Fattoush Salad

Fattoush is a Northern Lebanese salad made with leftover pita, tomatoes, herbs, cucumber and other vegetables. It started as a way for people to use pita scraps so they didn’t go to waste, much like the Italian bread salad, panzanella, or Portuguese açorda (a “bread soup.”) ⁣

It begins with a lettuce base of chopped romaine and from there it’s nice and flexible. Typical ingredients are cherry tomatoes, Persian cucumber, red onion, olives, feta, avocado, fresh herbs like mint, dill and parsley, and of course crispy pitta chip crumbles. In Arabic, the word “fattoush” is derived from “fatteh” which literally means “crumbs.” You can make your own seasoned crispy pita crumbs or use crumbled store bought  pita chips.

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To make your own pita chips, rub pita bread with olive oil, toast or fry it, and with sumac (or use store bought pita chips.) Then all you need to do are chop veggies and make a salad dressing. ⁣⁣

I like using this lemon-mint vinaigrette but any simple vinaigrette will work. 

Lemon mint vinaigrette:⁣

1 clove garlic, minced⁣

2 Tbs mint leaves, finely chopped⁣

Juice of one lemon (2-3 Tbs)⁣

1 tsp honey or agave⁣

2 Tbs white wine vinegar ⁣

1/3 cup olive oil⁣

Salt and pepper to taste⁣

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Whisk all ingredients together or shake in jar. Check for seasoning.⁣

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