my grandma's no-longer-secret za'atar recipe

plus, Fall coats that are actually warm enough for this weather

Out of all the absolute delicious dishes my grandma, Sitto Layla, makes, my favorite is hands-down her zayt ou za’atar (olive oil + za’atar) at breakfast. She takes the classic za’atar spice mix and adds her own flare to it - with more spices, nuts, and just the right amount of olive oil to create a thick paste to spoon onto bread and bake as the accompaniment to the labneh, cheeses, veggies, and fruits as part of her huge breakfast spreads.

Missing my Sitto a little extra lately, I decided to make her za’atar at home. She explained the recipe to me over the phone, but I soon realized that it would make about a half-gallon amount of za’atar, and that the cup measurements were based off her mug in cupboard. So, after a lot of questions, and a little math, we have my Sitto Layla’s not-so-secret za’atar recipe.

You might be wondering, “what is za’atar?” Za’atar is a Middle Eastern spice blend made with the leaves of a plant in the thyme/oregano family, which gives it an herby, savory flavor. It’s typically combined with sumac, salt, and sesame seeds, and then mixed with olive oil, to create a spoonable paste. Across the Levant - Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine - you’ll see different variations of za’atar used in different ways.

You also might be wondering, “how do I use this?” And the answer is, however you want! My Sitto always spoons it onto bread and bakes it for 10-15 minutes like a toast (you see who I take after), but you can also spoon it onto eggs, yogurt or cottage cheese, a roast chicken, salmon…you name it, you can spoon this glorious za’atar onto it.

But first…

the coat edit: what to wear in Fall

My fun-fact of the day is I used to be the sweater & coat buyer for a private label brand at a department store. So I love coats! And I love Fall! And I love Fall coats! I hate winter coats though, ew. (LINKS below!)

1. I always get compliments on this coat, plus it’s so cozy with extra large pockets for your hands + your phone!

2. The leather is buttery-soft on this A.L.C. coat, plus the color contrast is…perfect

3. I love how oversized this BlankNYC coat is, perfect for layers underneath!

4. I am obsessssed with this two-tone plaid trench. It’s chic yet simple!

5. Every wardrobe needs a cropped trench coat, it’s just how the world works (it’s also less than $100).

6. I love the drawstring details on this faux-leather sherpa jacket.

7. This short shearling jacket has five-star-reviews for a reason!!

the recipe: Sitto Layla’s za’atar

prep time: 10 minutes | cook time (if baking): 15 minutes

ingredients:

• 1 cup za’atar (this one is my favorite)

• 1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup pistachios, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup sesame seeds

• 1 heaping tbsp. ground cumin

• 1 tbsp. ground sumac (this one is my favorite)

• 1 tsp. aleppo pepper, cayenne pepper or chili pepper flake

• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

• 1 1/2 cups high-quality olive oil

• bread of choice, to spoon mixture onto

directions:

1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine all ingredients (besides olive oil & bread) and mix until well combined.

2. Add spice mixture to a clean 16-oz. jar with an airtight lid, leaving about 1” of space at the top. Slowly pour in olive oil, 1/2 cup at a time. After each 1/2 cup, mix oil into spice mixture. Continue until spice mixture is covered in oil (there are no dry patches), and oil covers the top about 1/2-inch. Cover and keep at room temperature, away from sunlight, for up to 1 month.

3. If baking onto bread (as shown in pictures), spoon za’atar mixture onto bread of choice, completely covering the top. Bake in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes, until bread is golden and toasty. Enjoy!