Substitutions / za'atar
What to use instead of za'atar
Use dried thyme blend in equal amounts. Mix dried thyme with a pinch of sesame seeds, sumac, and salt to get close; plain thyme alone is flatter and less tangy.
Every option, best first
| Use instead | How much | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried thyme blend | 1:1 | Mix dried thyme with a pinch of sesame seeds, sumac, and salt to get close; plain thyme alone is flatter and less tangy. |
| Herbes de provence | 1:1 | Similar herby character but lacks the sesame and sour notes, so the result tastes more French than Middle Eastern. |
| Dried oregano | 1:1 | The most accessible swap, but noticeably missing the nuttiness and tartness that define za'atar. |
How much is a cup of za'atar?
Substituting by volume and weighing are different problems, and the second one has an exact answer. Weigh za'atar in grams →
A word on how to read these
A substitution is a trade, not an equivalence. The ratio gets the quantity right; the third column is the part worth reading, because it tells you what you are giving up. In a stew, most of these are invisible. In a cake — where flour, liquid, fat and leavening are in a fixed relationship — the same swap can change the crumb.
Why baking notices and stew doesn't →
Where these came from
These substitutions were written by Gather's own kitchen model — the same one the app uses when you tap an ingredient and ask what else would work — then checked and saved as a fixed list in July 2026. Nothing on this page is generated while you read it. They are a good starting point and not a substitute for tasting as you go.