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Za’atar Sourdough Pasta
This unique and beautiful pasta recipe is an inspiration that came to me when I was kneading a ball of za’atar cracker dough. As I was smelling the delicious combination of herbs, olive oil, and sourdough starter, it dawned on me that cracker dough is essentially an eggless pasta dough, and I had a formula for something amazing in my hands. You can use one egg in the recipe below instead of the water, and this will make the pasta a bit more firm.
Za’atar is a Middle Eastern herb-and-spice blend traditionally spread with olive oil on flatbread. It consists of wild thyme, sumac, sesame seeds, salt, and oil. Wild thyme has a strong herbal fragrance, sumac is lemony in flavor, and sesame seeds add a toasted nuttiness. Za’atar used to be difficult to find in U.S. supermarkets, but over the past decade it has grown in popularity, and now you can often find it in the spice aisle. It’s still more affordable and often fresher when purchased in Middle Eastern grocery stores or online. Although I grew up eating the classic combination of olive oil, za’atar, and flatbread, I’m always up for trying new things, and I think this za’atar pasta is a keeper.
Wild thyme, sumac, and toasted sesame seeds are inside the pasta, served with fresh basil and parmesan cheese here
Pasta dough should be quite dry, but still hand kneadable.
Well floured sheets of pasta ready to cut into fettuccine
Boil the pasta in salted water for 2-5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the pasta
The pasta also pairs well with marinara sauce.
Za'atar Sourdough Pasta
Embedded into the pasta dough, the herbal and lemony flavors of za'atar are soft but consistent. The pasta is flavorful enough to simply toss with oil and maybe a little parmesan cheese, but it also pairs quite nicely with a garlicky marinara sauce. Use water for softer pasta, or use an egg instead for a more firm pasta.
Ingredients
Instructions
Shopping List
All Purpose Flour
Sourdough Starter (Live)
Ankarsrum Mixer and Universal Kitchen Appliance
Ankarsrum Fettuccine Pasta Roller Attachment
$119.95JK Adams Wooden Patisserie Rolling Pin
$42.00Eppicotispai XL Collapsible Pasta Drying Rack
$24.95$19.00USA Pan Half Sheet Pan
$23.00Fante’s Pasta Maker
$49.99Za’atar Sourdough Pasta