What is dukkah?
Dukkah (pronounced doo-kah) is an Egyptian nut, seed, and spice mix used as a topping and dip for meat, fish, and vegetables.
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. Because the seeds, spices, and nuts are crushed, they meld together to create an aromatic blend.
What is dukkah made of?
Dukkah is often made with nuts (like hazelnuts or peanuts) sesame seeds, cumin, and coriander - but there are multiple variations made with different ingredients.
What is dukkah used for?
Dukkah is a versatile blend that can be used as a rub on fish or meat, sprinkled on salad, or stirred into a dip (hummus, yogurt, or muttabel) to add some complexity.
How to Make Dukkah
It's easy to make your own dukkah seasoning at home. Here's our favorite dukkah recipe that we think you'll love!
Dukkah Spice Mix
This dukkah spice mix is infinitely useful and tasty!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 cup shelled roasted pistachios
- 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- On a lined cookie sheet (use a silpat or parchment), sprinkle the pine nuts, hazelnuts, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and thyme. Bake for 8 minutes or until the hazelnuts are dark brown.
- In a high-speed blender or food processor, blitz the nuts and seeds for 30 seconds or until they are combined but still have texture.
- Combine the blended nuts with the sesame seeds, paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Stir to combine and store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.
Recipes Using Dukkah
Dukkah is such a good all-purpose blend - it can be used like a condiment and topping.
It’s wonderful on top of dips, spread across roasted veggies, and in salads and soups. If you’re wondering how to use dukkah, check out these excellent recipes:
- Grilled Zucchini with Yogurt and Dukkah
- Athena’s Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Dukkah and Watercress Pesto
- Baked Camembert Focaccia with Dukkah and Honey
- Butter Bean Purée with Dukkah
- Butternut Squash Soup with Dukkah
- Dukkah Asparagus & Hot Smoked Salmon Potato Salad
- Dukkah Roast Pumpkin Salad from Herbie’s Spices
- Dukkah Rubbed Snapper with Morrocan Lentils
- Grilled Halloumi and Peaches with Dukkah
- Roasted Cauliflower with Dukkah
- Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Pumpkin Seed Dukkah
One of the easiest ways to enjoy dukkah is to sprinkle it on top of avocado toast! This is my favorite way to eat it!
Where to Buy Dukkah
Dukkah is available in many grocery stores (check the nearest Middle Eastern market if you can't find it at your regular grocery store) and from several online vendors.
When buying spices online, it’s important to make sure you are buying from distributors that sell high-quality spices. One I trust is this Egyptian Dukkah Spice Blend.
Can dukkah be frozen?
Dukkah can be frozen or refrigerated but it must be in an airtight container. Any additional moisture will cause the nuts to degrade and become soft.
How to use dukkah on fish?
Dukkah is a great topping for fish. Pat the fish dry and press the dukkah onto the fish to form a crust. You can either bake the fish or pan fry it in oil or butter.
Is dukkah the same as za'atar?
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.
Looking for more Middle Eastern spices? Check out our guide on Middle Eastern spices.
dburkej
Thursday 22nd of April 2021
This is a VERY tasty blend! However, the cooking directions for the nuts and spices are problematic for those who aren't familiar with roasting them. The directions say to roast nuts and spices on the same tray for about 8 minutes. However, to roast the seeds or most nuts for 8 minutes, would make them burned and bitter. I think 8 minutes is probably too long even for the hazelnuts, and certainly for almonds. You can roast them separately but to save time, I put each item on a separate piece of foil or folded parchment, so that I can take each item out when it has gotten a little brown. Also, warn beginners that once they put the nuts and spices in the oven they should not walk away. Nuts can go from lightly browned to burned in seconds.