Dukkah Spice Mix

Product Information

Let's dive into the flavours of our Herbs, Spices, and Seasoning section. A culinary wonderland, where every shake, sprinkle, or dollop transforms your dish from 'so-so' to 'so amazing!' Wherever you find it for sale, it’s not going to be made using raw ingredients. That’s okay though, because at least once you have to enjoy the original toasted! You may find the mix for sale at a local Middle Eastern market but even there is no guarantee. Since family traditions place their own twist on the recipe, most seem to prefer homemade vs. store-bought spice blends. Allergic reactions to the spices used are uncommon. The nuts and seeds used to make it are frequent food allergens. Get ready for one of the most unique and delicious seasoning blends you’ve ever tried! What is Dukkah?

Because Middle Eastern cooking is more popular in London and the UK, the grocery stores Tesco and Sainbury’s each sell their own brand of dukkah spice. Woolsworths and Coles in Australia sell the brand Table of Plenty. Dukkah is a blend like za'atar but is not the same. Dukkah has a base of nuts and seeds and is much chunkier in texture, while za'atar is made primarily from herbs. Both are commonly used in Middle Eastern cooking. Start with our basic yet essential salt and pepper. These classics can elevate any recipe, whether you're a novice or a seasoned chef. For those after a gourmet touch, why not browse through our extra virgin olive oil? A drizzle brings a luxurious depth to your dishes, making each bite an experience. Heat a dry pan over medium heat and place the remaining ingredients in it except for the mint and salt.

While there is no set “traditional” recipe for dukkah – I sampled many different versions from very simple to more complex – there a some generally agreed-upon foundational ingredients. Nuts and seeds are common additions. These not only form the basis of its flavor but also its texture. Which nuts are used depends in part on whatever happens to be on hand, though in my experience hazelnuts are most common and are also commonly used in combination with almonds and walnuts, sometimes pistachios. Dukkah is not the same as za’atar, which is a different Middle Eastern spice blend of thyme, oregano, sesame, sumac, and salt. This Egyptian condiment typically has earthy flavors. Dukkah includes a combination of nuts (like hazelnuts or peanuts), sesame seeds, and whole spices (like cumin and coriander).

It may be the most basic spice but it’s a bona fide superfood. 5-10% of it is piperine, which is an alkaloid that has been found to increase the absorption of antioxidants and other phytonutrients commonly found in food and supplements. After the nuts and seeds have cooled slightly, blitz them for 30 seconds in a high-speed blender or small food processor. Combine them, but make sure they still have texture.The word dukkah, in Arabic, means "to crush" or "to blend". In Egypt, dukkah is used as an all-purpose spice, and often, families and vendors have their own blends and traditional ways of combining the ingredients. When taking it, there were statistically significant improvements in abdominal pain, bloating, incomplete defecation, urgency to defecate, and the presence of mucus. Acrylamide formation is exponentially more at temperatures of 250°F (121°C) and above. Baking the nuts and seeds at 225° (107°C) is good and 200°F (93°C) is even better. While you won’t get the golden brown color and full roasted flavor, it will be healthier. But what if you're out of ideas or time? Look no further than our meal kits and cooking sauces. They come equipped with pre-measured herbs and spices, offering a full-bodied flavour with minimal effort.

If you like, you can make your own using the ingredients you already have in your cabinet, swapping out certain nuts for your favourites. But of course, we're partial to our blend. You can get dukkah right here at Zest & Zing . We sell our spices and blends in small quantities so they’re always fresh and vibrant. Trust us, you’ll want to start experimenting with dukkah right away! Roast the spices and seeds for a few minutes until they have slightly deepened in color and are very fragrant. Be careful not to let them scorch or they will become bitter. Our blend includes common ingredients that can be found at the grocery store, including the following: Among roasted nuts, the good news is that pistachios have the lowest amount of acrylamide. The bad news is that sunflower seeds and almonds have moderate amounts while pine nuts are the worst. Those three are commonly used in dukkah recipes. ( 8)Savoury bush Dukkah is delicious with dips, as a condiment, added to bread recipes, or used as a spice mix in savoury meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. Even though California is a major producer, pistachios come from Iran and even today, they continue to be the largest exporter in the world. Turkey and Syria are two other major suppliers. Second only to hazelnuts, using pistachio in dukkah has been a popular practice for many generations since they’re a local crop to the Middle East. Ancient Egyptians used toasted nuts with salt and garlic as a daily condiment to make their rustic bread more palatable. What they called it may have been the very same word. Dukkah is derived from the Arabic word “to pound” which is a primitive, yet perfect description. ( 1) Dukkah spice is a Middle Eastern mixture of toasted nuts, seeds, and savory spices which is used for seasoning vegetables, crusting meat and fish, and adding to olive oil for dipping bread. Pronounced doo-kah, it’s believed to have originated in Egypt.