zaatar

1 9.6

A dry spice mix from the Middle East used to add flavor to bread and salads

noun
/ˈzɑːtɑr/

: zaatar

First they were attacked by Christian right-wing militias: they were slaughtered in Tal al Zaatar in 1976 and in Sabra and Shatila camps in 1982.

We bought this Zaatar bread at the store yesterday.

Examples

Many Middle Eastern dishes are enhanced by a sprinkle of zaatar before serving.
You can use zaatar to sprinkle on top of hummus for added flavor.
For a simple appetizer, serve zaatar with olive oil and warm pita bread.

How Aromatic

masala

6 3.9

garlic

261 1.0

oregano

29 2.4

zaatar

1 9.6

parsley

49 1.0

Surface Forms

zaatar singular

zaatars plural

Etymology

Zaatar comes from the Arabic za'atar, which means 'wild thyme' or a similar 'herb'. That herb's name became the name for the common Middle Eastern mix of dried herbs, sesame and sumac that people sprinkle on bread, so zaatar today can mean both the plant and the seasoning blend.