This Fattoush Salad is an absolute flavor bomb in every bite! It's a Middle Eastern salad made with fresh vegetables, a signature zesty dressing, and crunchy pita bread, which is the best part. Serve with falafel and hummus for one of my favorite meals 😊
If I had to name my favorite salad of all time…Fattoush Salad is definitely up there alongside a Persian shirazi salad. It's a popular Middle Eastern salad full of fresh vegetables, a tangy dressing and crispy fried pita bread which is by far the best part! I had a lot of Lebanese friends growing up and was lucky enough to eat at their families homes on many occasions. This fattoush salad was always a staple dish on every table and event. Its bursting with flavor with different textures and everyone loves it!
I was raised in Sydney Australia, where we have a large Middle Eastern community. Lebanese cuisine has always been a personal favorite and something I ate often, whether that was at friends' homes or in restaurants. I can't even count how many times I've eaten it. Theres a few dishes that would be on every order without a doubt…fattoush salad, falafel, and hummus on the side of course...YUM my perfect meal!
Now I must say, every fattoush salad recipe I've tried is slightly different due to different cultures and family recipes. From the veggies used, how they're sliced and presesnted, how tangy the dressing is and the overall ratio of everything. They all however have two key things that are never missed…the golden crunchy bread and the tangy dressing which is from the sumac and pomegranate molasses.
I've been spending time in Italy, where Arabic and Middle Eastern food is quite limited. I miss it so much that it forced me to create the best fattoush salad at home! 😊. Authentic Lebanese fattoush salad is made by frying the pita bread until golden and crisp. I prefer to air fry or oven bake the pita bread to be healthier and lighter but both work great. Some other Middle Eastern dishes I've remade are gozleme, white bean dip and air fryer falafel to name a few.
Table of Contents
What makes this recipe special
- Quick & Easy: Ready in 20 minutes and will be devoured by everyone!
- Crunchy: The crispy pita chips bring that addictive crunchy texture
- Fresh & Delicious: Loaded with crisp veggies and radishes, crunchy pita chips and a delicious zesty dressing
- Flexible: Swap out any veggies for your favorites or add extra protein such as chickpeas, feta cheese, breaded tofu or even grilled chicken
What Is Fattoush?
Fattoush salad originated in the Levant region and is a very popular Middle Eastern salad made with fresh chopped veggies, crunchy fried pita bread and a signature tangy dressing using pomegranate molasses and sumac.
The name comes from the Arabic word “fatteh” which means “crumbs” referring to the bread used in the salad. Its said to have originated by farmers who would mix day-old leftover pita bread with fresh garden vegetables to avoid food waste.
This bread salad is a staple across countries including Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, jordan and other neighbouring countries. The recipe varies slightly by region, but the key of the salad is the same with crispy bread, fresh produce, and a bright dressing.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Romaine lettuce is the crisp base, you can also use iceberg lettuce. To make it extra crispy, soak lettuce in a bowl of water with ice cubes for 10 minutes
- Persian cucumbers are extra crunchy and delicious with less seeds and water. English or regular cucumbers work too
- Tomatoes are juicy and sweet. I've used vine tomatoes, but you can add cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes too
- Green onions / scallions have a mild onion flavor. Substitute with thinly sliced red onion for more bite
- Radish adds a peppery bite and great for texture. I like to slice in thin strips so its not overpowering
- Green bell pepper Is an optional ingredient that adds a mild sweetness and color. Red bell pepper work too
- Fresh mint and parsley leaves, these fresh herbs are key for a bright fresh flavor
- Pita bread wraps or Lebanese bread are key when making fattoush salad. Traditionally they're fried until golden and crispy, but I prefer to air fry or oven bake to be healthier and lighter and love adding a sprinkle of za’atar…yum!
Fattoush Salad Dressing
- Extra virgin olive oil is the base for the dressing with a rich and delicious flavor. Use good quality oil for the best taste
- Lemon juice adds acidity and brightness. Fresh lemon is always recommended rather than bottled lemon juice
- Pomegranate molasses is a key ingredient in fattoush, adding a sweet and sour tang. You can skip if you can't get your hands on it or substitute with balsamic glaze, but the flavor wont be exactly the same
- Sumac is tart and citrus
- Dried mint adds depth alongside the fresh mint
- Garlic clove, just one, finely minced using a microplane grater, adds bite to the dressing
How to make Fattoush Salad
This classic Fattoush Salad is fresh, vibrant, and packed with crispy pita chips. Follow my simple steps below (note quantities are listed in the recipe card below)
Wash and chop the romaine, then dry thoroughly using a salad spinner or kitchen towels. Optional - soak in ice water for 10 minutes for extra crispiness
Slice cucumbers into half-moons, cube the tomatoes, chop the bell pepper (if using), and thinly slice spring onions and radishes (I like to cut radishes into strips). Finely chop parsley and roughly chop mint
Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or jar
Cut pita into small squares
Cook bread in air fryer/oven. Spray with olive oil, season with salt and za'atar, and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 4–5 minutes in the air fryer, 7–10 minutes in the oven
Alternatively, you can fry in the pan with oil until golden, drain on paper towels, and sprinkle with salt and za'atar
Add the chopped veggies in a large bowl with half the crispy pita chips
To serve, add the dressing, toss well, adjust for seasoning, then top with the remaining pita chips. Enjoy!
Serving or Usage Suggestions
Fattoush salad is super versatile and tastes good with so many dishes. Here are some of my favorites:
- Falafel or falafel wrap
- Air fryer salmon, grilled chicken or fish
- Dips such as hummus, tzatziki, or tirokafteri
- Kotlet - Persian patties
- Cauliflower steaks
- Lentil rice
- Crispy breaded tofu or chicken cutlets
- Turkish red lentil soup or mushroom barley soup
- Honey halloumi and halloumi bites
- Greek bowl or Mediterranean bowl
- Yogurt flatbread
- Enjoy on its own with addition of chickpeas, olives, and/or feta cheese
Tips and Tricks
- For a healthier option, I prefer to air fry or oven bake the pita bread until golden and crispy rather than frying which is the traditional way
- Soak the lettuce in a bowl of ice water first to make it extra crunchy
- Add the dressing right before serving to keep it fresh and crispy and so the veggies don't go soggy
- Toss only half of the pita chips in the salad and add the remaining chips on top to keep them crunchy and delicious
- For extra protein, toss in chickpeas, feta cheese, grilled chicken or crispy breaded tofu
Storage Instructions
- Fattoush is best enjoyed fresh but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days once dressed
- Keep dressing and pita chips separate if meal prepping and it will keep for 4 - 5 days. Dress it once ready to eat
- This recipe cannot be frozen in the freezer
FAQs
Fattoush salad is a popular Middle Eastern salad from the Levant region, made with fresh chopped veggies, crunchy fried pita bread and a signature tangy dressing
The vegetables consist of lettuce, cucumbers, tomato, herbs, green or red onion, sometimes with bell peppers, radish and pieces of fried pita bread. The dressing is made with olive oil, lemon juice, pomegranate mollases and sumac
The dressing is bright, tangy and sour due to the sumac and pomegranate molasses giving the signature flavor
Traditionally made with fried Middle Eastern flatbread known as pita bread or Lebanese bread but it can vary due to the region
Yes of course! I love adding chickpeas, feta cheese, falafel or crispy tofu. Grilled chicken or air fryer salmon bites would be great adds too
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Fattoush Salad:
More Mediterranean Salads
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your photo on Instagram so I can share the love!
Recipe
Fattoush Salad (Crunchy, Fresh and Delish)
Ingredients
- ½ large head of Romaine lettuce
- 2 medium Persian cucumbers
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 2 green onions / scallions
- 4 radishes
- ½ green bell pepper (optional)
- Handful each of fresh mint leaves and parsley leaves
- 2 pita bread wraps
- *Optional sprinkle of zaatar
- Oil for frying or oil spray
Fattoush Salad Dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium lemon juiced
- 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
- 1 teaspoon sumac
- 1 teaspoon dried mint
- 1 garlic clove - finely grated using a microplane grater
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Wash and chop the romaine lettuce and dry thoroughly in a salad spinner. *Optional, to make the leaves extra crispy, soak in a bowl of water with ice cubes for 10 minutes
- Chop the cucumbers into half circles, tomatoes into cubes bell pepper if using. Finely slice the spring onions and radishes (I like to cut radishes into strips), finely chop the parsley and roughly chop the mint leaves.
- In a glass jar or small bowl, add the dressing ingredients and whisk together
- Cut the pita bread into small squares
- Fry bread in a pan with your preferred oil for a few minutes until golden brown and crispy, then drain onto paper towels and sprinkle with salt and zaatarORAir fryer / oven - spray them well with olive oil spray, sprinkle with salt and zaatar and bake at 400℉ / 200℃ for 4-5 minutes in the air fryer or in the oven for 7-10 minutes until crispy
- Add the salad ingredients to a large bowl with half of the crispy pita chips
Notes
- Pita bread - for a healthier twist, air fry or bake until golden instead of frying. Mix half into the salad and sprinkle the rest on top for maximum crunch
- Pomegranate molasses is a key ingredient in fattoush, if you can't get your hands on it substitute with balsamic glaze, but the flavor wont be exactly the same
- Dressing - add just before serving to keep veggies fresh and crunchy
- Protein - add chickpeas, feta, grilled chicken, or crispy tofu for a heartier salad
Sal says
A top five salad for sure! Thank you!
Ayeh Manfre says
So happy you loved it so much too!
Brushjl says
Delicious! Thanks for sharing. Easy on the eyes too!
Ayeh Manfre says
So happy you loved it 🙂
MAbe Phelps says
It was delicious! I prefer a recipe that does not use an extraordinary amount of lemon juice and yours does not. Most of the recipes that I have tried have been too sour. I grew up eating fattoush and my mom was careful with the lemon juice which is what I had missed in most of the recipes that I had tasted.
Ayeh Manfre says
So happy to hear you loved it, I totally agree as the pomegranate molasses adds the extra acidity too 🙂