Dukkah means 'to pound', and the texture is the entire identity: coarse and crumbly, so a piece of bread dipped in oil picks it up. Grind it smooth and you have made a nut butter by accident, because the nuts release their oil the moment you overwork them. Pulse, check, pulse again.
The ratio1 cup hazelnuts + ½ cup sesame + 2 tbsp coriander + 1 tbsp cumin. Pound COARSE, never smooth.
By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026
Prep10 min
Cook8 min
Makes1½ cups
CuisineEgyptian
Cost$$
VeganGluten-free
Contains tree nuts · sesame
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for1servings
Hazelnuts
A cup, toasted and skins rubbed off. Pistachio or almond work.
Toast the nuts and rub the skins350°F for ten minutes, then tipped into a tea towel and rubbed hard. Skins left on make it bitter.
Toast the seeds separatelySesame two minutes, spices ninety seconds. Different sizes burn at different rates.
Cool everything completelyWarm nuts turn to paste under a blade. This is the step that decides whether it works.
Pulse in short burstsSpices first to a coarse grind, then the nuts in three or four one-second pulses. Stop while it still looks too chunky.
Salt last, store coolKeeps a month; the nut oils eventually go stale, so make it in small batches.
Make it yoursPistachio and rose for something Persian. Za'atar stirred in. On labneh, roast carrots, a soft-boiled egg, or just bread and good olive oil.
Can you make How to Make Dukkah in an air fryer? — Yes
Yes — bake it in a small pan or dish that fits the basket, at about 25°F below the recipe temperature. Air fryers run hot and fast, so check it early; no flipping needed.
Can you freeze How to Make Dukkah? — Yes
Yes — freeze it well-wrapped, then reheat or toast straight from frozen. Frost or glaze after thawing.
Can you make How to Make Dukkah ahead of time? — Yes
Yes — bake it a day or two ahead; it keeps well-wrapped at room temperature and freezes cleanly. Add any frosting or glaze close to serving.
Is How to Make Dukkah gluten-free? — Yes
Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.
Is How to Make Dukkah vegan? — Yes
Yes — no meat, seafood, dairy, egg, or honey in it as written.
Community Notes
Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.
Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →