Lebanese Fattoush Salad (Printable version)

Crisp greens, tomatoes, herbs, and crunchy pita chips tossed in a tangy lemon-sumac dressing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 2 cups mixed greens (romaine, arugula, or purslane), chopped
02 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
03 - 1 large cucumber, diced
04 - 4 radishes, thinly sliced
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
07 - ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped

→ Pita Chips

08 - 2 pieces pita bread
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - ½ teaspoon sea salt

→ Dressing

11 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
14 - 1 to 1½ teaspoons ground sumac
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - ½ teaspoon salt
17 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Cut pita bread into bite-sized pieces; toss with olive oil and sea salt. Spread on baking sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes until golden and crisp. Allow to cool.
02 - In a large bowl, combine mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, red onion, parsley, and mint.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, sumac, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
04 - Just before serving, add cooled pita chips to the salad. Pour dressing over and gently toss to combine.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately to maintain crispness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like sunshine and feels like a vacation even on a Tuesday night.
  • The pita chips soak up just enough dressing to stay flavorful without losing their crunch.
  • You can prep everything ahead and toss it together in under two minutes when guests arrive.
  • Sumac gives it a tangy brightness you cannot get from lemon alone.
02 -
  • Do not dress the salad until the last possible moment or the pita will turn soggy and you will lose the whole point of the crunch.
  • If your sumac tastes flat or dusty, it might be old because fresh sumac should smell bright and almost fruity.
  • Tearing the pita by hand instead of cutting it creates uneven edges that crisp up beautifully and catch more dressing.
03 -
  • Rub a cut garlic clove on the pita before you tear it and toss it with oil for an extra layer of flavor.
  • If you cannot find sumac, use extra lemon zest and a pinch of smoked paprika, but know it will not taste quite the same.
  • Always taste the dressing before you pour it because lemon juice varies in acidity and you might need to adjust.
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