Fattoush

A crunchy salad of chopped vegetables and herbs tossed with crisp fried or toasted pita pieces and a tangy sumac and lemon dressing. It is colorful, refreshing and full of texture.

Fattoush

Fattoush mixed-salad: Arousing Appetites, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Where it comes from

Fattoush is a classic of Lebanon and Syria, created as a clever way to use day-old flatbread. The sour notes of sumac and pomegranate molasses make it a favorite with grilled meats and mezze.

Explore the cuisine of Lebanon.

Recipe

Make Fattoush at home

Serves 4-6Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pita breads, split and cut into pieces
  • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 3 tomatoes, diced
  • 1 cucumber, diced
  • 5 radishes, sliced
  • 4 scallions, sliced
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint and parsley
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
  • 1 tbsp ground sumac
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed

How it's made

  1. Brush the pita with olive oil and bake at 375F for 8 to 10 minutes until crisp and golden, or fry until crunchy.
  2. Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, pomegranate molasses, half the sumac, garlic and salt.
  3. Combine the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, scallions and herbs in a large bowl.
  4. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss lightly.
  5. Add the crisp pita pieces just before serving so they stay crunchy.
  6. Sprinkle with the remaining sumac and serve at once.

Variations

  • Purslane fattoush: Includes purslane for a lemony flavor.
  • Eggplant fattoush: With fried eggplant cubes.
  • Pomegranate fattoush: Topped with pomegranate seeds.

Cook’s tip: Dress the salad at the last moment and add the pita last, so the bread stays crisp.

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About this page

Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.

Photo credit
  • Fattoush mixed-salad: Arousing Appetites, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)