ZATAAR- basically means “thyme” in Arabic, this tasty aromatic spice blend is a mix of dried thyme, sesame seeds and sumac, but could also contain oregano, marjoram along with salt. Sprinkle over roasted meats and veggies, add to salads, dips and dressings. Add it into Smith St Paleo Multi-Seed Bread Mix for a tasty twist or into my Cauliflower flatbread recipe. You should try making my Zataar Scones – recipe HERE.
TAHINA– tahini, tehineh, tehina, however you spell it, its puréed sesame seeds and its amazing! Blended up with lemon juice, garlic and water, its drizzle-tastic. Great for salad dressings and perfect with roasted cauliflower, carrots, eggplant and pumpkin. Gives awesome flavour to my cauliflower hummus -recipe HERE. I also like to use it as a nut butter replacement to make some treats school friendly. Check fig and sesame cookies HERE.
SUMAC– this is the dark red powder made from dried and ground sumac berries. It has a tart, lemony flavour and its delicious. It works well in rubs for meat and is always awesome sprinkled on salads, dips and veggies.
POMEGRANATE MOLASSES– this is pomegranate juice that has been reduced down to a thick syrup. Make sure you buy one without added sugar. It’s tangy and gives an amazing depth of flavour. Use it in salad dressings, as a meat glaze or in marinades, drizzled over roasted veg or added into dips.
PRESERVED LEMONS– so technically more North African, but lets be flexible. They add a depth and complexity that normal lemons just don’t. Like a lemon umami flavour. Citrusy and almost floral, its that extra flavour that you cant quite put your finger on. Put them in tagines and casseroles, dressings, liven up salads, veggies and dips, or my personal fave, in a Bloody Mary.
HARISSA – move over sriracha, this is my favourite way to spice shit up. It’s a North African chilli paste thats flavoured with herbs. Use it in traditional Moroccan and Tunisian dishes such as Merguez Sausages, Shakshouka and dips, but equally good to spice up meats, especially chicken wings, make spicy roast potatoes and chillify salad dressings.