Duqqa
Egyptian condiment
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Duqqa, dukka,[spelling 1] du'ah, do'a,[1] or dukkah (Arabic: دُقَّة, romanized: duqqa, Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [ˈdæʔʔæ], Hejazi Arabic pronunciation: [dʊgga]) is an Egyptian and Middle Eastern condiment consisting of a mixture of herbs, nuts (usually hazelnut), and spices. It is typically used as a dip with bread[2] or fresh vegetables for an hors d'œuvre.[3]
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| |
| Type | Dip |
|---|---|
| Course | Side dish or hors d'œuvre |
| Place of origin | Egypt |
| Region or state | Egypt and Middle East |
| Main ingredients | Herbs, nuts (usually hazelnut), spices |
Pre-made versions of duqqa can be bought in the spice markets of Cairo, where they are sold in paper cones, with the simplest version being crushed mint, salt, and pepper.[4] The packaged variety that is found in markets is composed of parched wheat flour mixed with cumin and caraway.[5] In the Hejaz region, it has been part of the regional cuisine for decades.[citation needed]
Etymology
History
Orientalist Edward William Lane's 1860 texts described dukkah as follows:[8][1]
A meal is often made by those who cannot afford luxuries of bread and a mixture called dukkah, which is commonly composed of salt and pepper with za’atar or wild marjoram or mint or cumin-seed, and with one or more, or all, of the following ingredients – namely, coriander seed, cinnamon, sesame, and hummus (or chick peas). Each mouthful of bread is dipped in this mixture"
In 1895, author Socrates Spiro described duqqa as "ground spices eaten with bread (by the poor) [sic]" in his Egyptian Arabic to English dictionary.[9]
Ingredients
The actual composition of the spice mix can vary among families[1] and vendors, though there are common ingredients such as sesame, coriander, cumin, salt and black pepper. A report from 1978[10][11] indicates that even further ingredients can be used, such as nigella, millet flour and dried cheese. Some modern variants include pine nuts,[12] pumpkin seeds[13] or sunflower seeds.[14] Gazan duqqa typically contains dill seeds and chile flakes, both common ingredients in that region.[15]
See also
Notes
- Also spelled: dakka, dukkah, dukka