Za’atar Spring Rolls

That Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup was ah-ma-zing, and I just have to keep with the Mediterranean theme. Well, Mediterranean-ish with these Zaatar Spring Rolls. Just like Korean Tacos, they’re a fusion cuisine that I was surprised and intrigued by. Eastern Asian meets Mediterranean/Middle Eastern cuisine. I like (love!) all those things, but are they going to be a good combination? Well, as usual, there’s only one way to find out, and that’s to hit the grocery store then get cooking. Please join me!

This za’atar spring rolls recipe is a Lebanese inspired oven-baked appetizer that’s savory, crunchy & incredibly easy to make with wonton/egg wrappers.

Recipe Author: Yumna Jawad at Feel Good Foodie
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Update (April 24, 2024)

I was finally able to find eggroll wrappers so I could make this recipe with the proper ingredients! It was actually an accident, and I found them while I was picking up some guacamole in the refrigerated section of the produce department.

Wrapping up the halloumi and mint
Positioning the halloumi and mint diagonally on the wrapper made it easier to wrap up

Egg roll wrappers reminded me of a piece of fresh pasta that’s been lightly dusted with flour. Unlike the rice paper wrappers I used the first time, egg roll wrappers were soft right out of the bag. There was no need to soak them in water before using them, so making them was much easier. Quicker too, I’m sure, but I forgot to set my timer while I did the prep work.

The technique was very similar otherwise. Simply lay the mint and halloumi on the wrapper, wrap, and dampen the edge with a little water to seal it closed. Brush with olive oil, sprinkle on some of that delicious za’atar, then bake for 15 minutes.

All the closed rolls topped with olive oil and za'atar
All the closed rolls topped with olive oil and za’atar

The texture of this batch of Za’atar Spring Rolls was much crisper, and I liked it a lot. More than the original method? They were both so good, but I’m leaning toward yes. I liked the chewiness of the rice paper wrappers, but the crisp egg roll wrapper was a little better.

My original review is below, so you can have a look at the first time I made this recipe and get more details on making it with the rice paper wrapper. the main photo at the top of this post shows the results of using eggroll wrappers, and the original photo has been moved to the bottom of the post.

The Ingredients

So, this recipe had a lot going on because I had to make a couple of the ingredients. I found the halloumi cheese in the deli/gourmet cheese section of my usual grocery store. The mint was also no problem. However, I couldn’t find a few important items.

Za'atar Spring Rolls Ingredients
Rice paper wrappers, labneh, halloumi, olive oil, mint leaves, and za’atar spice mix

Eggroll Wrappers

The first was the eggroll wrappers. The only store locally that had them was Fresh Market. They’re usually my savior when it comes to hard-to-find gourmet ingredients. Unfortunately, they were out of the square Nasoya wrappers that the author recommends.

They only had Dynasty brand 22cm circular rice paper wrappers. I assume that’s 22cm in circumference because the diameter was about 8.5 inches. The shelf label said “spring roll wrappers”, and the packaging did say they could be used for deep frying. I took a chance since that was all that was available, and they worked out pretty well.

Za’atar Spice Mix

The next item I couldn’t find was the za’atar spice mix. Again, I thought Fresh Market had it, but it was out of stock. All was not lost, however, because I had a recipe for Za'atar Substitute Spice Mix.

What was even better is I had all the spices needed in my pantry. My pantry is so overstuffed that I take every opportunity to use up what I have in it. Thankfully, I had just enough sumac left to make the za’atar.

The finished Substitute Za'atar Spice Blend
The finished Substitute Za’atar Spice Blend

Labneh Yogurt Cheese

Finally, there was no labneh to be found anywhere near me, and I didn’t even try Amazon since it’s perishable. Pinterest to the rescue again! I found a ridiculously easy three-ingredient recipe and learned How to Make Labneh. I had to order some cheesecloth to do it, so I combined it with my anise seed order. A tub of Greek yogurt (full fat) and a lemon were easily found at my usual grocery store.

The labneh after the excess moisture has been squeezed out
The labneh after the excess moisture has been squeezed out

The Process

When I went into this recipe, I imagined it would be a long and difficult process. I even bought two packages of rice paper wrappers in case I messed things up! It turned out to be pretty far from what I envisioned (in a good way). Here’s how my time was spent:

  • 18 minutes to prep the spring rolls
  • 23 minutes to cook the spring rolls
  • 41 minutes total

That’s just a little longer than the 30 minutes listed, but I had some minor issues. I changed the type of spring roll wrapper, and that caused me to have to cook them longer than the recommended time.

I split this recipe into a two-day process since I had to make the za’atar spice mix and labneh too. They were both very simple to make, but I completely forgot to time them, so they are not included in the times above.

Prepping the Za’atar and Labneh

The za’atar spice blend was as simple as measuring out the ingredients and toasting the sesame seeds in a small skillet. Once they were fragrant and turned golden brown, I removed them from the heat to cool for a minute. Then I mixed them with the rest of the herbs and spices, and the za’atar was ready to go.

The labneh was just as simple. I mixed the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and salt, then I put it into a cheesecloth-lined strainer placed over a mixing bowl. I folded the corners over the yogurt mixture and placed a heavy ceramic bowl on top to lightly press out the moisture. This all went into the refrigerator overnight.

The next day, I removed the ceramic bowl and gently twisted the cheesecloth to press out any remaining liquid (there wasn’t much). The result was a mild-tasting soft cheese that reminded me of cream cheese.

Prepping the Za’atar Spring Rolls

Now it was time to get down to the real work of making the Za’atar Spring Rolls. I have never made eggrolls or spring rolls, so I had no idea what to expect. It turned out to be pretty simple.

The rice paper wrappers I bought had to be moistened before they could be used, so I set my workspace up accordingly. I had a large cutting board for a work surface with a plate filled with water next to it. I sliced the halloumi into 16 pieces, chopped up a bunch of mint leaves, and I was ready to get rolling.

The wrappers had to be soaked in water for around a minute before they became pliable. I began by working with one at a time. Soak a wrapper, add the cheese and mint, roll, repeat. As I got the hang of it, I was able to soak the upcoming wrapper while I was assembling a spring roll. It was a lot like rolling a small burrito with a much more delicate wrapper.

Rolling a Za'atar Spring Roll using a moistened rice paper wrapper
Rolling a Za’atar Spring Roll using a moistened rice paper wrapper

Baking the Za’atar Spring Rolls

I added the Za’atar Spring Rolls to a sheet pan that had been sprayed with olive oil. I gave them a generous spray with more olive oil and sprinkled on the za’atar spice mix. Then it was into the oven to bake for 15 minutes.

The prepped Za'atar Spring Rolls on a sheet pan
The prepped Za’atar Spring Rolls on a sheet pan

The spring rolls weren’t golden brown on the outside, so I added another 5 minutes. That didn’t do much to brown them either. I’m guessing that was because the spring roll wrappers I used were wet.

My solution was to turn the broiler onto high, reposition a rack right under it, and allow the rolls to brown that way. The za’atar looked like it was at risk of burning after 3 minutes, so I called it. The spring rolls didn’t exactly get golden brown, but they were a little crispy on the outside.

The inside was just fine. Halloumi cheese has a high melting point, so it softened nicely without melting. It was nothing like the mozzarella stick stringiness I imagined it would become, and that was a good thing. These spring rolls were easy to eat as finger food dipped in the creamy labneh I made to go with them.

The first time I made this recipe using rice paper rolls
The first time I made this recipe using rice paper rolls

So how was it?

Clear & Accurate Directions
Accurate Time(s)
Appearance
Taste
These Za'atar Spring Rolls were a delightfully savory-salty introduction to za'atar spice and halloumi cheese. Although I thought they looked difficult and time-consuming to make, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy they were. I even made a second batch for my Lebanese uncle a few days later, and he heartily approved! I couldn't find the labneh or za'atar spice mix, but I was able to find easy recipes for both. My only real difficulty was finding the recommended eggroll wrappers (not the recipe's fault at all). I did manage to find round spring roll wrappers, but they didn't get to be golden brown when baked. I'm guessing because they had to be moistened to become pliable. Still, these Middle Eastern fusion eggrolls were so tasty!! I'm calling them a Pinterest success and keeping this appetizer recipe in my favorites list.
The Hungry Pinner
The Hungry Pinnerhttps://www.hungrypinner.com
I'm Candice, and I'm The Hungry Pinner. I created this blog to share my love for cooking and my experiences with the MANY recipes I've found on Pinterest over the years. Join me as I blog my way through those recipes to find out if they are worth trying yourself.

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These Za'atar Spring Rolls were a delightfully savory-salty introduction to za'atar spice and halloumi cheese. Although I thought they looked difficult and time-consuming to make, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy they were. I even made a second batch for my Lebanese uncle a few days later, and he heartily approved! I couldn't find the labneh or za'atar spice mix, but I was able to find easy recipes for both. My only real difficulty was finding the recommended eggroll wrappers (not the recipe's fault at all). I did manage to find round spring roll wrappers, but they didn't get to be golden brown when baked. I'm guessing because they had to be moistened to become pliable. Still, these Middle Eastern fusion eggrolls were so tasty!! I'm calling them a Pinterest success and keeping this appetizer recipe in my favorites list.Za'atar Spring Rolls