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World Za’atar Day

Today marks an extra special day for us here at Dina Foods and it’s not because it’s Friday. Today is World Za’atar Day! 

Many of you may be unfamiliar with the word “za’atar” so fear not! You’ve come to the right place.  

Za’atar is the Arabic word for the herb thyme. However, in the Levantine region, the term also refers to a blend which includes this herb that has been around for almost one thousand years in the Middle East. It’s used for cooking and was believed to possess medicinal benefits. The blend consists of thyme (of course), dried sumac, and sesame seeds. The proportions of each ingredient varies across country, household, and chef. You can try your own recipe and let us know what you think tastes the best! 

In addition to the delicious, earthy taste, za’atar in the 12th century was believed to have health benefits. Many physicians of the time (like Maimonides and Al-Razi) are reported to have prescribed it to their patients due to its antioxidant and antiseptic properties.  

The most traditional way to eat it is with Arabic flatbread and especially the Dina Foods signature Paninette®, our traditional Lebanese bread (also known as “khobez”). There are many ways to use za’atar in your cooking. The following is a variation of one of the customary ways of eating it as a standalone dish: 

Step 1) Pour some delicious olive oil in a bowl. 

Step 2) Put some za’atar in another bowl. 

Step 3) Grab a portion of the Dina Foods Paninette® of your choice. 

Step 4) Dip the bread in the olive oil. 

Step 5) Dip the soaked bread into the za’atar. 

Step 6) Enjoy and repeat! 

*Alternatively, you can mix the oil and za’atar together and eat it with the khobez.  

 

In the Middle East, an extremely popular meal is Manoushe. A Manoushe resembles the base of a pizza that’s been folded in half. One of the most popular Manoushe is za’atar and olive oil (similar to the video below)! 

As such, there are so many ways you can use it. It can be eaten as a dip or used in your pasta sauces, salad dressings, and anything else you can think of! Za’atar’s flavoursome, exotic taste and medicinal properties are the reason it’s a staple food in the Middle East alongside Khobez flatbread.  

Not convinced? Take a look at the video below to get some inspiration and help us celebrate World Za’atar Day! 

The Dina Foods breads can be purchased at Tesco, Morrisons, Asda and Booths!