Dukkah Spice Blend
A shallow bowl of good olive oil, warm bread torn by hand, and a coarse, toasty crunch to press it into: that is dukkah, an Egyptian nut-and-seed blend (dukkah) you scoop rather than sprinkle. Ours keeps its texture on purpose, hazelnuts and sesame toasted with coriander, cumin, and sumac, then coarsely ground so it stays craggy. Dip oiled bread into it, scatter it over hummus or roasted carrots, or press it onto fish or lamb as a crust.
This is not a fine powder, and that is the whole point. The nuts and seeds give a nubbly, roasted crunch that a milled blend loses. We toast and coarsely grind in small batches in Portland, keeping the pieces intact and the sumac tang bright. Contains tree nuts (hazelnut) and sesame.
Ingredients: Hazelnuts, Sesame Seeds, Coriander Seeds, Cumin Seeds, Tellicherry Black Peppercorn, Sumac, Nigella Seeds, Aleppo Pepper, Spearmint. Contains tree nuts (hazelnut) and sesame. No salt, no sugar, no preservatives. Naturally gluten-free and vegan.
Does this contain nuts?
Yes. Dukkah is built on toasted hazelnuts, and this blend also contains sesame seeds. Skip it if you are avoiding tree nuts or sesame, and keep it clearly labeled around guests with allergies.
Is dukkah the same as za'atar? Will one work in place of the other?
They are different. Za'atar is a fine, herb-and-sumac blend with no nuts, meant to sprinkle or stir into oil. Dukkah is a coarse, nutty, crunchy blend built for dipping and crusting. In a pinch they overlap on bread with olive oil, but the texture and nuttiness of dukkah are hard to replace.
How do I use it without overwhelming the dish?
Treat it as a finishing texture, not a base spice. Scatter a spoonful over the top of hummus, roasted vegetables, eggs, or salad right before serving, rather than cooking it in. Start light. You want crunch and aroma in bites, not a heavy coat that buries the food.
How do I store it so it stays crunchy?
Keep it sealed in a cool, dark cupboard away from moisture and heat. Because it holds real toasted nuts and seeds, use it within a few months for the best crunch and freshest aroma.