Fattoush (Lebanese Tomato and Pita Salad) Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Connie

Ground sumac is a versatile spice with a tangy lemony flavor, although more balanced and less tart than lemon juice. A small sprinkle also adds a beautiful pop of color to any dish.

I would not substitute the spice. You can locate it at Middle Eastern food stores. :)

Lemon Zest: This is the most easily available ingredient that can be used as a sumac substitute. Mix some fresh lemon zest with salt and voila! You have an alternative ready.

cynthia

Find the sumac and pomegranate syrup if you are able and you will be rewarded with great success and a super delicious salad! I added cubed feta cheese, and offered crusty bread on the side (rather than crumbled pita). Served this in July as a light summer supper which my family enjoyed.

Stella

Made for a Lebanese husband and it made the cut! Not going to beat Mama's recipe, but I'm told it was a very respectable fattoush. Main feedback: More sumac, not enough tomatoes and the peppers were a bit weird. In summer, I might omit them all together and do extra tomatoes.

marineh b

I used a tablespoon of pomegranate molasses. Delicious!

Sandy Camargo

I left off the pita (not eating bread at the moment) and couldn't find ground sumac, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Served it to guests as part of a Ramadan meal and it was a great success. People even took seconds.

Ellen Moore

Perhaps I'm just slow, but it took me nearly 1 hour to assemble and wash all the veggies for this salad. Granted, we buy only fresh (not prepackaged), organic (which can be muddy if it's rained lately), and we wash EVERYTHING in vinegar water, then rinse, and dry (to keep greens fresh and not dilute dressing). Then it took me the 30 proscribed minutes to prep and combine veggies and make dressing. Salad was very good, and we definitely will have again.

rkurk

Terrific salad! Served with spice rubbed chicken and Pilaf with dates getting rave reviews around the table! The salad was prepared as written, using romain and wild baby arugula and agree sumac essential. I might add another pita half next time. My husband and I thought the salad would make a good dinner option for us.

Judith Paulette

This is a lovely recipe, different from most summer salads. I am not a fan of reviews that don't follow the recipe, so forgive the following, I made this very late at night and didn't have cucumber or radish, instead used a whole small sweet onion. It definitely needs the crunch. I also added cubed roasted plain eggplant (1 medium), leftover from another dish and good quality feta. The sumac and pomegranate really make this dish sing. Can't wait to try the original!

Roni Jordan

I make Middle Eastern salads all the time, with a lemon/mint/oregano vinaigrette and a sprinkle of sumac or Za'atar. Decided to try this two nights ago to have with some homemade puff pastry knishes and chopped herring on challah. It was a fusion of meal thrown together with Ashkenazi and Middle Eastern flavors and husband and I both loved it. Must do again!

Loved!

Kept the veggies and lettuce dressed separately so leftovers were possible. We shared the veggies with our friends as the recipe made enough for an entree amount.

EHSMD

BEST fattoush recipe. I followed the recipe exactly. Our dinner guests gobbled up every bite. Next time I will triple the dressing, it’s that good.

Shooka

Awesome recipe, though I think it needs more tomatoes. They were totally lost. Brushing pitas with olive oil made them very nice and crispy.

Mike

Correct me if I am wrong but I have been making this salad from this recipe for awhile now and I think the poster changed it because I do think the original had dates in it. Am I imagining that?

Susan

Great recipe with just a few additions. Brushing the pita with some olive oil, sprinkling with salt and sumac and broiling until crispy gives the chips added zing. You can also fry them. Sumac in the dressing also lifts the taste. And if you can't find pomegranate syrup, you can make it with pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice. There's a recipe for it here. You really need it for the dressing.

Tena

I learned from my Lebanese mother-in-law that if you spray olive oil on raw side of pits before you toast it will not get soggy.

Lisa

Don't they somehow fry the pita before adding to the salad? Every time I've had the salad while traveling, the pita is always crispy, and I imagine fried in olive oil. Any suggestions?

Chris From Canada

Made the recipe following pretty close. I only had 1tbsp mint in my garden and none dried, and I think that I missed out- will definitely add the recommended amount next time (subbed parsley, but mint is special). I only used romaine and think mixing other greens would be good- will look for purslane (thanks for the comments!). I made the dressing as written, and found it a bit too tangy/acidic, so added not-quite-a teaspoon of white sugar. Loved this so much, will be eating again this weekend.

cheyt

Great recipe. Omitted red pepper since it’s not traditional. I also added dill and parsley chopped to the salad. the herbs really elevate the whole dish. sumac is an absolute must I also added zaatarI found the dressing a little bit too sweet, so added more acid (lemon and some vinegar) next time I will probably use less of the pomegranate

Sara

This was great, the sumac and pomegranate syrup really make a huge difference and make it taste authentic. I swapped the bell peppers with more tomato and it was fantastic. Will be making again very soon.

Gal

Don’t leave out the pomegranate syrup…it transforms the dresssing

d*

This dressing was excellent!!Did not have pom syrup; used date syrup.

Lisa

Great recipe. I love the tang of sumac. Couldn’t find pomegranate in any form so I rattled through the liquor cabinet and found a jar of Luxardo Maraschino cherries, used the syrup from that and it was still great

Ara

I would add the dried mint and sumac to the dressing so they coat the vegetables evenly. Plus, the oil will draw out the essential oils of the sumac and mint.If you are able to obtain fresh purslane, it definitely makes a different because of its fleshy/sour taste. Normally, people mix lettuce and purslane (though you CAN make this salad with 100% purslane).

Jeff

Excellent. Add more fresh mint and some parsley

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Fattoush (Lebanese Tomato and Pita Salad) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is fattoush dressing made of? ›

Made with extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, mint, sumac and pomegranate molasses, this zesty dressing is what separates authentic fattoush from all other fattoush. It helps the salad come together with a distinguished taste.

What is the difference between tabbouleh and fattoush? ›

Huge difference! Tabbouleh salad is an herb salad of finely chopped parsley and mint that includes a touch of tomato and bulgur. Tabbouleh salad dressing is a simple, lemony dressing, and also makes a frequent appearance on my plate. Fattoush is a lettuce and vegetable salad, crunchy and full bodied, with pita chips.

What does fattoush mean in English? ›

Its name derives from the Arabic word 'fatteh', meaning 'crumbs', referring to the leftover pita bread pieces mixed into the salad. Over time, Fattoush has evolved into a beloved dish enjoyed in homes and restaurants alike.

Why is fattoush healthy? ›

This heart-friendly salad is packed with fresh vegetables, tossed in a zesty, lemon dressing and topped with crispy bread. All the veggies that make up this mouth-watering salad contain many nutrients, especially fibre which helps lower cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose levels.

Is sumac used in Lebanese cooking? ›

Importantly, in Lebanese cuisine, sumac is a major ingredient in za'atar, the treasured spice blend of Lebanon. Za'atar is a tangy and flavourful spice blend that Lebanese people use as a dip (when mixed with olive oil), marinade or as a flavourful element to sprinkle on Lebanese bread.

What does Fattoush salad taste like? ›

The flavor of fattoush is bright, assertive, and refreshing, with herbal and vegetal notes that are accentuated by the acidity of the sumac and vinegar. It can be eaten on its own, bulked up with grilled proteins such as chicken or steak, or enjoyed as a side dish or appetizer.

What is a Mediterranean salad made of? ›

I make my Mediterranean Chopped Salad with simple vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions mixed with chickpeas, feta cheese, and olives and toss it all in an herby, lemony vinaigrette! All you have to do is chop all the ingredients, make the dressing, and then mix everything together right before you serve it.

What countries eat fattoush? ›

It's an Arab dish found in the Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and other middle eastern countries. In her book The Middle Eastern Kitchen, Ghillie Basan describes it as a traditional peasant dish that came originally from Syria and tells us that the word fattush is an Arabic word describing the breaking of bread.

Why is tabouli so good? ›

Tabbouleh is a healthy, vegetarian food that has no cholesterol, is low in fat, and high in fiber, vitamins, and much more. Plus, it makes great use of the backyard gardener's abundance of parsley, mint, tomatoes and cucumbers. This vegan dish can be made gluten-free by substituting quinoa for bulgur wheat.

Who invented fattoush? ›

The origins of Fattoush lie in the rural areas of Lebanon, where farmers would combine their fresh harvest with stale flatbread to create a filling and nutritious meal. The word Fattoush comes from the Arabic word "fatt", which means to crumble bread.

Why is it called Israeli salad? ›

It was adopted by Jewish immigrants to the Levant in the late 19th century, who found the locally grown Kirby cucumbers and tomatoes in popular local salad. It was popularized in the kibbutzim, where the Jewish farmers had local fresh produce at hand. The name Israeli Salad is used mainly outside of Israel.

What is tabbouleh made of? ›

Tabbouleh is basically parsley salad. There's technically no lettuce in it. It's a salad made up of parsley, tomatoes, bulgur wheat, and green onions – all finely chopped and tossed with olive oil and lemon juice!

What does the word tabbouleh mean in Arabic? ›

The Levantine Arabic tabbūle is derived from the Arabic word tābil from the Aramaic root word t-b-l, meaning "seasoning" or more literally "dip".

What is granch dressing made of? ›

Make the granch dressing – combine the yogurt, chopped herbs, seasonings, lemon juice, mayo, milk, and garlic and mix together. Taste, adjust seasoning, and set aside. Assemble everything together.

What is the most common dressing used in bound salads? ›

Bound salads are probably not the healthiest option in the land of salads, but they are so delicious! The reason they are a less-healthy option is that the binding agents are typically mayonnaise-based. Some of the most popular bound salads are egg and tuna.

What does fattoush taste like? ›

The flavor of fattoush is bright, assertive, and refreshing, with herbal and vegetal notes that are accentuated by the acidity of the sumac and vinegar. It can be eaten on its own, bulked up with grilled proteins such as chicken or steak, or enjoyed as a side dish or appetizer.

What is sumac dressing made of? ›

This is a sort of lemon sumac vinaigrette, using lemon juice, sumac, thyme, garlic, salt, black pepper, and olive oil. I simply add all of the ingredients to a jar, give it a good shake, and toss it in with my greens.

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