How to Make Fresh Za’atar for Kebabs

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wesson. The opinions and text are all mine.

The holiday season is all about celebrating peace, love, and health with loved ones. And like any close-knit family, mine celebrates over delicious food. My family is a perfect snapshot of the United States, mixed with relatively recent immigrants and multi-generational Americans. In my immediate family alone, our ancestry covers Nebraskan-English settlers, Russian-Armenian migrants, Caribbean natives, German transplants, and Lebanese immigrants. Every one of these lands is usually represented on our holiday dinner table through traditional and not-so traditional takes on the country’s foods. One of my favorite dishes is often the coup-de-gras of Christmas dinner… Steak Kebabs with homemade za’atar. So in the spirit of peace and good will towards all men and women, today I offer you my family’s secret za’atar recipe featuring Wesson Pure Canola Oil.

Za’atar is a Lebanese flavor combination that comes in two forms: as a dried spice blend and as a fresh sauce. My visits to Lebanon as a child are filled with yummy memories, munching on warm pita pockets filled with za’atar on the beautiful Mediterranean coast. To me, it is the ultimate comfort food and just so happens to be packed to the gills with wonderful flavors. Traditionally it is made with thyme, sumac, marjoram, and sesame seeds. But since sumac and marjoram are a bit difficult to come by in local super markets, my family has adjusted the recipe over time. And to accommodate everyone’s dietary needs, I have recently been replacing the olive oil with canola oil instead. This is where Wesson Pure Canola Oil comes into play. Since canola oil is known as the world’s healthiest cooking oil and contains the least amount of saturated fats of oils on the market, it is a fabulous alternative in the recipe. Let’s get straight to it, shall we?

Fresh Za’atar for Kebabs

Time: 10 min.; Serves: 2-4

INGREDIENTS:

• ¼ cup of Wesson Pure Canola Oil
• 1/3 cup of fresh thyme leaves
• ½ white onion (diced)
• 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons of black sesame seeds
• ½ teaspoon of pomegranate molasses (or juice)
• ½ teaspoon of salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the Wesson Pure Canola Oil, lemon juice, and pomegranate molasses.
2. Add in the diced onion, black sesame seeds, and fresh thyme leaves.
3. Lastly, mix in the ½ teaspoon of salt or add to taste. Serve as a topper to meat and chicken kebabs. Enjoy!

Obviously, this is a super easy recipe to whip together. But just in case this is your first time making za’atar, then I am happy to walk you through it. First, you will want to mix together the Wesson Pure Canola Oil, lemon juice, and pomegranate molasses.

Wesson Canola Oil is a fantastic alternative to the traditional use of olive oil in za’atar recipes. It is light and delicate in taste, so it won’t compete with the other flavors in the mix. It has 0 grams of trans fat and is cholesterol free, so you can rest easy. Plus, it is easily found at your local Walmart in the cooking oil section of the store. Wesson Pure Canola Oil is simply great to have in the house for all your grilling, frying, and baking needs.

If you have trouble finding pomegranate molasses (as staple at Lebanese markets!), then pomegranate juice can serve as a delicious alternate.

Next, you will want to add in the diced onion, black sesame seeds, and fresh thyme leaves.

Lastly, mix in the ½ teaspoon of salt or add to taste.

Serve as a topper to meat and chicken kebabs and make the season bright… with flavor!

And there you have it, my friends. My family’s secret holiday fresh za’atar recipe. Make sure to pick up Wesson Pure Canola Oil on the Walmart website or at Walmart store near you! Happy holidays and peace on Earth!