Recipe: Za’atar Dipping Oil

May 22, 2019

There’s nothing like a good crusty whole grain loaf of bread from the bakery you can rip apart and dip into a flavorful oil. This Za’atar flavored dipping oil is a fantastic appetizer for a night in with your best girl friends sipping on some red wine. Did I mention it’s incredibly quick and easy to prepare too?!

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What is Za’atar?!

You might be asking yourself, “Well that does sound great, Carrie, but what exactly is Za’atar??”. Za’atar (pronounced “satar”) is a spice blend traditionally used in Middle Eastern kitchens. This delicious blend of flavors can be used like salt and pepper to season foods in most cases and is a staple to any Mediterranean kitchen.

Za’atar has an almost lemony, zingy sort of flavor. Most of it’s flavor comes from the spice sumac which I bought on Amazon. Sumac can be a little difficult to find here in the US but that’s starting to change with the popularity of the Mediterranean diet. So grab a glass of dry red wine (my favorite is a good Malbec), whip up a serving of Za’atar dipping oil, and enjoy the flavors of the Mediterranean!

Za’atar Dipping Oil

A lemony, zingy Mediterranean dipping oil that goes great with a toasted whole grain baguette.
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Course Appetizer
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 5

Ingredients
  

  • 1/8 cup olive oil (you can also use canola, sunflower, or safflower)
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp ground sumac
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions
 

  • Blend all spices together in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container until ready to be served.
  • To serve, mix 1 tsp of Za'atar spice blend to 1/8 cup of olive oil and mix well.
  • Dip with whole grain crusty bread for a great snack or appetizer.
Keyword appetizer, Dipping oil, Mediterranean, za’atar

In my opinion, this Middle Eastern spice blend might be the next “everything bagel seasoning” as it’s used to put on just about anything. Just like this popular blend, Za’atar too has many other uses:

  • Rub on chicken breast and roast it in the oven
  • Sprinkle it over roasted potatoes and vegetables
  • Season salmon and bake for a flavorful twist
  • Dash on hard boiled eggs for a quick, filling snack
  • Top your favorite traditional hummus

What’s your favorite way to use this Za’atar spice blend? Let me know in the comments or contact me directly!