A few weeks ago, I went to a new vegetarian restaurant here in Vancouver called The Parker, where I ordered a dish called Hazelnut Dukkah.
I had no clue what dukkah was. I didn’t know if it was a spice, a vegetable, or the name of a cooking style.
All I knew was that it tasted amazing.
Thanks to Google, I’ve learned that dukkah is a crumbly Egyptian spice mix prepared from nuts and seeds. It’s traditionally served with fare like bread and vegetables, or it can be used as a spice rub.
My version is likely an abomination to the real dukkah-makers, but I thought it was delicious. Warm, nutty and savory with a hint of spicy heat. I’m typically far too lazy to toast spices, but I really thought that toasting them made this dish sing – which is why I’m recommending it to you, too.
I made my dukkah a little less crumbly and more like a paté, since that’s how it was served at The Parker and I really liked the consistency. Feel free to experiment with what you like.
Have you ever heard of dukkah? What’s your favourite way to use it?
Hazelnut Dukkah
gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, soy-free, egg-free, five ingredients or less
1 cup hazelnuts
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp coriander seeds
pinch of cayenne
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp water
1/4 tsp salt
In a small pan, dry roast the hazelnuts over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes, until they are lightly browned and starting to crackle.
Pour the hazelnuts into a bowl to cool, then add the cumin and coriander seeds to the pan. Dry roast them briefly – you shouldn’t need more than 30 seconds to a minute for them to get browned and start crackling.
Add the hazelnuts, seeds, cayenne, olive oil, water and salt to a food processor and blend until the mixture begins to stick together. Taste, and adjust seasonings as needed.
I love dukkah. I usually see it as a powder rather than a paste but I bet yours is delicious! I’ve mostly had it with bread & olive oil (first dunk bread in oil, then in dukkah), but it’s also good on veggies, hard boiled eggs–probably anything!
Yes, a lot of recipes I found online had it more as a crumbly powder consistency to dip stuff in. I’d imagine you could use it like breadcrumbs – it would be so delicious covering a veggie burger or falafel balls.
Hey I think I recognize those crackers! They’re gluten free aren’t they? Mrs something-or-other brand? I’ve never tried dukkah but it sounds yummy. I love cumin.
They’re Mary’s Organic Crackers – which are one of my fave gluten-free crackers. They’re utterly addictive. And went perfectly with dukkah.