Fattoush Salad makes a frequent appearance on the Middle Eastern dinner table. A simple chopped salad dressed in a zesty lime vinaigrette. Homemade pita chips serve as croutons! See the video and step-by-step for how to make fattoush below.
In the Middle East, the pursuit of fresh-out-of-the-oven pita is real, but that doesn't mean leftover pieces go to waste!
There are many creative ways people of the Middle East utilize pita scraps. In fact, day-old pita inspired an entire food genre known as "Fatta," or "Fatteh." In fatteh dishes, like this Lebanese Chicken Fatteh or fattoush salad, leftover pita is given a second chance as a main ingredient.
See video tutorial for how to make our simple fattoush salad:
What is Fattoush?
Fattoush is essentially a "bread salad," said to have originated in Northern Lebanon. Lebanese farmers would fry leftover pita scraps in a bit of olive oil for extra flavor. And to build their fattoush, they'd simply throw the pita chips in with whatever in-season vegetables and herbs they have on hand.
For this reason, the ingredient list for fattoush may vary. And you will certainly find different versions of fattoush throughout the Middle East.
Basic Fattoush Recipe
If you were to order a basic fattoush salad at a local restaurant, you likely find: cucumbers, tomatoes, purslane leaves (or lettuce), radish, and green onions. Fresh herbs like parsely or mint, or both. A simple zesty vinaigrette and a generous dash of sumac spice give fattoush its distinctly complex flavor.
Tips for Making Fattoush
As with any fresh salad, fattoush is the sum of its parts. So here are just a few tips:
- Start with selecting the best produce you find, ripe tomatoes, freshly-picked herbs, etc.
- Don't use store-bought pita chips (there is certainly a place for those, but not in fattoush salad). Take the time to toast and fry your pita at home, making sure you season them well.
- Please try not to skip sumac. It is a special spice from ground sumac berries, and it's tart flavor is very hard to replicate.
- Use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can find. It's peppery, fruity taste is essential here. Remember, olive oils that are simply labeled “pure” have usually been heat-treated and refined by mechanical mean and, consequently, lack character and flavor.
- Lastly, remember, this is a "basic" fattoush recipe. If you like, try your own variation by adding in-season vegetables like colorful heirloom tomatoes or even green peppers. Add more herbs or crushed garlic. And if it's available to you, jazz up the vinaigrette with 1 teaspoon pomegranate molasses. Enjoy!
Fattoush Salad
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: serves 6
Description
Fattoush Salad makes a frequent appearance on the Middle Eastern dinner table. A simple chopped salad dressed in a zesty lime vinaigrette. Homemade pita chips serve as croutons! See the video and step-by-step for how to make fattoush below.
Ingredients
- 2 loaves pita bread
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- 2 tsp sumac, divided, more as needed
- 1 heart of Romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 English cucumber, cut in half, seeds scraped, then chopped or sliced into half moons
- 5 Roma tomatoes, chopped
- 5 green onions (both white and green parts), chopped
- 5 radishes, stems removed, thinly sliced
- 2 cups chopped fresh parsley leaves, stems removed
- 1 cup chopped fresh mint leaves (optional)
Vinaigrette/Dressing
- Juice of 1 lemon or 1 ½ limes
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 to 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses, optional
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tsp sumac
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- scant ¼ tsp ground allspice
Instructions
- Break the pita bread into small bite-size pieces. Heat 3 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan until shimmering, and add the pita bread. Fry briefly until browned, tossing frequently. Using a pair of tongs, transfer the fried pita chips to a plate lined with paper towel to drain. Season with salt, pepper and sumac.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, green onions with the sliced radish and parsley.
- To make the dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together the lemon or lime juice, olive oil, pomegranate molasses (if using), salt, pepper and spices.
- Pour toss lightly. Finally, add the pita chips, and more sumac if you like, and toss one more time. Transfer to small serving bowls or plates. Enjoy!
Notes
- Variations: fattoush salad dressing often includes pomegranate molasses. If that's available to you, add 1 to 2 teaspoons to the dressing, it really does make it extra special. For the salad, you can also add more herbs or other greens such as arugula (not traditional to fattoush but wonderful!)
- To bake the pita chips instead, follow baking instructions in my homemade pita chip recipe and season with kosher salt and sumac when ready.
- Recommended for This Recipe: quality extra virgin olive oil; all-natural sumac spice; all-natural allspice.
- SAVE! Try our Exotic 4-pack of spices or our Everyday Olive Oil Bundle!
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Category: Salad
- Method: Counter Top
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Step-by-step photos for how to make fattoush
Toast the pita bread in your toaster oven until it is crisp but not browned.
Heat 3 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan. Break the pita bread into pieces, and place in the heated oil. Fry briefly until browned, tossing frequently. Add salt, pepper and ½ teaspoon of sumac. Remove the pita chips from the heat and place on paper towels to drain.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, green onions with the sliced radish and parsley.
To make the lime vinaigrette, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil and spices in a small bowl.
Dress the salad with the vinaigrette and toss lightly.
Finally, add the pita chips (and another generous pinch of sumac, if you like) and toss one more time.
Transfer to small serving bowls or plates. Enjoy!
More Recipes to Try:
3-Ingredient Mediterranean Salad
*Post last updated: July 2017
Well, I recently went to Palestine and not only were the people lovely and the countryside beautiful but the food was amazing and much of it was exactly what you are describing here.
I love that kind of food anyway and I had heard the hummus was delicious but I thought well we have really good hummus here but it was really something to talk about.
I also had possibly the best baklava i have ever had in my life. We stayed at these really nice resorts with fabulous buffets featuring many of these salads.
The food and the olive were just so fresh and flavorful.
That would be Bike Palestine for a fantastic vacation.
Now I am trying to copy the food as much as possible.
Hi! Thank you so much for sharing about your recent trip! I can only imagine how beautiful everything was...the scenery, food, and of course, the people! Glad to have you here. Enjoy the recipes.
I am definite going to try your recipe it looks like it is delicious. Also has ingredients that I know my husband will like to eat thank you for sharing your
Maria
Wonderful, Maria! Enjoy!
I had it in Mexico City, instead of Romaine lettuce they used VERDOLAGA, which I have never tried before.
It was delicious.
I love your recipe, it always a hit whenever I make it!
Thanks!
Interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Had this at a Lebanese restaurant in Melbourne and lived on it whilst in Istanbul.
Just love it!!
Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you so much for this easy-to-follow recipe Suzy! I am from the culturally-diverse city of Toronto, Canada and I'm never far away from authentic Middle Eastern cuisines. I've always enjoyed the flavors and lately, the fattoush salad has been a fave! My Lebanese colleagues have repeatedly mentioned how easy it was to make the fattoush salad but I've never really tried. The photos are also fantastic! Many thanks.
Hi Shan! Thank you so much for stopping in and sharing. I have family in the Toronto as well...there are a lot of great restaurants there. Glad you tried the fattoush on your own...super easy!
the first time i tried fattoush salad was when my boyfriend took me to Afrah restaurant in Irving, Tx. I fell in love with the taste right away and decided to make it myself. The only problem at that time, it was difficult to find the spice Sumac, so i had to order it online.
Regardless of the different versions of fattoush, overall its taste great and healthy. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Sherry, thanks so much for sharing! It really is a wonderful healthy salad.
I was able to find the spice sumac at the bulk barn store here in Canada at a very cheap price. Not sure if bulk barn is all through the states or not.
Wonderful! I am not sure we have one here.
Must be a very good salad but the original uses purslane instead of lettuce....
Sure, Georgette. But lettuce is the more readily used alternative nowadays. At least that has been my experience.
I often wonder if people actually know what purslane (verdolaga) is and if they know the health benefits of this 'weed'. It is probably the richest source of omega-3 fatty acids of any land plant and it's a rich source of vitamin A and C as well as antioxidants. The leaves stems and flowers can be eaten raw, steamed or fried and when harvested in the morning it has a tangy Apple like taste, when harvested in the afternoon and has a sweeter and more grass like taste. If you are eating a diet free of starches that are used as thickeners, keep in mind that purslane has a mucilaginous property similar to okra that makes it a good thickener for soups, stews and gravies. Blanched, dehydrated and then turned into a powder in your blender. Use the powder as a thickener in place of cornstarch or flour.
I love, love, looooove Fattoush Salad! Fattoush salad is very healthy and flavorful. That is a lovely presentation! And Oh the salad looks so refreshing and delicious!
That makes two of us, David! I love fattoush salad as well. Thanks so much for stopping in and for sharing your kind comment. Hope to see you here again.
I think I will be trying this! Thanks!
This looks so good!!
Looks scrumptious!!
Yum Joanne T Ferguson
I love this salad and your photo makes me want to try this now! New liker The Mediterranean Dish cheers Joanne What's On The List?
Thank you so much, Joanne! Glad you like it
Thanks Joanne T Ferguson! Will hop over to your page!
It was snowing not long ago !!! Fattoush looks great !!
Over where you are it's getting cooler now, eh? I just made a lamb stew that is being featured on an Australian friend's blog. I'll share the link soon so you all can check it out!
Oh my! Sounds perfect for a cool evening meal!! Mary Nicholas Herring, this lime vinaigrette sounds lovely for warmer weather don't you think?
Glad you like it Denise; super easy to make!
This is one of my favorites. I can't wait to try it.
Great, Marissa! Let me know how you like it.