sourdough bread with Za'atar (Zatar) and EVOO
Chianti Classico DOP ( Denominazione di Origine Protetta )
Chianti Classico DOP
The other day when I went to Ann Arbor MI, I bought a really good EVOO with sourdough bread at Zingerman ( Still now I haven't found a better delicatessen than Zingerman in the US!! ). It was a little bit expensive; 250 ml of bottle costed $25, but it tastes REALLY good! It tastes fruity and a little bit bitter aftertaste. Even though it is the OIL, but I would drink it by itself! The color is beautiful transparent green ( from deep green to green with gold nuances ). According to the web site (http://www.chianticlassico.com/en/olio/il-consorzio-olio-dop-chianti-classico/ ), this olive oil is characterized by good fruity flavor, with scents of raw artichoke and fresh grass and a delectably spicy aftertaste. This wonderful flavor is attenuated by heat, so always it should be used without any heat. The oil is pressed from four principal varieties, alone or together; Frantoio, Correggiolo, Moraiolo and Leccino ( a minimum of 80% ) and other olives culitivated in the zone ( a maximum of 20%). Because this olive oil is DOP, there are several rules to define it. For example the maximum permitted acidity is 0.5%, as expressed in oleic acid. ( For details... http://www.italianmade.com/foods/subcat15005.cfm )
What is Za'atar (Zatar)?
At school, in the Mediterranean class, we used this flavorful green herb mix still now I'm not familiar with this herb mix. According to my favorite wikipedia....
Za'atar is a genetic name for a family of related Middle Eastern herbs from the genera Origanum( Oregano), Calamintha (Basil thyme), Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) and Satureja (Savory). It is also the name for a condiment made from the dried herbs, mixed together with sesame seeds, dried sumac, and often salt, as well as other spices. Used in Arab and Israel cuisine, both the herb and spice mixture are popular throughout the Middle East.
Because of sesame seed, it tasted like 青のり for me even though it is composed of several herbs. I had this herb mix with Zingerman's sourdough bread and Chianti Classico EVOO. Once I bite this Bruschetta, the sweetness of the Za'atar harmonized with the fruitiness of EVOO and the sourness of bread in my mouth and it's doggone gooood!! I think it would be nice to use this herb mix for pasta and pizza.
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