This za’atar parmesan spread is painfully good. It can do what garlic bread simply never could. It’s simple to make, easy to grill onto toast and excessively crispy, crunchy and packed with flavor. Because who doesn’t love crispy cheese?
But this za’atar spread is also so versatile – you can toss it on grilled vegetables, put it in a sandwich, broil it onto a full cauliflower head, or use it as an addition to a salad or grain bowl.
It’s savory, slightly acidic (thank you za’atar!) filled with flavor and of course, packed with cheese. The fact that it takes minutes to make is just a bonus.
Table of contents
What is za’atar?
Za’atar is one of my absolute favorite spice mixes. It varies from region to region, but consists of a family of Middle Eastern herbs. Most za’atars will typically include oregano, basil, thyme, sumac, sesame seeds and salt. It has a rich, herbaceous flavor and adds an interesting depth and complexity to any dish – even though it’s just one spice mix! I love putting za’atar on focaccia or as part of this tofu recipe.
But of course, it’s always important to respect food, culture and where certain foods come from, so I definitely recommend reading up on Za’atar here if you aren’t familiar with the ingredient!
Ingredients for this za’atar parmesan spread
Feel free to adjust the ingredients to your taste preferences, but these are great starting-off points for this za’atar spread:
**Note: the finer the chop/grate on the ingredients, the better the spread will be!
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, grated or minced
- 1/2 cup fresh parmesan, grated
- 2 tbsp za’atar, plus more to taste
- 3 tbsp olive oil, plus more as needed
How to make this za’atar parmesan spread and use it on toast
I suggest first trying this spread in toast form – IT IS SO GOOD. Here’s how I instruct people to make the perfect cheesy-crispy-garlicky toast:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the parsley, garlic, parmesan and za’atar. Taste and add more za’atar as you prefer.
- Add in the olive oil and mix. You want the mixture to be a thick paste. Add more olive oil as needed to keep the mixture thick, but still spreadable.
- If you are grilling this on toast, put a non-stick skillet on medium heat.
- Take a slice of bread and generously spread a thick layer of the za’atar spread onto the bread.
- Grill the bread face down in the pan for 1-2 minutes or until the parmesan has turned golden brown and crispy. Flip and let the other side of the toast get crispy.
- Repeat as needed with the other bread slices, then serve!
Looking for other toast ideas?
And that’s it for this za’atar spread recipe! I can’t wait to see how you use it!
Please tag me on Instagram or Pinterest if you make this, I would love to see. Also if you make it and love it, it would mean the world to me if you left a review below, it helps the website more than you know <3
Za’atar Parmesan Garlic Spread
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic grated or minced
- 1/2 cup fresh parmesan grated
- 2 tbsp za'atar plus more to taste
- 3 tbsp olive oil plus more as needed
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the parsley, garlic, parmesan and za'atar. Taste and add more za'atar as you prefer.
- Add in the olive oil and mix. You want the mixture to be a thick paste. Add more olive oil as needed to keep the mixture thick, but still spreadable.
- If you are grilling this on toast, put a non-stick skillet on medium heat.
- Take a slice of bread and generously spread a thick layer of the za'atar spread onto the bread.
- Grill the bread face down in the pan for 1-2 minutes or until the parmesan has turned golden brown and crispy. Flip and let the other side of the toast get crispy.
- Repeat as needed with the other bread slices, then serve!
