a mix of sour sumac, fragrant thyme, and crunchy sesame seeds
Za’atar is a mix of spices found in the Middle East and Mediterranean, mainly composed of sumac, thyme, sesame seeds, and a little salt. The mixture varies from region to region, and some za’atars have cumin and coriander, while others even have oregano. The unique sourness of the sumac complements the thyme amazingly, and the sesame seeds bring a satisfying toasty crunch.
I looked through multiple za’atar mix recipes and decided on one loosely based off of the recipe from Minimalist Baker. For the flatbread recipe, I based it off of The Tasty Mediterraneo’s recipe for Lebanese Za’atar Man’oche. This oil flatbread actually reminded me of focaccia, and paired perfectly with Fasolakia, or Greek green beans. Even though I paired a Middle Eastern dish with a Mediterranean dish, they are in similar regions and share many spices and flavors.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp thyme
- 2 tbsp sumac
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tbsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 300 g flour
- 2 tsp yeast
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 75 ml olive oil
- 150 ml warm water
- 3 tbsp za’atar mix (from above)
- 5 tbsp olive oil
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients through 1/2 tsp of sea salt to create your za’atar mix.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, yeast, and 1 tsp sea salt.
- Mix in 75mL olive oil and water by hand, and once incorporated, knead on the counter until smooth.
- Rest in an oiled bowl covered with cloth for 1/2 an hour, or until doubled.
- Divide into 4 sections and roll into rounds.
- Mix za’atar with 5 tbsp olive oil and spread on top of the rounds.
- Bake for 7 minutes at 400F, enjoy!
