Fattoush Salad with Dressing

Fresh and easy, this Fattoush Salad is delicious as a side dish or a light lunch. This healthy salad recipe is anything but boring with a ton of veggies and a tangy, lemony, mint dressing.

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Why we love this recipe

If you aren’t familiar with Lebanese salads they are some of the freshest tasting dishes out there. This Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad is popular, but this fattoush recipe is legendary.

When Joe and I lived in Ontario we used to go to a Lebanese restaurant called La Luna all . the . time for the best fattoush salad and this homemade version is almost as good. It is fresh, healthy, and has tons of crunch and texture. The dressing is to die for and you will be making this recipe on repeat. We have it once a week!

It’s a spin on a bread salad using crunchy pita chips. This authentic Lebanese fattoush salad features a medley of crisp vegetables and romaine lettuce tossed with the aforementioned dressing.

It is also a naturally vegan recipe. Bonus!

Ingredients

• romaine lettuce – this is my number one choice but feel free to use your favorite greens such as kale, spinach, or iceberg lettuce.
• fresh mint leaves – the key to this salad!
• cucumber – we love using small Persian cucumbers because they are crisp and refreshing and have a thin, tender skin, making them convenient for salad prep as you can do without peeling.
• red onion
• cauliflower
• red cabbage
• red bell pepper
• pita chips – you can buy pita chips or toast homemade pita chips in the oven using fresh pita bread.

Feel free to substitute the veggies for your favorites. You can use radishes, grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, broccoli, napa cabbage, etc.

The pita chips are a really unique component in this salad. When we would get this salad at the restaurant the pita chips were deep-fried and we would be battling it out at the end for the last few crunchy morsels.

I’ve ‘healthified’ this recipe up a bit from the deep-fried chips by using either oven-baked pita chips or this pan-toasted homemade pita chips recipe to massively cut down on the unhealthy fat content.

Fattoush Salad Dressing Ingredients

• fresh lemon juice
• extra virgin olive oil – we also use MCT oil which has a light, neutral flavor.
• mint leaves
• oregano
• sumac – if you can’t source out the sumac you could substitute lemon zest in its place.
• fine sea salt

The fattoush dressing features an uncommon spice called sumac. You can find it in the spice aisle at most gourmet grocery stores or you can buy sumac on Amazon.

Sumac is a very fragrant spice that is not surprisingly made from ground flowers. It’s tangy, sour, and very reminiscent of lemon in its acidity. It’s dark in colour and grainy in texture.

This dressing really is the star of the show. We like a lot of it! I actually ended up doubling the amounts from when I started testing out the recipe. The dressing is GOOOOOOD.

Equipment

• sharp knife – essential for all the chopping you will do.
• cutting board 
• small mason jar – this is for shaking up the salad dressing. You could also whisk it in a bowl.
• large mixing bowl – use a big one to make tossing all of the ingredients easier. You don’t want it spilling over the sides.

Instructions

Step 1

First, if you are using homemade, start by making the pita chips.

I had mine already prepped and ready to go.

Step 2

Next, wash and chop up your greens.

Use this guide for how to wash kale if you need some tips to get your greens super clean.

Step 3

Then, chop all the veggies.

As mentioned you can use whatever vegetables you like! That is the beauty of homemade. You can customize everything to your tastes.

Step 4

Next, add all of the salad ingredients, except for the pita chips, to a large bowl and toss well. You can use salad forks or your clean fingers.

Set the bowl aside.

Step 5

Then, make the dressing.

Place the dressing ingredients in a small mason jar with a lid and shake it really vigorously for ten seconds.

Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss it well to coat the veggies.

Finally, crumble in the pita chips and toss again. Serve immediately.

Expert tips

Save time by prepping your veggies beforehand! Have everything chopped and ready to go and just shake together the dressing when you are ready to eat.

Use a bag of your favorite slaw mix for the veggies and skip the chopping altogether.

Recipe variations

• Instead of raw vegetables, you can grill or roast the vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers before adding them to the salad. This adds a delightful smoky flavor to the dish.
•  Experiment with different herbs to add a unique twist to your Fattoush. You can include herbs like parsley, cilantro, dill, green onions, or basil to add freshness and aromatic notes to the salad.
• Incorporate cooked chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) for added protein and texture. They complement the vegetables and pita bread while making the dish more filling.
• Crumble some feta cheese over the Fattoosh to add a salty and creamy element. It pairs well with the tangy dressing and adds a lovely richness to the salad.

Serving Suggestions

• Enjoy on its own as a light and refreshing meal. Add grilled chicken to boost the protein.
• This salad pairs well with various Middle Eastern main courses such as grilled meats, falafel, kebabs, or Kafta. Serve with a side of Classic Hummus.
• Present it as a part of a buffet along with other delicious Lebanese salads such as Lebanese Potato Salad, Butter Bean Salad, and this Tabouli Salad recipe.

FAQS 

Storage

• Fattoush is best enjoyed fresh, as the pita bread tends to lose its crunch. However, you can prepare the salad ingredients and dressing in advance, keeping everything separate, and combining them just before serving to maintain the texture.
• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days. However, the pita bread will become soggy, so it’s recommended to eat it fresh for the best taste and texture.

More healthy salad recipes

**This recipe was originally posted on May 4, 2021, and updated on June 11, 2023.**

If you’ve tried our Lebanese Fattoush Salad recipe, please rate it and let us know how it turned out by leaving us a comment below. We’re always interested in feedback!

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