Delicious and easy to prepare, this Lebanese Fattoush Salad is a simple recipe to enjoy as a light lunch or a side dish. The ingredients make a great Mediterranean flavor, from the crunchy cucumbers to the pita and the tangy sumac dressing!
Prepare it in only 20 minutes or less; this is the best healthy option for your next summer potluck, picnic or work lunch! You can add protein to make it a wholesome lunch or extra ingredients to personalize it. Don’t you love a delicious salad that can be a side dish or a whole meal? Examples are our Summer Spinach Salad, Everyday Garden Salad, or the Best Chef Salad.
What is Fattoush Salad
Fattoush is a salad with a Mediterranean flair and the authentic touch from Lebanon with the fried pita. Fattoush or ”Fatteh” actually means crumbs in Lebanese, and the salad was created by using the stale bread as a topping.
Helpful Items For This Recipe
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Middle Eastern Condiment Combo (Set of 3) – Sumac, Za’atar, and Harissa
Large Porcelain Salad Bowls, Wide and Shallow – Set of 4, Matte Black
What is in Fattoush Salad?
This salad recipe is pretty simple to make but also quite versatile. The base is made from greens and some crunchy vegetables and then topped with a zesty dressing. But let me give you my salad ingredients and guide you through my version.
GREENS: Typically, romaine lettuce is used for this recipe, but you can easily adapt with Boston lettuce, kale, spinach, or arugula.
TOMATO: It can be either cherry tomatoes or bigger ones cut into cubes. Use what you have or what you like! I love the combination of tomatoes and cucumbers!!
CUCUMBER: I prefer the small Persian cucumbers (mini-cucumbers) for their crunchiness yet tenderness. However, a regular English one will do just fine too.
RADISH: Do not skip this one; it can be French or Red ones. They add a spicy tone to the dish.
PITA: To make the fried or toasted pita, you can use homemade pita chips or store-bought ones. But, in a pinch, you could also use the pita chips or crackers from the store.
DRESSING: It includes olive oil, the base of any Mediterranean salad, plus lemon juice, garlic salt, pomegranate molasses (optional), and sumac. Sumac is frequently found in Middle Eastern cuisine and brings a tangy and zesty taste to the dressing and, therefore, to the salad.
HOW TO MAKE FATTOUSH SALAD
This recipe has only 3 simple steps: making the salad, toasting, and seasoning the pita and the dressing.
- First, wash and chop all your ingredients for the salad. You do not need to peel the cucumbers; the skin of Persian cucumbers is quite thin.
- Next, in a large bowl, toss them all together.
- Then, in a hot skillet, pour a drizzle of olive oil and place your bread on it. Sprinkle with sea salt and sumac and fry the pita bread for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. When flipping it, add some more olive oil to the pan. Repeat with the other pitas.
Tip: Cut thinly the radish! It is more presentable but also the spicy taste per bite will be more pleasant.
- Now, in a small bowl, pour all the salad dressing ingredients and mix well until fully combined.
- Lastly, pour the dressing on the salad, toss well and add the pita roughly cut into bite-size pieces.
TIP: You can also cut the pita into small pieces before toasting it in the pan.
There you have it! A simple yet flavourful recipe to add to your favorite salads!
Extra Tip: Make extra pita bread and store in an air-tight container. Your future self will thank you!
VARIATIONS & TOPPING IDEAS
This delicious spinach salad is so versatile, and you can easily adapt depending on what you have on hand or your taste. Here are more suggestions:
- Greens: You can do a mix of spinach with romaine or arugula to add some bitterness.
- Onions: Instead of the green onion, you can thinly slice red onions too.
- Vegetables: Add any of your favorite ones, for example, bell peppers or carrots, for an extra crunch.
- Cheese: Sprinkle some feta to add some creaminess, but yet you are still staying in the Mediterranean theme. If you would like to keep the recipe dairy-free, then omit the cheese.
- Dressing: If you have it, the traditional Fattoush salad is made with pomegranate molasses in the dressing. This would be an extra sweet touch.
- Herbs: You can add dry mint or fresh mint to the dressing. Chives or coriander would also taste delicious.
- Protein: Add some hard-boiled eggs, grilled chicken, or any leftovers of salmon. All these options would make a perfect wholesome salad lunch.
- Extra: Do you have some nuts or seeds? These too add a great crunch! Bacon bits would also be a crowd pleaser!
FAQS AND TIPS
How to eat this Fattoush salad? This recipe is great as:
– a perfect side dish to accompany grilled meat.
– a great lunch option if you are adding protein such as chicken, fish, or quinoa.
– an addition to a potluck table.
– a picnic meal.
Is Fattoush Salad Healthy? It is definitely a recipe on the healthier side; however, keep in mind that the addition of pita bread adds some calories.
What does fattoush taste like? It has a deliciously unique taste thanks to the sweetness of the tomatoes with the spicy radishes and the zesty but tangy sumac dressing.
Can I make it ahead of time? You may, but I would recommend that you keep all your ingredients in a separate container and assemble last minute. Also, you may add the pita only once the salad is dressed.
TIP: You can wash your lettuce ahead of time and store it in an air-tight container with a wet paper towel. It will stay crunchy for at least a week!
Pin it HERE!!
Pin it HERE!!
Lebanese Fattoush Salad
Ingredients
- 1 romaine head
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 4 Persian Cucumber
- 6 Red radishes
- 3 green onions
- 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
- 3 pita breads
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
Dressing
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil
- 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon of sumac
- 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon of sea salt
- 1 to 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses optional
Instructions
- Wash and chop all the vegetables: Half tomatoes, slice the cucumbers, thinly slice the radish and roughly chop the romaine.
- In a large bowl, toss all ingredients together.
- In a hot skillet, pour a drizzle (half a tablespoon per side of pita) of olive oil and place your bread. Sprinkle with sea salt and sumac, and fry the pita bread for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. When flipping it, add some more olive oil (half a tablespoon) to the pan. Repeat with the other pitas.
- In a small bowl, pour all the salad dressing ingredients, and mix well until fully combined.
- Pour the dressing on the salad, and toss well.
- Add the pita roughly cut into bite-size pieces with your hands.
- Serve and enjoy!
Comments & Reviews
Sherry says
I love the Mediterranean flavors of this salad!
Tara Noland says
I am so glad you enjoyed this.