My husband and I were on a trip to Israel a few years ago when we stopped at an amazing Arabic restaurant in Jerusalem. And of all the fantastic foods that I got to try on my visit, I will never forget the fattoush salad I had there. IT WAS AMAZING.
I know, that sounds a bit dramatic, but let me tell you, it was life changing. Seriously, I now not only make it regularly, but one of the main spices, sumac, is now a staple in my kitchen. I use it on meats, salads, steamed rice…
While we were at the restaurant, I had the chance to be introduced to the owner’s friend. We had a great chat about some foods and seasonings that are central to Arabic culture, so as soon as I returned to the US, I got into the kitchen and got to work.
I wanted to recreate this amazing salad with its fresh mint, parsley, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and pita bread. I just had to recreate the tangy dressing and top it all with crumbled feta cheese.
What is Fattoush?
You may have never heard of fattoush, so let me tell you a little more about it.
Fattoush is a Lebanese salad that is made from pieces of toasted or fried pita, mixed greens, veggies and seasonings. It frequently contains lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, mint, olive oil, sumac and of course, pita bread. Traditionally, fattoush is used to use up pita bread that has become stale.
In many ways, it’s like tabbouleh, which is a vegetarian salad with tomatoes, mint, parsley, onion and bulgur wheat. Tabbouleh is a staple at our house, and I’ve got a great recipe for it. I’ve also made a Quinoa Tabbouleh and a Paleo friendly Cauliflower Tabbouleh as well.
Unlike tabbouleh, where the ingredients are very finely diced, fattoush is more like a tossed salad, where the veggies are more varied and roughly chopped.
WHAT IS SUMAC?
Now that you know a little more about what fattoush is, let me tell you about one of the key ingredients – sumac. Sumac is a spice that comes from a red flowering plant. The fruit of the plant is dried and powdered and turned into the spice Sumac. It’s commonly used in Middle Eastern and South Asian cuisine. It is a dark red/purple spice that adds a tart, lemony taste to your dish.
And trust me when I tell you, it was the sumac that sealed the deal and made this Arabic Fattoush Salad so incredibly delicious.
I love how easy this salad is. Chop everything up and you’re ready to serve it in just 15 minutes – it doesn’t get better than that! Or at least, it doesn’t until you dig in. It’s not only beautiful, colorful and easy to make – it’s amazingly delicious.
Fresh mint and parsley combine with the cucumbers, tomatoes and red onions to bring a delicious combination that is fresh and light. I used just one piece of whole wheat pita bread that I toasted (and it was fresh, not stale). It was the perfect amount to add the traditional flavor of the pita bread to the salad but didn’t add a lot of points to my salad.
Then you have the dressing. It’s tangy with fresh lemon juice and minced garlic. Seasoned with the sumac, it’s tamed with olive oil and feta cheese. It’s a perfect combination.
I hope you enjoy my recreation of this amazing Arabic Fattoush Salad. This one is a must try!
Fattoush is one of the most well-known Middle Eastern salads and is practically a standard at most meals there. It’s a beautiful and colorful salad tossed with fresh vegetables and herbs that offers a delicious combination of flavors.
Prep TimePrep Time 15 minutes mins
Total TimeTotal Time 15 minutes mins
ServingsServings 4 servings
CaloriesCalories 138 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 whole wheat pita bread
- 1 large English cucumber - (diced)
- 2 cup grape tomatoes - (halved)
- ½ of a medium red onion - (finely diced)
- ¾ cup fresh parsley - (finely chopped)
- ¾ cup fresh mint leaves - (finely chopped)
- 1 clove of garlic - (minced)
- 2 oz fat free feta cheese - (crumbled)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground sumac
- Juice from 1/2 a lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Lightly mist pita bread with cooking spray, and season with a bit of salt. Toast until crisp and golden brown. Chop into bite size pieces.
In a large bowl, toss together the remaining ingredients (except for the feta). Top with diced pita and feta cheese.
Notes
The entire recipe makes 4 servings
The serving size is about 1 cup
Nutrition
Calories: 138 kcal (7%)Carbohydrates: 22.4 g (7%)Protein: 5.5 g (11%)Fat: 4.4 g (7%)Saturated Fat: 0.7 g (4%)Cholesterol: 3 mg (1%)Sodium: 273 mg (12%)Potassium: 525 mg (15%)Fiber: 4.7 g (20%)Sugar: 5.1 g (6%)Calcium: 60 mg (6%)Iron: 3.8 mg (21%)
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
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Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad Recipe
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FAQs
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 nationality is fattoush? ›
Fattoush (Arabic: فتوش; also fattush, fatush, fattoosh, and fattouche) is a Lebanese salad made from toasted or fried pieces of khubz (Arabic flat bread) combined with mixed greens and other vegetables, such as radishes and tomatoes. Fattoush is popular among communities in the Levant.
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 does Fattoush mean in Arabic? ›
Fatteh or fattoush in Arabic means crushed or crumbs, hence the dish uses pieces of stale, toasted or fresh flatbread (pita).
Is Fattoush good for you? ›
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.
What countries eat fattoush? ›
Fattoush is not a specific recipe. It's an Arab dish found in the Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and other middle eastern countries.
What is Lebanese 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!
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.
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.
Fattoush is loaded with vitamins, nutrients, fiber, and healthy fats. It has a healthy dose of carbs from the pita, too! What is this? As a result, it's full of health benefits and is a great addition to a well-balanced diet as it provides your body with lots of nutrients and keeps you full.
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.
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.
Why is it called Waldorf salad? ›
Waldorf salad is named for the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City, where it was first created for a charity ball given in honor of the St. Mary's Hospital for Children on March 13, 1896.
Why is Greek salad so good? ›
“The Greek salad contains the red tomato, rich in lycopene, potassium, and vitamin C; the green cucumber with flavonoids, carotenoids, folic acid and vitamins B and K; and the onion, which belongs in the white/brown family of vegetables, is a good source of vitamin C and phenolic compounds.
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's the difference between mayonnaise and mayonnaise dressing? ›
Salad dressing is made with the same basic ingredients as mayonnaise. However, it has more water by weight than oil. It is also sweeter than mayonnaise, usually with high fructose corn syrup.
What is mayonnaise like dressing? ›
Salad Dressing * (Mayonnaise-type)
Much like mayonnaise in appearance, but with a cooked base. Salad dressing contains a minimum of 30% vegetable oil, 4% egg yolk ingredient, vinegar or lemon juice, and spices. The taste is more piquant than mayonnaise and also is often used as a base for other salad dressings.
