'atar is usually made from a mixture of spices like oregano, marjoram, thyme, sumac, sesame seeds, and salt. There are many different styles, like chimichurri, but some combination of the previously listed ingredients is always present.
What's it Good With?
This is really what makes it special. Its flavor profile can adapt to lots of different cuisines and applications. It works as a dry rub, marinade, sauce, salad dressing, finishing spice, salsa, snack topping, or pretty much any other application you can imagine.Its Middle Eastern heritage finds it most commonly applied to items like hummus, lamb, and vegetable salads, but this pigeonholes its versatility. I find za'atar equally delicious on proteins like chicken or tofu, on crackers, cheese, and even fruit like pears and apples.
The point is, za'atar has a friendly, exciting flavor that plays well with many other foods.
How Can I Take Advantage of Za'atar?
Well, that of course depends on what you're in the business of making. Try chicken wings with spicy za'atar sauce, or a zesty pizza made with za'atar marinara. A citrus za'atar glaze goes great on chicken or pork, or a fire roasted green chile and za'atar smothered bison burger.Whatever you decide, you can rest assured za'atar will grab the curiosity of your guests with its unique, vibrant blend of flavors.Cheers!
