Fattoush (Lebanese Vegetable Salad with Toasted Bread)

  • Total Time - 30 minutes
  • Vegetable and Dressing Preparation - 20 minutes
  • Bread Preparation and Mixing - 10 minutes
  • Servings: 4
  • Country: Lebanon
A colorful Fattoush salad with pieces of romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, and crispy toasted pita bread, sprinkled with sumac.

Fattoush is known for its crunchy texture, provided by the toasted pita bread, and for the sourness and fruity flavor of the Sumac spice.

This salad should be served immediately after mixing to keep the bread crispy for as long as possible. You can prepare the dressing in advance and add it just before serving.

Ingredients

For the Vegetable Base and Bread

  • 1 head Romaine Lettuce, coarsely chopped
  • 2 pcs Cucumbers, diced
  • 2 pcs Tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes), diced
  • 1 bunch Radishes, thinly sliced
  • 3 pcs Spring Onion, sliced
  • 0.5 cup Fresh Parsley, chopped
  • 0.25 cup Fresh Mint, chopped
  • 2 pcs Pita Bread, cut into triangles (Khubz)

For the Dressing

  • 4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 3 Tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 1 tsp Sumac
  • 1 tsp Pomegranate Molasses (optional, for sourness and color)
  • to taste Salt and Black Pepper

Instructions

Step 1: Preparing the Bread

Cut the pita bread into triangles or squares. You can fry it in a small amount of oil until golden brown or bake it in the oven at 180 °C (356 °F) for 8-10 minutes until crispy. Let it cool.

Step 2: Preparing the Vegetables

In a large bowl, mix the chopped romaine lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, and spring onion.

Add the chopped parsley and fresh mint. Leave the vegetables in the bowl.

Step 3: Preparing the Dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Sumac, salt, pepper, and pomegranate molasses (if using).

Taste and adjust the sourness/saltiness as needed.

Step 4: Mixing and Serving

Just before serving, pour the dressing over the vegetables and mix gently but thoroughly.

Finally, add the crispy pita bread pieces. Mix lightly again.

Serve the salad immediately, sprinkled with an extra pinch of Sumac for color and flavor.