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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Salad

    Fattoush Salad

    Published: Oct 28, 2019 · Modified: Feb 20, 2023 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 31 Comments

    435 shares
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    Diet: Vegan
    Fattoush Salad with a text title overlay.

    A Fattoush Salad (basically a bread salad) is a Middle Eastern staple and the lemon and mint dressing just brings it all together. This crunchy and zesty chopped salad is topped with homemade baked pita chips, making it a great way to use up stale pita bread. A great fridge clear out salad and a welcome addition to a BBQ or picnic.

    Two bowls of salad next to a bowl of green olives.
    Jump to:
    • What is a Fattoush salad?
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • Step by step
    • Fattoush dressing
    • Baked pita chips
    • What to serve with a Fattoush Salad
    • Storage
    • Extra tips
    • More salad recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    What is a Fattoush salad?

    The fattoush salad was born out of not wanting pita bread to go to waste. So, instead of throwing it away, people made it the star of another dish. Fattoush salad is basically a toasted pita salad and that is music to our ears.

    Ingredients for this salad will vary wherever you see it, as the leftover pita was thrown together with whatever other leftover or seasonal ingredients were on hand. So, feel free to change it up and use what you have. It usually has a lettuce base with cucumber and tomatoes and a herby lemon dressing.

    Why you will love it

    • A light a fresh salad - The base of this dish is chopped salad and mixed with the lemon dressing it's a really light and fresh salad.
    • Just 157 calories a bowl - Even with the pita bread it is a low calorie salad, but still filling.
    • A great way to use up stale pita bread - Don't let any pita bread go to waste and use it up in this Fattoush salad.
    • A delicious side to chicken dishes - This goes so well with chicken skewers. We have added serving suggestions below.

    Ingredients needed

    • Pita breads - This salad is a great way to use up leftover pita breads.
    • Olive oil - Try to use a really good quality olive oil, as it makes up the base of the dressing and you can taste the difference.
    • Ground sumac - Pronounced soo-mak, it is made from the dried and ground berries of the wild sumac flower. It is a tangy spice with a sour, acidic flavour reminiscent of lemon juice.
    • Romaine lettuce - This adds lots of texture and crunch to the salad. You could swap it for another lettuce, however it wouldn't be as traditional.
    • Cucumber - We used a standard English cucumber, however other varieties of cucumber would work. We didn't peel ours, however you could if you could if you don't like the skin.
    • Tomatoes - Use the juiciest and ripest tomatoes that you can find. We used Roma tomatoes, however you could use basic salad tomatoes or even cherry tomatoes.
    • Red onion - This adds some crunch and colour to the salad. However, if you can't tolerate raw onion, like many people can't, then you could soften it a little in a pan first.
    • Radishes - Another way to add crunch and colour, as well as a nice peppery flavour. You could leave these out though.
    • Lemons - A must in the dressing as it really lightens the whole salad up.
    • Fresh parsley and mint - These add so much fresh flavour to the salad.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    Prep: Preheat your oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5.
    One: Put the chopped pita, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon sumac into a baking tray season with salt and mix well. Put into the oven for 10-15 minutes until crispy. Set aside. You could fry the pita chips in a pan with some olive oil instead.

    Cut up pieces of pita bread in a roasting tray.

    Two: In a bowl, mix together the rest of the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic, sumac, parsley and mint and mix well.

    A small white bowl with salad dressing.

    Three: Chop all the salad

    Chopped lettuce leaves, tomatoes, radish, cucumber and red onion on a wooden chopping board.

    Four: Put the salad ingredients in a large bowl and pour over the dressing. Mix well.

    Chopped salad items, herbs and dressing in a large metal mixing bowl.

    Five: Divide in to bowls and top with cooked pita chips.

    A salad in a bowl topped with pitta chips.

    Fattoush dressing

    This is a herb packed dressing, and we aren't complaining about that. We mixed together some really good quality olive oil with loads of lemon juice (the more the better I say), a pinch of salt and pepper, a little garlic, sumac and a lot of chopped mint and parsley.

    Not heard of sumac before? It's a really versatile spice that is popular in Middle Eastern cuisine and has a subtle lemon flavour to it, but less tart. It's a delicious addition to a salad dressing.

    An oil based salad dressing with spices and garlic.

    Baked pita chips

    What adds a nice bit of extra crunch to this salad is the baked pita chips. One piece of advice - make loads extra as they are great for dipping in to hummus and tzatziki.

    A great way to use up pita bread that is going a bit stale, chop them up in to random bits and then mix with a little olive oil, salt and sumac and then put them in the oven for 10-15 minutes until they are nice and crispy. Try not to eat them all before they get on the salad!

    What to serve with a Fattoush Salad

    This is a really versatile salad. If you want to keep it traditional, then it is great served with any Middle Eastern dishes. We love to serve this with chicken skewers or halloumi vegetable skewers. It's also delicious with our Vegetable Packed Koftas.

    If you want some extra pita and dips on the side, then try our Roasted Carrot Hummus, Butter Bean Hummus or Easy Garlic Sauce. Fancy something with a kick? You will love our Kebab Shop Chilli Sauce.

    Baked Pitta Chips in a silver baking tray.

    Storage

    Store: If you do have any leftover fattoush salad, then it will keep in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours, but it will start to get very soggy. If you haven't tossed the salad with the dressing, then it will store in an air tight container for up to 4 days.

    Freeze: We wouldn't recommend freezing this as salad does not defrost well.

    FAQs

    Can you make a fattoush salad in advance?

    Yes, you can make it in advance. However, we would recommend only adding the dressing just before serving so it doesn't get too soggy. You can chop everything up and keep it in a bowl in the fridge, with the dressing ready made too, and then mix together just before serving.

    Can you use store bought pita chips?

    Yes, you can save yourself some time by using store bought pita chips, however these won't taste as good and they are pretty expensive to buy, but really cheap to make.

    Is a fattoush salad gluten free?

    If you use gluten free pita bread and make sure that there is no cross contamination, then this can be gluten free.

    Is a fattoush salad vegan?

    Yes, this is a delicious vegan salad.

    Can this recipe be doubled?

    You can easily double this recipe. Just make sure that you have a bowl big enough to mix everything together.

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    Extra tips

    • To get a really excellent fattoush salad, the key is the freshest ingredients. Juicy tomatoes and really fresh and flavourful herbs.
    • Don't skip the sumac just because you may not have heard of it before. It's an essential in this salad, and you can find it with all the other spices in your local supermarket.
    • You could add some crumbled goat's cheese for extra flavour and creaminess.
    • Add some extra protein by throwing in some cooked chickpeas or lentils, but still keeping it vegetarian.
    • Make extra pita chips and dip them in hummus and tzatziki.
    • Use the best quality olive oil that you can afford. It really makes a difference to the taste of the dressing.
    • Add some extra flavour and colour by sprinkling some pomegranate on just before serving.

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    If you’ve tried this Fattoush Salad recipe, please leave a comment below, we love hearing from you!
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Fattoush Salad in a round bowl.

    Fattoush Salad

    By: Dannii
    A Fattoush Salad is a Middle Eastern staple and the lemon and mint dressing just brings it all together. This crunchy and zesty chopped salad is topped with homemade baked pita chips, making it a great way to use up stale pita bread.
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant in a pot.
    Vegan
    5 from 28 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Middle Eastern
    Prep: 5 mins
    Cook: 15 mins
    Total: 20 mins
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 157kcal
    Allergens:
    An illustration of two ears of wheat.
    Gluten
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    Ingredients

    • 2 (2) Pitta bread - cut in to chunks
    • 4 tablespoon (4 tablespoon) Olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon (2 tablespoon) Sumac
    • 1 (1) Romain lettuce - chopped
    • 0.5 (0.5) Cucumber - cut in to chunks
    • 3 (3) Tomatoes - diced
    • 0.5 (0.5) Red onion - thinly sliced
    • 6 (6) Radishes - chopped
    • 2 (2) Lemons - (juice only)
    • 1 pinch (1 pinch) Sea salt and black pepper
    • 2 (2) Garlic clove - crushed
    • 20 g (0.75 oz) Fresh parsley - finely chopped
    • 10 g (0.5 oz) Fresh mint - finely chopped

    Instructions

    • Put the chopped pita, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon sumac in to a baking tray and mix well. Put in a preheated oven at 190C for 10-15 minutes until crispy. Set aside.
    • In a bowl, mix together the rest of the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic, sumac, parsley and mint and mix well.
    • Chop all the salad
    • Put the salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl and pour over the dressing. Mix well.
    • Divide in to bowls and top with cooked pita chips.

    Notes

    • You could add some crumbled goats cheese for extra flavour and creaminess.
    • Add some extra protein by throwing in some cooked chickpeas or lentils, but still keeping it vegetarian.
    • Make extra pita chips and dip them in hummus and tzatziki.
    • Use the best quality olive oil that you can afford. It really makes a difference to the taste of the dressing.
    • Add some extra flavour and colour by sprinkling some pomegranate on just before serving.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 109mg | Potassium: 314mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1290IU | Vitamin C: 35.1mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1.1mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa Huff

      October 30, 2019 at 8:31 pm

      5 stars
      Oh that lemon and mint dressing! I want to put it on everything!

      Reply
    2. Suzy

      October 29, 2019 at 2:59 pm

      5 stars
      Hands down one of our favorite salads to make! It's also a perfect way to use up some pita bread!

      Reply
    3. Jacqueline Debono

      October 29, 2019 at 2:48 pm

      5 stars
      I've only eaten a fattoush salad a couple of times but never made it. I don't know why because it's so good and as you say a great way to use up pita!

      Reply
    4. Natalie

      October 29, 2019 at 2:42 pm

      5 stars
      Sounds like a really interesting recipe. A healthy too. I must give it a try. It will be perfect for my lunchbox.

      Reply
    5. Pam

      October 29, 2019 at 2:38 pm

      5 stars
      I love any recipe that is versatile in its ingredient list and this one checks that box! It's beautiful, bright and delicious too!

      Reply
    6. Julia

      October 29, 2019 at 1:57 pm

      5 stars
      This salad looks similar to Italian Panzanella. I had no idea they had similar salad in Middle East. Love it!

      Reply
    7. Toni

      October 28, 2019 at 2:00 pm

      5 stars
      Such a tasty salad! My family loved it!

      Reply
    8. Aimee Mars

      October 28, 2019 at 1:29 pm

      5 stars
      This salad is perfect for meal prep! You NEVER get sick of eating it. I can't wait to make it again.

      Reply
    9. Demeter

      October 28, 2019 at 1:20 pm

      5 stars
      This salad is so flavorful! Loved how easy it was to make. We’ll definitely be making it again. Thank you!

      Reply
    10. kim

      October 28, 2019 at 12:52 pm

      5 stars
      I love this recipe! It was so easy and had so much flavor. I'll be making again and again!

      Reply
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