Syrian Za'Atar Recipe

An authentic Lebanese Zaatar recipe. Zaatar is famous across all of the Middle East and has many culinary uses. You’ll learn how to make zaatar using this recipe from my Mother. A deliciously fragrant blend of dried herbs and toasted sesame seeds.

Zaatar is the Arabic word for wild thyme (hyssop) or it is also used (most commonly) to refer to a blend of herbs such as this recipe.

Zaatar across the Middle East will differ in blends, some will include spices. I have been fortunate to have tried many which are all lovely in their own right, but I keep coming back to the blend I grew up on.

Man'oushe With Za'atar Oil, Tomatoes, And Cucumber Recipe

Zaatar in English is pronounced as “zaa·tahrr” The “r” in “tahr” syllable is rolled. It can be used interchangeably for the herb hyssop or the blend of herbs.

Notes on some of the ingredients, the full list of ingredients and their measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

I am aware some areas it's hard or impossible to find sumac at your grocer. In this case, you can buy it online, like this 100% ground sumac (affiliate link)

Lebanese Za'atar Pizza (man'oushe Bi Za'atar) Recipe

Step 3 - Place oregano leave into a breathable cloth bag and hang in the sun until completely dry. Drying oregano can take between 5-10 days depending on weather conditions

Step 5 - Add dried oregano, sumac, and 1.5 teaspoons of salt, and stir over heat for about 5-10 minutes until all is combined

My mother uses an old basmati rice bag with a zipper to dry out her oregano in the sun, any calico or breathable bag will work, so long as it can be sealed

Lebanese Zaatar Bread

This way when I am in a rush or feel like some, I have it on hand which I can smear onto toast. Trust me Lebanese Zaatar on toast gets me salivating.

If you love a fresh hot herb beverage, steep the leftover oregano stalks in boiling hot water (add your preferred sweetener if needed)

If you prefer to buy a zaatar blend, try this one here (affiliate link) Whenever I am not able to make my own, I like the taste of this blend, and it’s proven to be of good quality using only ingredients I would use.

Za'atar Pull Apart Bread

Zaatar is a blend of dried herbs traditionally made with wild hyssop, due to availability and ease of use, oregano is commonly used to replace hyssop, which is then blended with sumac, thyme (not always) with toasted sesame seeds and a touch of salt. The dried herbs are in powder form.

Zaatar has a pleasant tangy, sour and nutty taste. It has a resemblance to lemon due to the sumac which is the sour component. The nutty flavor is from the toasted sesame. The flavors are slightly elevated when cooked.

Zaatar is the word for a family of herbs. Zaatar also refers to the plant ‘wild-thyme’ which is hyssop. It is more commonly used to refer to a blend of herbs.

Authentic Syrian Za'atar

Fresh oregano is a low-lying plant that grows small bright green almond-shaped leaves up to 3cm long, which are generally flat, soft, and fuzzy. The oregano plant will contain many stems which can grow very long if allowed.

There are a couple of close zaatar substitute for the herb blend. One is dukkah. Whilst not exactly the same it does normally contain more ingredients, a combination of herbs and spices) and crushed tree nuts, it can be used in a similar way to zaatar and also taste close it. 

We love to spread it in our bread and feast on other amazing dishes such as zucchini flesh lib el koussa or haytaliyeh, olives, fresh vegetables & fruit, ful madames and more.

Zaatar And Sumac Crackers

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An authentic Lebanese Zaatar recipe blend. Zaatar is famous across all the Middle East, it has many culinary uses. This recipe is my mother’s, a fragrant blend of dried herbs and toasted sesame seeds.

Za'atar Blends From Different Regions

Warm zaatar will cause condensation and ruin, please allow it to completely cool down to room temperature which can then be stored for several months in your pantry

Use it to make zaatar pinwheels It is ideal to use as a rub, try it on air fryer corn or on bread like these vegan dinner rolls

Calories: 39 kcal | Carbohydrates: 3 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 3 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Sodium: 48 mg | Potassium: 52 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 1 g | Vitamin A: 33 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 89 mg | Iron: 2 mg

Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs With Zaatar

N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.Enjoy this traditional Middle Eastern flatbread, aka Zaatar bread/Manakish Za’atar, with just 7 ingredients from scratch and 20 minutes of hands-on prep! This zaatar flatbread can be served as a snack, appetizer, or alongside a breakfast spread!

When I was a child, I couldn’t wait for the days when I got to enjoy zaatar manakish from the local Lebanese bakery, even better if a family made it from scratch. This Middle Eastern flatbread is soft and tender, and flavorsome, topped with a flavor-packed za’atar spice and olive oil mixture for a zaatar ‘pizza’ to die for.

As an adult, I’ve dipped my toes in the waters of making several traditional Lebanese recipes from my childhood – including spinach fatayer, Authentic pita (then fattoush with the leftover pita), and batata harra (among others). However, one thing I never bothered to learn for so long was the homemade Middle Easter Flatbread ‘Manakish’.

Lebanese Za'atar Pizza

Living in London, I had access to amazing freshly-baked zaatar manakish from a local bakery and several takeaway options (and at low prices too). It’s only having moved away from London last year that I lost my local fix and decided it was time to give it a go myself – and wow, why haven’t I been doing this all along?!

The recipe and method are super simple, and the smell of the baking fresh zaatar bread from the oven is one of my ultimate ‘cozy’ homey smells ever now. That alone is enough of a reason to bake this at home. Adding to that, the fact that the manakish dough is ridiculously versatile (and I’m talking like ‘all-purpose dough’ levels of versatile) – then this isn’t a recipe to be missed.

Zaatar is a Middle Eastern spice blend usually comprised of sumac, thyme, and sesame seeds. Optionally, you can also include oregano, cumin, and/or marjoram.

Za'atar (middle Eastern Herb Blend) Recipe

Depending on where you buy it from, it will vary slightly. I use homemade za’atar for this zaatar bread – my blend combined sumac, oregano, sesame seeds, and optionally some thyme.

I use this simple Middle Eastern Dough. This recipe will require about an hour and a half (due to the hour-long proving time), so plan accordingly.

Once the dough is prepared, split it into 5 equal pieces for larger flatbread or to 8 for medium-sized ones. You can weigh it out for complete accuracy, but I just do this by eye.

Cedar Plank Za'atar Salmon

Use your fingers to dimple the top of the bread lightly. This will not only help keep the topping in place as the bread bakes, but it will also stop it from puffing up too much in the oven.

You can do this step before or after adding the topping. I did it after this particular time, as I forgot to do it before – whoops!

Place an inverted tray or a pizza stone in the oven and preheat it to the highest it can reach (mine is 500ºF/260ºC).

Priya's Versatile Recipes: Za'atar Pizza/man'oosheh/lebanese Manooshe

In a small bowl, combine the za’atar and olive oil and mix well into a paste similar to pesto rather than a thick paste.

Top each of the Middle Eastern flatbread with some of the za’atar oil blend, leaving about a 1/2-1 inch ‘crust’ at the edges.

Transfer the topped zaatar bread onto the pre-heated inverted oven tray (or pizza stone). Do this carefully, so you don’t burn yourself.

Za'atar Bread Lebanese Flat Bread (manakish) With Za'atar Seasoning

Remove the manakish za’atar from the oven and allow it to cool slightly. This will allow the topping to ‘dry’ to the flatbread. Then, enjoy – make sure to wrap/cover it with a kitchen towel to keep the bread soft.

Store: Store the baked zaatar bread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. If you used oil in the dough in place of oil, you could store the bread at room temperature for 3-5 days (covered).

Freezer: Wrap the zaatar manakish tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator before enjoying or heat from frozen.

Traditional Lebanese Zaatar (zatar / Za'atar / Zahatar / Za Atar)

Reheat: You can reheat the bread from frozen in the oven at 250ºF/120ºC until warmed