Zaatar Burgers
I saw zaatar burgers on Bria’s blog, West of Persia, a while ago and have been wanting to make them ever since. Even though I didn’t use her recipe, I totally owe the idea to her. It would have never occurred to me to use zaatar on meats as I usually associate it with baked goods. The only way I’ve used it in the past is sprinkled and toasted on bread that was brushed with olive or argan oil .
Zaatar is made with a variety of dried spices, herbs, nuts and seeds so it brings so much depth of flavor to these burgers. The prevalent flavors in the zaatar I used were oregano and sesame which I could strongly tatse in every bite. It is so convenient to have so many flavors in one mix instead of having to combine separate ground herbs, spices and seeds to season food. That’s the wonder of zaatar.
Each zaatar is a little different depending on the ingredients used to make it. It can be salted or unsalted. Mine was salted so I didn’t add any salt to my burgers.
4 servings
1 pound ground beef or lamb
Sea salt to taste, optional (Only use salt if zaatar is unsalted)
8 teaspoons zaatar mix (or more, to taste)
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 hamburger buns
4 tomato slices
Divide the ground meat into 4 equal parts and shape them into patties. Salt both sides, if necessary.
Sprinkle each burger with 2 teaspoons of zaatar using one teaspoon on each side and pressing the zaatar lightly to make it stick to the burgers.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the burgers until browned (almost blackened), about 5 minutes per side. Serve on a hamburger bun with a slice of tomato, if you wish.
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s — 12/13/2010 @ 11:59 pm
mouthwatering!!!Im drooling here.
Cherine — 12/14/2010 @ 8:44 am
What a brilliant idea. Must be really good.
Kulsum@JourneyKitchen — 12/14/2010 @ 10:45 am
Zaatar anything is delicious for me. I was planning to post a recipe using Zaatar too :) This looks delicious! Thanks for the idea!
fortheloveofyum — 12/14/2010 @ 4:56 pm
mmmmmm so delicious. i think za'atar would be amazing on burgers, expecially lamb. i'm bookmarking this one!
From the Kitchen — 12/14/2010 @ 5:01 pm
Zaatar is new to me. Is it a blend that you prepare yourself or that you purchase. I have a huge number of herbs and spices that I use in Indian cooking and wonder if I can mix Zaatar. Your recipe looks delicious–I think I'd use lamb.
Thanks so much for stopping by and bringing me to your blog.
Best,
Bonnie
elra — 12/14/2010 @ 6:05 pm
I am a seriously fond of this wild herb. I can imagine how delicious your burger was.
Zita — 12/14/2010 @ 6:59 pm
Love Zaatar…How could I never thought of putting it in burger? brilliant idea, thanks for sharing :)
A Canadian Foodie — 12/14/2010 @ 8:43 pm
These would be TO – DIE- FOR! I am crazy about zaatar. What a great – and simple – idea. Brilliant actually.Do you make your own zataar. I prefer the home made mix, but right now, I have both. Do you have a recipe for it? I lost mine.
:)
Valerie
Barbara — 12/14/2010 @ 9:03 pm
Zaatar is very unfamiliar to me. How interesting there are several kinds, depending on ingredients used to make it. I hope I'm correct in assuming you used herbal zaatar for the meat, but a spicy version with sumac for baked goods?
Fimère — 12/14/2010 @ 9:32 pm
j'aime bien cuisiner avec le zaater je le trouve très bon
bonne soirée
Emily Z — 12/14/2010 @ 10:08 pm
I have never heard of zaatar before but I can see how it would be a fantastic touch to a burger… my husband loves hamburgers in general, I wonder if he would like something like this. Thanks for coming over to my blog and commenting, it is nice to meet you!
My Carolina Kitchen — 12/14/2010 @ 10:29 pm
I've never used zatar but your burger looks scrumptious. We love burgers and yours is very sophisticated. Lovely photo too.
Sam
El — 12/15/2010 @ 1:17 am
I've seen zaatar in the market but have never picked it up. Thanks for the inspiration!
Nisrine Merzouki — 12/15/2010 @ 1:41 am
I don't make my own zaatar. I buy it at a Middle Eastern store. I don't have a recipe for it but there many versions on the internet if you wanted to make your own.
Reeni — 12/15/2010 @ 2:13 am
I've never tried this wonderful zaatar seasoning! I've only ever seen it used on bread – love this idea!
heidi — 12/15/2010 @ 4:28 am
It is a nice idea to add zaatar to meat. By any chance do you have a basic recipe for making zaatar from scratch?. I can never find it on my local groceries shops and I miss it so much. Love to eat my labna with a bit of zaatar on the top.
Caffettiera — 12/15/2010 @ 10:50 am
I actually became familiar with zaatar by eating it on meat: for some reason, the little street shops of Arabic food in Italy would always sprinkle it on roasted meats. And yes, it is a fantastic pairing!
Trix — 12/15/2010 @ 1:51 pm
I, too, hav only used zaatar on breads and such – this is a great use!
Joanne — 12/15/2010 @ 2:32 pm
I've never had za'atar before but it sounds like a spice combo that I would LOVE. These burgers…delicious! I love finding intriguing flavors to stuff into burgers to liven them up.
lisa is cooking — 12/15/2010 @ 2:37 pm
Zaatar on a burger sounds great! It's such a great spice blend. I have to try it on burgers.
Mary B — 12/15/2010 @ 6:16 pm
I love zaatar! Thanks for the recipe:)
Dimah — 12/15/2010 @ 7:47 pm
These look amazingly delicious!
Helene — 12/16/2010 @ 3:07 am
I love zaatar. I usually eat it on pita bread. Most be yummy in a burger.
Lawyer Loves Lunch — 12/16/2010 @ 6:28 am
I love that you totally glorified the regular hamburger. I've had a hard time finding good zaatar. The one at my normal Middle Eastern store tastes like it's been there for years. But I'm going to keep looking so I can make this! :)
ParisBreakfasts — 12/17/2010 @ 10:35 am
Oh I'm an idiot!
I thought Zaatar came in a bottle and was a brand…
Is there a recipe here for it or is it something one just throws together?
This looks super yummy!
merci
carolg
Sophie — 12/18/2010 @ 9:17 am
I love to sue zaatar & your burgers rock!
A must try!
Thanks for another grand & tasty recipe of yours truly!
Kajal - Aapplemint — 12/18/2010 @ 9:38 am
Oh i love Zatar, I always thought Zatar was made from a kind of thyme. I had these Lebanese friends who grew it at home and gosh that stuff was so strong and fragrant. I have to try these out.
Cara — 12/18/2010 @ 8:09 pm
Great idea! I have a jar of zaatar and never really know what to do with it.
Bria @ West of Persia — 12/27/2010 @ 3:29 am
Hey, just now seeing this. Thanks for the shoutout; I'm flattered that you liked my idea :-) Your burgers sound and look fab!
Anonymous — 03/04/2011 @ 7:30 pm
zaatar is primarily hyssop, good luck finding that in your regular store :-)
Bria @ West of Persia — 11/09/2011 @ 8:52 pm
Hey Nisrine, thanks for the shout-out. Your zaatar burgers look great. It’s a great way to use up the herbs, as you have tasted for yourself :-)