If you have recently fallen in love with zaatar and want to put it on everything, rest assured that you are not alone. People have been loyal fans of this ancient spice for thousands of years. One of the best things about za’atar is that you can do almost anything with it; here is a brief look at some of your many options;
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The earthy flavours of zaatar (often known as za’atar or zatar) are the perfect complement to almost any kind of meat and you can either use it as a seasoning or incorporate it into a marinade. Zaatar goes particularly well with chicken, lamb, beef and salmon.
Whether you use store-bought pita or slices of French bread, add a drizzle of olive oil and a healthy sprinkling of zaatar, then broil it – the result will be a simple yet delicious snack. If you are feeling a little more adventurous make yourself a traditional manoosh – the only difference is making your own flat bread, adding a few extra toppings and baking it in the oven. Manoosh have some of the best za’atar bread in Sydney!
Adding a pinch or two of zaatar to any vegetable based soup will highlight all of those gorgeous natural flavours. While almost any type of soup will do, those made with pumpkin, squash or sweet potato will thrive most with a little zaatar.
Want to take your favourite dip to a whole new level? Sprinkle some zaatar on top! Not only will zaatar enhance the flavour of everything from hummus to French Onion dip, it provides a wonderfully healthy touch. Add zaatar to plain yoghurt or sour cream and you will have a dipping sensation perfect for summer entertaining.
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Zaatar goes well with baked, grilled or barbequed vegetables of almost any kind, so much so that even your kids will be lining up for seconds. Whether corn, carrots or potatoes are your favourite, you’ll be amazed at the difference a little zaatar can make.
Tired of eating boring salads? Simply add zaatar. While it is best suited to Lebanese style salads such as tabouli, zaatar will boost Greek salads, pasta salads and liven up even the most uninspiring garden salad.
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If you are a Middle Eastern chef at heart and like to make your own falafel mix, throw some zaatar in there as well! Those falafel balls be healthier, taste better and even your Lebanese friends will be begging for the recipe.
Zaatar and almost any type of cheese is a match made in heaven. Add a sprinkle of zaatar to grilled halloumi, roll balls of goat cheese in zaatar, or combine olives and zaatar with some homemade labneh (a type of yoghurt based cheese) for a truly gourmet treat.
There is a reason why zaatar has been used in cooking for thousands of years – it can do almost anything! If you need some inspiration stop by Manoosh and try one of our many zaatar based delicacies – or why not let us bring it straight to you?
