What can I do with zaatar?

Active Poster Joined: Mar 25 2008 Posts: 64

I bought some zaatar - thought it looked interesting. What can I do with it for Shabbos - any chicken recipe ideas?

Posted: Thu, May 08 2008, 10:43 pm Post subject: re: What can I do with zaatar?

I dont have an official recipe but I use it very often just on chicken breasts, I pound them down, sprinkle them w/ zaatar and like a shwarma spice, and grill them, thats it.

Executive Member Joined: Apr 09 2008 Posts: 295

ive got a great crockpot recipe. if you want, ill post it, just ask

Platinum Member Joined: Apr 06 2008 Posts: 5152

Its good on many different foods. Chicken, meat, tchina, challah

Diamond Member Joined: Feb 28 2006 Posts: 4109

We make a dip out of it.

Mix with LOTS of Olive-Oil (It should be like a very watery dip, like a gravy)
and Crushed Garlic

It's DELISH with Challah!!!
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Platinum Member Joined: Aug 12 2007 Posts: 20599

My kids split a pita and shmear with olive oil and zaatar. Then they toast it.

Posted: Fri, May 09 2008, 3:39 am Post subject: re: What can I do with zaatar?

I have a really good dairy recipe using zaatar.
Boil a package of spaghetinni (very thing spaghetti noodles). Drain and while still warm, not hot but warm, add sliced black olives, olive oil, and a lot of zaatar. Mix. Then top with crumbled feta cheese, as much as you like. Serve while still warm. It is very delicious.

Gold Member Joined: Feb 26 2008 Posts: 1041

we just lay out chicken thighs (karayim) in a pan, drizzle olive oil, then sprinkle zaatar (to cover it), a bit of garlic and salt, put in oven with your normal temp and times. et voila.
very easy and usually delicious.

Active Poster Joined: Mar 25 2008 Posts: 64

Ilovechoumous - sounds great - easy and tasty. One question - why "usually delicious"?????

Posted: Fri, May 09 2008, 9:59 am Post subject:

we used to sprinkle zaatar on our pizza.

Gold Member Joined: Feb 26 2008 Posts: 1041

usually delicious as I rarely get good feedback from my cooking, but this is fail safe, so its usually a success and usually delicious.

Posted: Sun, May 11 2008, 2:38 pm Post subject: re: What can I do with zaatar?

I also use it in my breading mix for schnitzel, fried fish, etc. as well as in all the ways written here by others. I also put it on foccacia on top of olive oil with salt and garlic. Yum

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 04 2006 Posts: 2694

I have never ever heard of zaatar. where can I get it? tzion?

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 12 2007 Posts: 20599

You can get zaatar in the kosher groceries in LA and NY, IIRC. It's sumac and hysop I think, mixed together. Different wild herbs/grasses mixed together with some sesame seeds

here, from wiki:

Za'atar (Arabic: زعتر‎; also spelt satar or zahatar) is a mixture of spices used as a condiment with Middle Eastern origins. The name of the condiment shares the Arabic name of the herb used as the main ingredient.[1]

Latin names for the herb za'atar include Origanum majorana (sweet marjoram), Origanum syriacum (also known as Bible hyssop, Syrian oregano and wild marjoram), and Thymus capitatus (thyme).[2] Za'atar birri ("wild za'atar") is identified as Origanum vulgare which in English can refer to European oregano, oregano, pot marjoram, wild marjoram, winter majoram, and wintersweet.[3] Both oregano and marjoram are closely related Mediterranean plants of the Labiatae family which also includes mint and sage, so it is unsurprising that these herbs are commonly used as substitutes for one another.[4]

Za'atar is generally prepared using ground dried thyme, oregano, marjoram, or some combination thereof, mixed with toasted sesame seeds, sumac and salt.[4] Some varieties may add savory, cumin, coriander[5] or fennel seed.

Za'atar is popular both as an herb and as a condiment in Armenia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Turkey. It is eaten for breakfast alongside a cheese made of yogurt with bread throughout the Arab world, but most predominantly in Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria

Posted: Thu, Jun 26 2008, 2:38 am Post subject: re: What can I do with zaatar?

Any other ideas? Can you use zaatar like pesto, or in other foods (I know this is the chicken section, but instead of a new thread...) I just came into a quantity of it from mil, and I'm not sure what to do. Anyone ever tried with rice, pasta, veggies, etc?

Last Shabbos I diced some potatoes, drizzled them with olive oil, and sprinkled with zaatar, mixed, then roasted. Came out pretty well. Even my little ones liked it!

Posted: Thu, Jun 26 2008, 11:39 am Post subject: re: What can I do with zaatar?

anyone?

Platinum Member Joined: Jul 27 2007 Posts: 15029

I used to use it in tuna salad. I'd also buy this special flat bread (can't remember what it's called) and I'd spread on olive oil, sprinkle with zaatar and salt, and toast it.

Posted: Thu, Jun 26 2008, 10:08 pm Post subject: re: What can I do with zaatar?

I've been looking all over for it, but have not found any in my area. I guess I'll have to get some on my next trip to NY or Israel.

Silver Member Joined: Mar 06 2006 Posts: 909

I find it in most stores here in NY, its made by a brand called Pereg.