Dukkah: a delightfully easy Egyptian nut/spice blend

Plus 17 fun ways to use it! With a delightful flavor and crunchy texture to add to just about everything savory, Dukkah is a lively Egyptian nut and spice blend with complex flavors and textures. I like to think of Dukkah as the slightly more exotic version of Everything but the Bagel Seasoning. It’s gaining in popularity lately, too, so you might even find dukkah on a grocery store shelf somewhere in your locale.

In fact, I found a little jar of Dukkah while I was wandering about Target one day and I happened to go down the spice aisle. I was immediately intrigued. The color drew me in, and the idea of nuts AND spices together. Since it includes sesame seeds, I wondered if it was anything like Everything but the Bagel Seasoning. But the spices used in Dukkah are different. A little more Mediterranean, definitely a different vibe. Since that day, I’ve reveling in topping my crackers with either cream cheese or cottage cheese and Dukkah. I also love it on avocado toast.

As with many spice blends, there are many, many variations on Dukkah, with each Egyptian household having their own preference for ingredients and proportions. They might choose a different type of nut. And sometimes there are added seasonings. However, all the recipes I found have the following in common:

• A variety of nuts. Often hazelnuts. Sometimes almonds or pistachios. I’ve seen walnuts in some recipes as well.
• Sesame seeds
• Cumin
• Coriander
• Cayenne
• Salt

What’s different about THIS recipe?

I still have some of that jar of Dukkah that I purchased, but I decided I wanted to try my hand at making it. So that I could share with family and friends as a little gift. But of course I had to add my own special touch to it. The Dukkah I have from Target is wonderful. However, I always finding myself wanting garlic with it. So of course I added garlic. And then, with the lemony flavors from the coriander, I thought a little lime would be nice. Naturally, some Tajin then hopped in as well (Tajin is a Mexican chile lime seasoning). Plus a bit of my beloved smoked paprika for that sweet smoky taste.

Can you see all those lovely flavors dancing in there?

I’m even more smitten with my homemade Dukkah than I was with the Target version. I gave one bottle to my best friend for Christmas. Her reaction was so adorable. She sprinkled a bit in her hand and tasted it. Her face lit up with joy. She then wandered about the whole circle of family asking if they wanted to taste it. Many of them did take a taste and expressed their immediate approval. We chatted about how to use it. One person asked if it was good on avocado toast. Of course I said yes! She then suggested sprinkling it on cheesy garlic toast. THAT sounds amazing.

Adapted from The Mediterranean Dish

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How to Use Dukkah?

So that brings up the question of what DO you do with Dukkah? I went searching for ideas and found some great ones! It seems there is little that wouldn’t be enhanced by a sprinkle of dukkah.

• The classic use: mixed with olive oil for dipping your bread.
• Avocado toast (as previously mentioned!)
• Cheesy garlic toast. Or hey, crostini of all sorts.
• Eggs of any variety. Scrambled, poached, fried. Or deviled eggs! Absolutely.
• Vegetables, steamed or roasted. Cauliflower, squash, broccoli, kale, eggplant, beets.
• Tossed in breading for fish, chicken or pork for crunchy good flavor.
• Mixed into ground meat for a flavor-filled burger.
• Sprinkled on buttery roasted or fried mushrooms.
• A fresh juicy tomato sandwich with Dukkah. Think about it. In fact, don’t you think most sandwiches would benefit from a sprinkle of Dukkah applied on the mayo or tomatoes?

Want even more ideas for using dukkah? Okay, then, let’s continue on …

• For salad sprinkles! Especially panzanella.
• Soups too. How good would it be on creamy butternut soup? Potato soup? Or even broccoli cheese soup.
• To add some zing to potato dishes. Think baked potatoes with butter, sour cream and dukkah. Or au gratin potatoes. Or hey, to liven up sweet potatoes. Yum!
• A savory parfait. Top (or layer) your Greek yogurt or cottage cheese with chopped fresh tomatoes, green onions, bell pepper and a sprinkle of dukkah.
• On bean dishes. Hummus, of course!
• Also, I think Dukkah would be fabulous on curried dishes like my eggplant chickpea curry. Or a creamy vegetable korma would be fun with a crunchy dukkah sprinkle.
• Grilled feta with preserved lemons and dukkah. I found this idea from Market Hall Foods and it sounds SO good.
• Some even say Dukkah is good on fruit, either cooked or fresh.