Za’atar is a family of herbs used to great effect in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and North African dishes. It’s a combination of herbs that includes sesame seeds, sumac, thyme, oregano, marjoram, cumin, salt, and sometimes a number of other dried herbs.

This herb mixture is used to create an almost limitless palette of dishes such as Tomato Salad, Lamb and Feta Frittata, Mediterranean Egg Salad, and Lamb. And that’s only a small selection of the meats and vegetables that this seasoning is used on.

It’s such a loved spice (or is it an herb?) that there’s even a holiday that revolves around it. This holiday is known as Za’atar Day and is observed annually on September 23rd.

The History of Za’atar Day

The history of Za’atar Day dates back to ancient times. The spice blend, which is made up of dried herbs like thyme, oregano, marjoram, and sumac at its base level, has been used for centuries in Middle Eastern cuisine. It is a staple ingredient in many dishes, including roasted meats, grilled vegetables, and baked bread.

But za’atar is not just a flavorful ingredient; it also has cultural and historical significance. In ancient times, it was believed to have medicinal properties and was used as a remedy for various ailments. Additionally, it was used in religious ceremonies and was believed to have cleansing and purifying properties.

Za’atar Day was a holiday created to celebrate this spice. As we said, it’s a spice blend that’s used all over the world now, so just about anyone can celebrate it. We like to celebrate this holiday with our own special blend of za’atar, which we’ll now tell everyone how to make in the next section of this article.

Our Own Za’atar Formulation

Okay, we know that people have been waiting for our version of this spice blend, so we’re not going to leave people hanging. Let’s check out our spice blend before we move on to the next section of this holiday article.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of roasted sesame seeds.
• 2 tablespoons of dried thyme.
• 2 tablespoons of dried marjoram.
• 2 tablespoons of dried oregano.
• ½ teaspoon of kosher salt.
• ½ teaspoon of MSG.
• ¼ cup of ground sumac.

Directions:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Grind the sesame seeds in a food processor.
• Add the ground sesame seeds to a bowl and mix in the rest of the ingredients.
• Place it in a jar and use it on your favorite dishes.

Observing Za’atar Day

As we said earlier, all a person has to do to celebrate this holiday is to make and use this spice blend in dishes. Some people make Middle Eastern dishes for this holiday, but that isn’t necessary. Just make what you want, add the spice blend to it, and spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #ZaatarDay on social media. That’s all there is to it.