Yeah….still loving the za’atar. And the obsession may grow deeper, because Rhodeygirl graciously offered to send me some za’atar fresh from Jordan! I can’t wait to taste it – she says it will knock my socks off!

Rhodeygirl happens to be the inspiration for this meal. After tweeting her my thanks for the za’atarspiration, she replied that I should mix the spice with breadcrumbs and use the mixture to coat chicken. Excellent idea, and a far healthier way to fulfill my craving for fried chicken. I love crispy coatings, and this one browned up nicely with just a bit of cooking spray. I finished the chicken off in the oven, using a wire rack set on top of a baking sheet to avoid soggy bottoms.

The end result was crisp and tasty. I only used one teaspoon of za’atar, but next time, I’ll bump that up to two to ensure the flavor really comes through.

Crispy Za’atar Chicken

serves 4

2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, 6 to 8 oz each

1 egg

3/4 cup breadcrumbs, white or whole wheat

1 to 2 tsp za’atar seasoning

2 tbsp finely grated parmesan or pecorino romano cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400. Combine the breadcrumbs, za’atar, grated cheese, salt and pepper in a shallow baking dish. Lightly beat the egg and 1 tsp water in a bowl large enough to fit the pieces of chicken.

Dip the chicken in the beaten egg. Shake off excess, then dip the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture, turning to coat.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium to medium high heat. Spray with cooking spray, then add the chicken. Brown for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Transfer chicken to a baking sheet topped with an oven-safe wire rack. (You may wish to spray the wire rack with cooking spray so the chicken doesn’t stick.) Bake the chicken for 10 to 15 minutes or until cooked through. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of each piece. Enjoy the chicken as-is, or slice and serve over salad.

This week is marked by two important culinary discoveries.

1) A couple of weeks ago, Corey and I had dinner at Good Frikin Chicken. As the name implies, they serve some damn fine rotisserie chicken, but they’re also known for some delicious Middle Eastern/Mediterranean treats, including hummus, baba ghanoush, and warm pita bread covered in a fantastically delicious spice blend. As we chowed down, my taste buds scrambled to identify the numerous spices that made the bread so darn tasty. What was on it – oregano? thyme? something red – paprika? I had no idea, and the waitress was equally clueless (and/or unwilling to divulge the secret). Suddenly it hit me – could this be za’atar, the spice first introduced to me by fellow blogger Rhodeygirl? Za’atar bread is a staple at many of her family dinners, and every time she posts about it I wonder what that mysterious spice blend could taste like. Mystery solved: it tastes like heaven! I was pretty close in my guesstimate of what za’atar actually is – there’s definitely some oregano and thyme in there, but the red stuff is actually sumac. The za’atar I use also contains savory and teeny tiny sesame seeds.

My at-home version of Good Frikin Chicken’s pita bread was totally simple – I brushed the pita with olive oil, sprinkled it with za’atar and baked it in a hot (500 degree) oven until warm and puffy. Rhodeygirl suggests making your own with pizza dough (which sounds fabulous) or simply dipping bread first in olive oil, then in za’atar. I am 100% obsessed and can’t wait to put za’atar on anything and everything. Chicken? Lamb? Pizza? So many possibilities! Look for za’atar in your grocery store and give it a try.

2) I may have found the best hummus in San Francisco. A bold claim, I realize, but I have been dreaming about this stuff for DAYS. My friend Francesca raves about her boyfriend’s dad’s hummus – so much so that I insisted asked that she bring me some to sample. I nearly keeled over when she arrived at my house with HUGE containers filled with hummus, baba ghanoush and tabbouleh freshly made by Mr. Boyfriend’s Dad. No joke..this is the creamiest, tastiest, most delicious hummus I’ve had in a long, long time (and the baba and tabbouleh were equally good). If you live in or near SF, you must visit Mr. Boyfriend’s Dad’s restaurant, Krivaar Cafe, and sample the deliciousness for yourself.