Zaatar is a seasoning blend that is very popular especially in the Middle East. It is used to provide dishes with a herbal fragrance, a zesty citrus like tang and a hint of nuttiness. This popular spice blend can be incorporated in different cuisines but sometimes it is very hard to come by, thus it is necessary to find substitutes for zaatar. In the global world zaatar can also be used as a rub for different types of meat like chicken, beef and lamp. This popular spice is mainly made up of ingredients like sesame seeds, dried sumac, salt, oregano, thyme as well as other herbs. This article highlights some of the substitutes for zaatar that you can try out, so if you were hesitant to try out a dish that required zaatar because you didn’t have it in your pantry, then this article is definitely for you. From the list of options that are below you might be lucky enough to find ingredients in your pantry that make up a zaatar substitute.
Contents
Substitute zaatar by making your own blend.
NB: this recipe is specifically for making about ½ a cup of a zaatar substitute so you can double the ingredients if you wish to make a cup or more.
You will need the following ingredient to make a zaatar substitute, these are; dried thyme, toasted sesame seeds, ground sumac or dried lemon peel, dried oregano or marjoram and kosher salt.
To make ½ a cup of zaatar you will need to first grab a blender then add 3 tablespoons of dried thyme to the spice blender. The next step is to add 1 tablespoon of lightly toasted sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon of ground sumac, ½ a teaspoon of dried oregano or marjoram and ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt. Grind all the ingredients together for a few minutes until they are well mixed, do not grind the seeds until they are fine because some of the seeds should still be visible, moreover you want the spice to have a crunchiness nutty texture to it. After the ingredients are well mixed transfer the zaatar substitute into a tight container and store in a cool dark place for up to about 6 months. It is important to note that in some countries sumac can be hard to find so you can substitute it with dried lemon peel.
Substitute zaatar with Italian seasoning
NB: the Italian seasoning has almost the same fragrance as zaatar therefore it can be a perfect substitute for zaatar.
The Italian seasoning is a herbal blend that contains some of the many ingredients found in zaatar. The herbs found in most Italian seasonings include thyme, oregano and marjoram. This Italian seasoning is a perfect zaatar substitute since it tastes almost like zaatar and has a fragrance which is similar to zaatar. You can buy Italian seasoning from your local stores if you don’t have any in your house.
Substitute zaatar with harissa spice blend
NB: harissa spice blend is mainly found in North Africa and the Middle East, but you might also find it in your local stores.
Harissa spice blend can be found in 2 forms either as a paste or as a powder. This spice blend contains smoked chilli peppers, cumin, coriander and mint.Harissa spice blend is very popular since it brings flavours to dishes and it is a good substitute for zaatar. However, it is important to note that harissa contains smoked chilli peppers so when using it as a substitute for zaatar just add a fraction of what your recipe requires of zaatar, then from then onwards you can taste the flavour and increase the harissa spice blend until you are convinced about the flavour profile. Harissa is a strong potent spice which adds more flavour to the dish so be sure to add just a little so that it does not over power the dish. The other advantage of using harissa as a substitute for zaatar is that you can make it by yourself if you cannot find it in your local stores.
Substitute zaatar with dukkah
NB: dukkah is very popular in the Middle East.
Dukkah is an Egyptian spice blend which can be used as a substitute for zaatar. It contains sesame seeds which is the main component that provides zaatar with its nuttiness and crunchy texture. Dukkah also contains hazelnuts which help to provide an extra crunch to the spice as well as dried thyme and mint which give the spice blend an excellent fragrance. Ingredients that are found in dukkah are almost similar to those found in zaatar therefore you can substitute zaatar with dukkah. To substitute zaatar using dukkah just use the same quantities for example if your recipe requires you to use 1 tablespoon of zaatar just substitute it with 1 tablespoons of dukkah. Please note that dukkah contains other spices like coriander and cumin so try to use it as a substitute for zaatar only if it complements the flavours in your dish. You can also try to adjust spices in the original recipe so that when you add the dukkah spice it does not completely over power the whole dish.
Conclusion
Zaatar is a very famous spice which provides a beautiful flavour and a delightful fragrance to food but sometimes it can be very hard to find. However, its scarcity in your local shops should not limit you from cooking your favourite dishes, there are substitutes of zaatar that you can use. The first method you can use to create a substitute for zaatar is by making your own spice blend using the ingredients that are mentioned in this article. The 2nd substitute for zaatar is Italian spice since it contains almost the same ingredients as zaatar. Dukkah and harissa spice blends can also be used as substitutes of zaatar. So don’t be afraid to try out your favourite zaatar incorporated dishes since there are a number of options that are available for you to substitute zaatar with.