This refreshing, tangy salad is one of the most famous Middle Eastern salads. With its lemony dressing, beautiful colors and crispy-toasted flatbread topping, it is the perfect side dish to grilled meats, fish and seafood.
Fattoush is a traditional Lebanese chopped salad that gets its name from the word “fatteh” meaning crumbled bread. Whenever possible, I like to prepare my own flatbread/pita chips but if you are in a pinch store-bought is perfectly fine.
I encourage you to prepare this salad with local ingredients for maximum freshness and taste.
RECIPE
FATTOUSH SALAD
Ready in 20 minutes.
Serves 4 people.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 head of Romaine lettuce , chopped into bite-sized pieces.
- 2 medium plum tomatoes, chopped
- ½ English cucumber or two small Persian cucumbers, chopped
- I small red onion, thinly sliced
- 4-6 radishes, halved and thinly sliced
- ½ -1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, chopped or 1Tbsp dry mint leaves, crushed
- 1-2 cups pita chips, homemade or store bought
- ¼ -⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 full lemon)
- 1 large garlic clove, crushed
- ½ – 1 Tbsp ground sumac
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
PREPARATION
1. Make the dressing: In a bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and spices OR Use a mason jar: cover and shake all the ingredients together.
2. In a large bowl, combine all veggies, the mint and half of the pita chips.
3. Drizzle with the dressing and toss. Adjust the taste.
4. Garnish with the rest of the pita chips, add extra pepper and serve immediately.
HOMEMADE PITA CHIPS:
- Preheat oven to 400F
- Take two large pita breads and cut in half. Brush some olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper or spices of your choice. I love to use Za’atar blend.
- Bake 7-10 minutes (depending on the thickness of the flatbread) until they get golden and crispy.
TIPS
If you are not into mint, you can use parsley.
Want a heartier salad: Add feta cheese and olives.
This salad pairs perfectly with grilled Lebanese Kafta – see my recipe here.
Enjoy! Let me know how it turns out!
Congrats, my friend!
Thank you dear Alci! Hope you enjoy!