Zahter

While having dinner with a Syrian family in Arabia, I learned first to dip my bread in olive oil and then in zahter for a delicious taste. In Arab bread shops, you can find flat breads already prepared with melted cheese and zahter, labna and zahter, or zahter alone. What a wonderful and delicious discovery zahter is!

Zahter is a Middle Eastern blend of powdered dried thyme, sumac, and sesame seeds. Each region makes their zahter a little differently. Syrian zahter is considered one of the best. Try making your own blend of zahter or, alternatively, shop in a Middle Eastern food store and buy it ready-made. Sprinkle zahter on meatballs or vegetables or use it as a dip.

Zahter Recipe #1

1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/8 cup ground sumac
1/8 cup powdered dried thyme

Toast your sesame seeds first. Then mix all the ingredients. Store in an air-tight container.

Zahter Recipe #2

Use two parts thyme to one part sumac. Add sesame seeds, oregano, and experiment until you find the zahter blend right for you.

Zahter Pie (Fatayer Zahter)

Dough:

7 cups flour
2/3 cup olive oil
warm water
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon yeast

Work the oil into the flour and salt. Dissolve yeast in warm water and add to the flour mixture. Knead to the consistency of bread dough.

Filling:

2 kilos fresh green zahter (thyme)
2 large onions, finely chopped
1 heaping teaspoon of cumin
1/2 cup ground sumac
olive oil
lemon juice to taste
salt to taste

Wash and drain fresh thyme. Sprinkle with salt and rub between hands. Squeeze out excess liquid. Salt onions. Mix onions, spices, and lemon juice with the thyme. Set aside.

Preparation: Break dough into egg-sized balls. Smooth each dough ball into a circle on a lightly oiled surface. Place one tablespoon of the filling in the center of each dough circle and then close into triangle shapes. Place on an oiled pan and cook in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes. When ready, the zahter pies should be golden brown. (Recipe adapted from Satain Wa Hana Cookbook by the American Women of Amman).

Note: Although we have spoken of zahter as a blend of spices, zahter is the word for "thyme" in the Arabic language. In the zahter pie recipe above, please notice that fresh green thyme leaves rather than a blend of dried spices is what the recipe calls for.