Straight from my Egyptian home, today is all about how to make dukkah–Egypt’s famous blend of nuts, seeds and warm spices. The heady seasoning you never knew you needed! Make this quick dukkah recipe and store it for use as a snack (with bread and olive oil); as a crust for your meats; or as a nutty topping to add texture and flavor to anything from soups and salads, to chicken, fish or roasted carrots.
Be sure to grab my tips and watch the video below.
When a new reader found out I was actually Egyptian, he sent me an e-mail wondering if I can share a dukkah recipe. And you know, I never turn down an opportunity to share about the foods of my childhood. So here we are!
If you’re not familiar with it, let’s just say duqq (another spelling for it) is the condiment you never knew you needed! A secret weapon that will help you add texture and flavor to nearly anything!
What is dukkah?
Dukkah (duqqa), pronounced doo-kah, is a traditional Egyptian blend of nuts, seeds, and warm spices. It’s been around since the age of ancient Egypt, but it is now widely popular throughout the Middle East and the world (you may have even found a little jar of it at your local grocery store).
Egyptians actually pronounce it dua’ah. And translated from the Arabic, it simply means “to pound.” That’s because traditionally (and in many Egyptian homes today), it is made by pounding a mixture of toasted nuts, seeds and whole spices in a mortar and pestle until they form a coarse, crunchy mixture.
What’s in it?
In Egypt, we have a saying, “eeish we dua’ah,” which literally translates to bread and dukkah–because you can count on a loaf of pita and some nutty, satisfying dukkah for dipping if you have nothing else to eat.
You won’t find pre-mixed duqqa in Egyptian stores or spice shops, this nutty mixture is very much a homemade blend and there are as many recipes for dukkah as there are Egyptian cooks. That’s because the idea behind it is to use up what nuts and seeds you have on hand. (Guess what I do with nuts I didn’t use in my baklava?)
While there are no hard rules, you’ll find some common ingredients. Sesame seeds are a key –they’re cheaper and available in most Egyptian homes– along with warm spices like cumin, coriander and fennel seeds. And you’ll see coarsely chopped nuts like peanuts (again the cheaper option) or hazelnuts, pistachios, or walnuts. You can use one particular nut or a combination as in my recipe here.
Here’s what’s in my recipe…
Dukkah ingredients
- Nuts: Hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios
- Sesame Seeds
- Fennel Seeds
- Spices: cumin, coriander, and cayenne (leave the cayenne out if you don’t want the heat). Typically the spices are used whole and crushed in the process of making dukkah, but I opted for ground spices here.
- Kosher salt
How do make it?
Great dukkah depends on the freshness of the ingredients, particularly the nuts and seeds. You’ll want to toast your own raw nuts for best flavor. And while traditionally this nutty mixture is made in a mortar and pestle, this easy recipe uses a small food processor (affiliate link). Here is how it goes:
Toast the nuts. Use a dry skillet to toast the hazelnut and almonds until nice and fragrantToast the sesame seeds.
Toast the sesame seeds
Combine the nuts, seeds and spices in the bowl of a small food processor fitted with a blade.
Pulse a few seconds at a time until the nuts are well crushed but don’t overdo it, you’re not looking for a fine powder, you need to maintain the crunch!
Ways to use it
So many ways to use dukkah seasoning, and I can’t get enough!
- Use it as a dip with your favorite bread (I love it with pita, Jerusalem bagels, or challah bread) and a little extra virgin olive oil
- As a crusty coating for meats, chicken or fish, like this Lemony Dukkah-Crusted Sea Bass With Smashed Peas.
- Add a sprinkle as a finishing touch on dips like hummus or labneh; soup (I love it on this lentil soup); salad; or roasted vegetables…so good on roasted cauliflower
Is dukkah the same as za’atar?
This a frequently asked question and the straight answer is: no. While dukkah and za’atar are two Middle Eastern blends that can be used similarly, they are clearly not the same in texture or flavor profile. If you haven’t already, check out my article on what is za’atar and how to use it. But the short of it is that za’atar blend is a mixture of toasted wild thyme and sesame seeds with sumac.
Za’atar blend has a finer mixture than crunchy Egyptian dukkah.
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Egyptian Dukkah Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts
- 3 tbsp almonds
- 4 tbsp white sesame seeds
- 3 tbsp shelled pistachios
- 1 tbsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- kosher salt
Instructions
- Place the hazelnuts and almonds in a dry cast iron pan (do NOT add oil). Toast briefly over medium-high heat, tossing regularly, until the nuts gain some color (watch for nuts to turn a nice golden brown). Transfer to a side dish for now.
- Place the sesame seeds in the same skillet and return to the heat. Toast over medium heat, tossing regularly, until the sesame seeds turn golden brown (this will be fairly quick so watch carefully).
- Add the toasted nuts and sesame seeds to the bowl of a small food processor fitted with a blade. Add the pistachios, fennel seeds, spices, and a generous dash of kosher salt. Pulse for a few seconds until you reach a nice coarse mixture (Do not over process the dukkah. The mixture should not be too fine. See photos and video for exact texture).
- Transfer the dukkah to a bowl to serve. Add a small bowl of extra virgin olive oil and your favorite bread for dipping (I like pita bread or even Jerusalem bagel). You can also store the dukkah in a tight-lid jar for up to 2 weeks to use as a topping for salad, soup, chicken, meats, or roasted vegetables!
Video
Notes
- Yield: This recipe makes just over 1 cup of dukkah.
- Storage: Store dukkah in a tight-lid mason jar for up to 2 weeks.
Good simple recipe
Delicious? Will definitely be making this regularly. I used a mortar and pestle as it was the first time making dukkah and wanted to test the spices to get to my taste but recipe was perfectly to my taste as it turned out!
My kitchen smells delightful after making it.
Thank you. I will be checking out some of your other recipes. So good to find a source of authentic flavours.
Awesome! Thank you so much, Cheryl!
The end product is yummy but the recipe fails to mention that it calls for *blanched* almonds. Also, I recommend grinding the fennel seeds before mixing them in with the nuts. Otherwise, they are rather hard little bits that detract from the enjoyment of the end product.
That’s because the idea behind it is to use up what nuts and seeds you have on hand.
Perfect, I was gonna take liberty and just use mixed nuts I always have on hand
How do you skin your hazelnuts? “Roast & Rub,” or blanch in water and baking soda?
Hi, Cyndi! We have tried both methods and each one works well, so it’s really what you personally prefer.
I bought them raw and already skinned.
Hi! If I were to use whole coriander and cumin seeds, how much of each would I use?
Hi, Fran. Absolutely. You’ll just want to grind the seeds up well first. You may find that you only need about 3/4 tsp of seeds to equal 1 tsp of the ground spices.
Saw a recipe for dukkah in a local newspaper and decided to look for something more authentic. Purchased what wasn’t already in the pantry, used walnuts in place of pistachios and gave it a try. Results are amazing. Wife even sprinkled it on some lasagne. Loves it. A jar of dukkah now sits on our dining room table and we are using it with nearly everything we eat. Thank you. I am still exploring your website looking for new delights.
Thanks so much, Mike!
do you have any recommendations for flour substitutes, in your amazing tableau of recipes. Thank you for your time. mm.
This sounds so good. What can be used instead of nuts if anything? Nut allergy.
Hi, Denise. If seeds are safe, you could always try a combo of pumpkin, sesame and/or sunflower seeds in place of the nuts here.
I was also going to ask about nut substitutes since I am allergic to tree nuts. Would peanuts work as a substitute? I can have those.
Hi, Sara! You can really substitute the almonds with any other nut that you enjoy that’s safe for you to eat. There really are no hard and fast rules with dukkah!
I am obsessed with this recipe! It is absolutely perfect, the only problem is now I can’t stop putting it on everything.
Yay! Thanks, Kathryn!
Thanks for your recipe – your dukkah is delicious!
This Dukkah is delicious and so versatile! I started by using it as a topping for plain Greek yogurt, but I can’t wait to try it with the many dishes you’ve suggested. And I’m excited to try your other recipes too. Thanks for sharing.
you could it it on icecream it is such a delight
Ooo! We’ve never thought of that! Will have to give it a try!
Ooh this takes me back to when my Egyptian family would visit with bags of dukkah. Thank you for the recipe! Now I must resist eating it by the spoonful!
Lol!
I made this about 1 week ago and we absolutely love dukah! We have put it on omelettes, hummus, chicken, pasta, wrap made with hummus and veggies. I see I will be making this quite often as we are 2/3 done with the jar of Dukah! Thank you for sharing your recipes. I have been making your recipes for about 5 years now and love them!
Awesome! Thank you so much, Belinda!