Duqqa

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Originally from Egypt, Duqqa is a food consisting of a mixture of nuts, probably hazelnut, and spices. It is typically used as a dip with bread or fresh vegetables, and eaten as an Hors d'œuvre. It can also be used as a side dish to the main course of a meal. Pre-made versions of duqqa can be bought in the spice markets of Cairo with the simplest version being crushed mint, salt and pepper which are sold in paper cones. While packaged variety is found in markets that is composed of parched wheat flour mixed with cumin and caraway.

The word is derived from the Arabic for "to pound" since the mixture of spices and nuts are pounded together after being dry roasted to a texture that is neither powdered nor paste-like. The actual composition of the spice mix can vary from family to family, vendor to vendor though there are common ingredients, such as sesame, coriander, cumin, salt and pepper. Reference to a 19th century text lists marjoram, mint, zataar and chickpeas as further ingredients that can be used in the mixture. A report from 1978 indicates that even further ingredients can be used nigella, millet flour and dried cheese.

[edit] Reference

Davidson, Alan. Oxford Companion to Food (1999), "Duqqa", p. 260 ISBN 0-19-211579-0