- 2 tsp sesame seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp sumach
- A handful of oregano, leaves only
- A handful of marjoram, leaves only
- 2 red peppers
- 2 shallots
- A handful of flat leaf parsley
- 1 lemon
- 2 pork escalopes
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
- 3 tsp olive oil
- Small frying pan
- Bowl
- Griddle or frying pan
- 1.
To whip up your za’atar, toast 2 tsp of the sesame seeds in a small dry pan for 1-2 mins. Add 1 tsp of the cumin seeds. Toast for 1 min. Shake the pan occasionally. Tip into a bowl. Stir in 1 tsp of the sumach and a pinch of salt.
- 2.
Strip the oregano and marjoram leaves from their stalks. Roughly chop them. Stir into the spice mix. Pop to one side.
- 3.
Make the tabbouleh. Halve the peppers. Scoop out the seeds and white bits. Finely dice them. Peel the shallots. Dice finely. Chop the parsley leaves and stalks roughly (discard any really thick bits of stalk). Grate or pare the zest from the lemon.
- 4.
Mix the lemon zest with the parsley, shallots and peppers. Add 2 tsp olive oil. Slice the zested lemon into quarters.
- 5.
Heat a griddle or large frying pan. Rub the pork escalopes with ½ tsp olive oil each. Season.
- 6.
Put the lemon quarters and escalopes in the pan and cook for 6–7 mins, turning the pork once, till just cooked and juicy. Take the lemon quarters out when they are nicely charred on all sides.
- 7.
Serve the tabbouleh with the pork escalopes, scattered with the za’atar. Use the charred lemon quarters for squeezing.
- Tip
Return of the sumach
Sumach is delicious sprinkled on tomato and cucumber salads, rubbed onto chickens before roasting or try stirring it into yogurt with cucumber, dill and lemon and serving as a dip.