Authentic Fattoush Salad

This authentic Lebanese fattoush salad recipe is unchanged from my childhood, passed down from my mother, and from hers before her and so on.

What is Fattoush Salad?

Fattoush (الفتوش), pronounced as "faht-toosh" in Arabic and sometimes written as Fatoush, Fatoosh or Fatush in English.

It is one of the national salads of Lebanon, it's made with a variety of chopped vegetables and fried pita bread pieces tossed through a sour dressing.

Fattoush salad, also known as Lebanese peasant salad, originated from peasants repurposing stale pita bread into a nutritious meal to feed their families.

Ingredients Highlight

Note - Lebanese cucumber is also known as Persian cucumber.

Romaine lettuce (aka cos lettuce) is the best lettuce for this Lebanese bread salad, however, iceberg lettuce can be used also, as they are very similar.

This next ingredient might be new to you, but it's a wild green I grew up eating, purslane. It often grows in backyards and can be found at Middle Eastern grocers when in season. If you can't find it, you can leave it out. Adding it, though, gives fattoush an authentic taste with its herbaceous, slightly sour flavor.

A key ingredient that differentiates this salad from others is homemade pita chips made from Lebanese pita bread (or khobz Arabi).

Traditionally, these were deep-fried, but my family now makes oven-baked pita chips for a healthier option that still has that satisfying crunch without all the oil.

You can find this type of bread at Middle Eastern stores. Stale bread works great for this fattoush recipe, making the best salad! Or if you need a GF option, try this pita chip recipe.

Fattoush Salad Dressing

Freshly squeezed zesty lemon, a generous amount of ground sumac, sweet and sour pomegranate molasses, extra virgin olive oil, and dried mint are essential dressing ingredients in any fattoush salad recipe, all adjusted to taste with some salt.

This tangy dressing is also commonly used in other salads of Lebanon, with slight variations to suit each one accordingly.

Serving Suggestions

Chances are if you've dined at Lebanese restaurants you would've seen this amazing salad on the menu, in the banquet or mezze sections.

Fattoush salad is generally served with all types of mishwe (Arabic word for bbq), for non meat-eaters, try it with tofu kabobs based on the flavors of shish tawook. When I serve this at family gatherings, even meat-eaters love it.

Any type of mujadara, dishes that are generally made with lentils, need a bit of fresh chopped veggies on the side.

Pilaf dishes also pair well, my family loves it to a side of spiced rice (mixed with veggies and toasted nuts) or upside down rice called maklouba or try a delicious bulgur pilav simmered in a base of fresh tomatoes.

More Salads From Lebanon

Lebanon has many different salads and it is common practice to serve one with lunch or dinner as a side dish. The other national salad is called taboule which is often confused with this fattoush albeit they're not alike, the difference between the two salads is palpable.

There's an everyday salad made by all Arabs, which can be thought of as the classic Middle Eastern salad, or for something a bit simpler, cucumber and yogurt  which is quite refreshing, or cabbage salad, both are versatile with how they can be paired.