Habanero Zaa’tar Spice Rub

Preparation info
  • Makes about

    ⅓ cup

    • Difficulty

      Easy

    • Ready in

      5 min

Appears in
Mastering the Grill: The Owner's Manual for Outdoor Cooking

By Andrew Schloss and David Joachim

Published 2007

  • About

Zaa’tar is a traditional Arab spice blend of sour sumac berries and thyme leaves. In the Middle East it is often combined with sesame seeds and served as a table condiment or sprinkled on flatbreads right before they are baked. Ours is ignited with a hit of habanero chile, which helps to transform it from a seasoning into a rub. Sumac is a gorgeous maroon-red powder that delivers a pleasant sour flavor and a floral fragrance without adding acid. It is sold in Middle Eastern groceries