Lebanese Fattoush Salad Recipe

What is Fattoush?

"Fattoush" comes from the word "Fatteh" which means "crumbled bread" in Arabic. Fattoush contains crispy day-old homemade pita bread, making it a great alternative to letting food go to waste. It's basically a fried bread salad made the Mediterranean way, using fresh vegetables and herbs with a tasty dressing.

You can find fattoush salad in many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants. The addition of crispy pita and a tangy dressing makes this Lebanese salad extra special and delicious. I love making a large batch of it for dinner because a small portion is never enough. 

The precise ingredient list can vary from region to region. The basics include:

• Lettuce - Fresh romaine lettuce works best in this recipe. You'll get the right texture and level of crispiness. 
• Tomatoes - You want to use firm tomatoes to make this recipe. I love using roma tomatoes for their flavor and texture.
• Parsley - It goes very well with the rest of the ingredients and adds a nice pop of color.
• Radishes - If you haven't tried raw radishes, now is the time. They are crunchy with a kick and are perfect with the zesty dressing we make for this salad.
• Cucumbers - Like many other salad recipes, my preference is to use Persian cucumber. They are crispy and have no large seeds. If using English or other kinds of cucumbers, make sure to deseed them first. 
• Red onion - Red onion has a nice flavor that is not as strong as white onion, therefore it's perfect to have with 
• Fried pita bread - You can use store bought or homemade pita bread. It's best if the bread is a couple of days old so it crisps up better. Alternatively, you can use baked pita chips as well.

It's important to use fresh vegetables and seasonal ingredients as that's the base of all Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. As mentioned above, slightly stale pieces of pita bread are fine as you can fry them to make them crispy. 

The dressing

Fattoush dressing is what makes this salad stand out. The combination of sumac, lime or lemon juice, olive oil and some salt brings an amazing flavor to the simple Middle Eastern salad.

The key ingredient for this dressing is the sumac. It's a deep red spice made from grinding sumac berries and has a tart flavor. You can find sumac in Middle Eastern shops or online. Make a big batch of this dressing and keep it in the fridge for up to a week to use it on all kinds of salads.

Instructions

Prepare the vegetables

Wash and dry all the vegetables and herbs. Chop the lettuce and place it in a large bowl. Add chopped cucumber and tomatoes, sliced onion and radishes to the lettuce. Toss the vegetables together and add chopped parsley. 

Fry the pita bread

Tear the pita bread into small pieces and heat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Toast pita pieces with the olive oil and salt over medium heat until the bread is crispy.

Make the dressing

In a small bowl mix olive oil, lime juice, salt, pepper and sumac until fully combined. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine. 

Final touches

Add the crispy pita to the salad and gently toss again. Taste to make sure it has enough salt and acidity. 

Serving suggestions

Fattoush salad can be served as a starter or a refreshing side dish to many dishes such as grilled meat and rice. Here are a few dishes you can serve this fresh Lebanese salad with:

• Shish tawook 
• Chicken shawarma
• Beef shish kabob 
• Chicken shish kabob 
• Homemade falafel with tahini sauce

This would also make a delicious side dish to accompany rice dishes like Lebanese rice with vermicelli or mujadara. Because of all the fresh vegetables and the tangy dressing, a big bowl of fattoush salad on its own can be a really satisfying meal in and of itself on a hot summer day!