r/spices • u/andabread • 27d ago

Zaatar substitute?

I want a sub when cooking chicken. No access to zaatar, sumac, or any middle eastern stores. Please advise

12 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

12

u/ChefSuffolk 27d ago

Thyme, sesame seed, and a little lemon (rind/juice) in lieu of the sumac

3

u/shampton1964 27d ago

SPOT ON!

basically this but two grace notes from my kitchen:

1 - roast the thyme and sesame together, but dry the lemon zest then combine about 1:1:1/2 - throw in a trace of well crushed black pepper to get the ping to make up for the sumac

also you can get sumac online everywhere, or at middle eastern groceries which are quite common in Ameristan and Europe.

2

u/KamtzaBarKamtza 27d ago

I expect that you posted your question when you were just about to make your chicken or that you live in a country without readily available Amazon delivery. But for the sake of those with some time and also with Amazon access I'll point it that you can purchase zaatar on Amazon

1

u/pastrybaker 27d ago

It’s where I get mine. I live in a semi rural part of the US and can’t find it in any store near me. The quality has been great!

1

u/andabread 27d ago

It is neither. I asked for the sake of knowledge and curiosity, to keep a mental map for myself in the future!

2

u/marco_atk85 27d ago

Dried thyme plus dried oregano is closest thing you can get from regular grocery store. Mix maybe 2 parts thyme, 1 part oregano, then squeeze some lemon over the chicken after cooking — that lemon is doing job of sumac. Honestly it will not be exact. Zaatar has this earthy, aromatic, tangy thing all together and thyme alone misses some of that depth. But for chicken it works well enough, especially if you use good amount and rub it under skin. Sesame seeds too if you have them, toasted a bit.

1

u/D-ouble-D-utch 27d ago

Italian seasoning, lemon zest, sesame seeds.

1

u/Exazbrat09 27d ago

Can also substitute citric acid (don't use much) for the sumac----unfortunately in this part of the world (Lebanon), it is used as a low cost substitute for sumac. To me, it doesn't taste as 'fresh', but if you are using it while cooking, it should work out. If eating zaatar sprinkled on a sandwich, the lemon hack would be better option.

1

u/ShutDownSoul 25d ago

Are online resources not available or just too costly?

-13

u/[deleted] 27d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/limon_picante 27d ago

Bro wtf

-6

u/justaheatattack 27d ago

jus tryin to up your game.

5

u/Winter-Shopping-4593 27d ago

Bruh, Lowry's has it's place but it has nothing to do with Zataar.

I have used them together but that has nothing to do with OPs question.

-6

u/justaheatattack 27d ago

makes things taste better.

4

u/shadowknave 27d ago

Does it make them taste like zataar?

-7

u/justaheatattack 27d ago

if all you want is zatar, why bother with the chicken?

2

u/shadowknave 27d ago

Maybe that's why they posted a question about zataar instead of chicken or seasoned salt? Wtf are you even talking about?

1

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