Za'atar Beyond Savoury

Za'atar is a Middle Eastern spice blend traditionally made from dried thyme, oregano, marjoram, toasted sesame seeds, sumac, and salt. It's typically used in savoury cooking - sprinkled over flatbreads with olive oil, dusted onto roasted vegetables, or stirred into yogurt dips. Increasingly, adventurous cooks have started using za'atar in sweet applications, where its herbal, earthy notes can pair surprisingly well with chocolate, citrus, or stone fruits. The key is restraint: za'atar is potent, and a heavy hand will dominate other flavours. Start with a light dusting in sweet contexts.