Za’atar Cracker Recipe

Za’atar cracker recipe is a great way to zest up your life and tastes. Za’atar can be made from herby thyme, ground sesame seeds, and sumac.

Sumac is a bitter spice that’s usually purple in color.

I learned about za’atar when I worked in event planning for a few years at a Lebanese restaurant chain.

And you can learn the za’atar snack way in just minutes!

You can make a za’atar cracker recipe on a snack board. An afternoon snack or a party snack board is what I imagine as happy in the healthy. 

And this happy snack board below takes 45 minutes to make (and can last a few days in your fridge). And is a good healthy distraction from The Great British Baking Show buttery sweets 😉 and even baklava on one episode.

Baklava, btw, also goes well with the Middle Eastern za’atar theme.

Healthy Sweet & Savory Snack Board (45 min. prep and bake time)

 

Balance your day with this sweet potato casserole, balsamic vinaigrette mozzarella heart + chopped walnuts, and savory za’atar crackers.

You can make this board in 45 minutes.

Here are the 3 Easy Steps:

First, check your oven. If you have two racks, set one near the bottom for baking and then count 2-3 rungs up (that should be at least 6-8″ rack distance apart and also allow 6-8″ from the top of the oven, as you’ll also be broiling where the fiery source will come from the top). Think safety over a moment of joy!

Step 1:

Peel, and then cook the sweet potatoes until soft (~30 mins.) on low-med heat, while you prepare the za’atar crackers. If you forget to peel the potatoes in advance, no worries! as the sweet potato skins slip off easily after they’re cooked, and you can cut the potato in half (not-lengthwise, the other way) and push out the sweet potatoes without any other tools.

Za’atar Cracker Recipe:

Make a super thin layer paste (water, multiple grounded seeds like flaxseed and sesame seeds, sumac, and a crushed herb like thyme) on a baking sheet pan (jelly roll pan or half pan with a Silpat is what I use) and bake for 30 mins (300° F/150° C).

Step 2:

Prepare your mozzarella/grapes on board. Cut the mozzarella ball in half and use a heart cookie cutter or whatever cute cutting tools you have. Then drizzle with your balsamic vinaigrette. If you want to go sweet instead of tangy-savory, you can mix with Hershey’s chocolate syrup or raspberry jam. It’s your board!

If who you’re serving (you 😊) has a nut allergy, then you can substitute the walnut crunch with granola or pine nuts (I know many can eat pine nuts even with a nut allergy as I worked in catering with many clients who had food allergies).

Step 3: Za’atar cracker recipe

As you pull out the baked crackers from the lower setting rack, slip your sweet potato and marshmallow baking dish on the higher rack.

Close the oven door and then switch/turn on the oven’s Broil setting.

Broil for about 3-4 minutes to a marshmallow toasty brown (be sure to watch 👀 so you don’t light up more than your dish). Broiling happens fast as does toasting pine nuts from my home and restaurant baking adventures!

And there you have zesty za’atar crackers!… and a celebration board (why not?).