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.

nuts, seeds, and spices in a food processor before grinding

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!

nuts, seeds and spices ground in food processor

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

dukkah sprinkled over hummus and labneh with a side of veggies and bread

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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