Is Za’atar Seasoning Blend Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look past the marketing claims and go straight to the ingredient label. This blend contains a mix of traditional components, but one specific addition makes it problematic for the keto diet.

The primary red flag is CHICKPEA FLOUR. Manufacturers often add legume flours as anti-caking agents or fillers to bulk up the product and improve texture. However, chickpea flour is a concentrated source of carbohydrates. On a keto diet, where you typically limit net carbs to 20-50 grams per day, even small amounts of flour can accumulate and potentially kick you out of ketosis.

Fortunately, the rest of the ingredient list is quite clean. TOASTED SESAME SEEDS provide healthy fats and are excellent for keto. The blend of THYME, MARJORAM, CORIANDER, and OREGANO adds flavor without carbs. Even the SUNFLOWER OIL and LEMON OIL are acceptable in moderation. It is solely the flour that causes the issue.

Nutritional Value

Looking at the nutritional profile, this seasoning is generally low in calories and sugar, which is expected for a dry spice blend. The TOASTED SESAME SEEDS contribute a decent amount of fat, which aligns with keto macros, but the volume used in a typical serving is too small to significantly impact your daily fat intake.

The issue lies in the net carbohydrate density. Because you use seasoning in small amounts, the carb count per serving (usually 1 teaspoon) might look negligible—perhaps 1 gram of net carbs. However, strict keto adherents avoid ingredients like flour entirely to maintain metabolic flexibility. If you are tracking 'total carbs' rather than 'net carbs,' or if you tend to use more than one serving, the chickpea flour will contribute to your daily limit faster than you realize.