About this recipe
This Fattoush Salad is everything I crave in a salad—crisp, refreshing, herby, and just a little tangy. It’s a traditional Lebanese salad that turns simple ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes, and herbs into a flavor-packed dish with the help of sumac, lemon, and crispy toasted pita. It’s the perfect side or light meal that goes with everything—from grilled veggies to falafel or hummus bowls.
Why will you love this recipe
- Crispy pita chips take the place of croutons and add an irresistible crunch.
- The lemon-sumac-pomegranate dressing is vibrant, fresh, and packed with Middle Eastern flavor.
- It’s a great way to use leftover pita or revive pita that’s a little stale.
- You can make it ahead (just keep the pita separate until serving).
- It’s vegetarian and easy to make vegan by skipping the feta or using a plant-based alternative. Add roasted chickpeas or grilled chicken if you want it to be more fulfilling.
Ingredient notes
- Romaine lettuce or little gems ( I do prefer these).
- Cherry tomatoes, any tomatoes work; just dice them.
- Radishes and cucumbers.
- Green onions, fresh herbs (parsley & mint)
- Feta cheese: It’s optional but so good.
- Pita bread: Toasted in olive oil until golden, then seasoned with salt and sumac.
For the dressing
- Lemon juice + red wine vinegar: Tangy and zippy.
- Shallot: Finely minced for a mild, aromatic bite.
- Olive oil: Rich and smooth—use extra virgin if you can.
- Pomegranate molasses: Adds sweetness and depth (a pantry staple for Middle Eastern flavors!).
- Salt: To bring it all together.
Variations for the fatoush salad
- Make it vegan: Omit the feta or use a plant-based alternative.
- Add chickpeas or lentils for a more filling version. Even shredded chicken or diced grilled chicken like my girls eat it.
- Use cucumbers or bell peppers for more crunch.
- No pomegranate molasses? Use a touch of maple syrup or date syrup and a bit more lemon juice.
Fattoush Salad Recipe with Crispy Pita & Sumac Dressing
This easy and authentic Fattoush Salad is a refreshing Middle Eastern salad made with crisp romaine, juicy tomatoes, radishes, herbs, crumbled feta, and crunchy toasted pita chips. Tossed in a tangy lemon, sumac, and pomegranate molasses dressing, it’s bright, bold, and full of flavor. Perfect as a side dish or light lunch, and ready in just 20 minutes!
Equipment
- Bowl
- Salad dish
- Mason Jar
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 1 head of romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 4-5 radishes thinly sliced
- 1 cup cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 2 green onions sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves chopped
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 pita bread toasted and broken into pieces
- 1 –2 tsp olive oil to toast the pita
- 1 tsp ground sumac
For the dressing:
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 small shallot finely minced
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses syrup
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Toast the Pita:
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Brush pita bread with olive oil, sprinkle with sumac, and toast until golden and crispy (about 8–10 minutes). Let cool, then break into bite-sized pieces.
- Over the stove: To make toasted pita on the stove, start by tearing one pita bread into bite-sized pieces or triangles. If your pita is thick, split it in half first so the pieces are thinner and crisp up better. Heat 1–2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pita pieces in a single layer (you may need to work in batches) and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 4–6 minutes or until golden and crispy. While the pita is still warm, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and about 1 teaspoon of ground sumac, then toss to coat. Let the chips cool completely on a paper towel-lined plate—they’ll continue to crisp up as they cool.
Make the Dressing:
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together lemon juice, red wine vinegar, minced shallot, olive oil, pomegranate syrup, and salt. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Assemble the Salad:
- In a large bowl, combine chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, radishes, green onions, mint, and parsley.
Dress the Salad:
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well.
Add Feta and Pita:
- Gently fold in the crumbled feta and pita chips just before serving to keep them crisp.
Notes
If your pita is super fresh and soft, let it sit out uncovered for an hour or two to dry out a bit before toasting—it’ll crisp up better.
Sumac is key for that tangy fattoush flavor. You can find it at Middle Eastern markets or online.
This salad is best eaten the day it’s made, but you can prep all the components ahead and just toss before serving.
Store any leftover pita chips separately so they don’t get soggy.
information
Nutritional information of this recipe is only an estimate, the accuracy for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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Soy Ale Graf, mexicana en Texas y la creadora de AleCooks y Piloncillo&Vainilla, donde comparto recetas fáciles, deliciosas y para toda la familia — algunas mexicanas, en su mayoría basadas en plantas — pensadas para disfrutarse todo el día, todos los días. Con una licenciatura en Historia del Arte y una Certificación como Chef Profesional en Cocina Basada en Plantas, llevo más de una década creando contenido donde se unen mis dos pasiones: la comida y el storytelling.
Mi enfoque está en recetas que reúnen a las personas alrededor de la mesa, haciendo de cada comida un momento sencillo, delicioso y significativo. También soy autora de Yo Cocino Latino, y mis recetas han sido destacadas en varias revistas y publicaciones en línea.
¡Sígueme en mis redes sociales para inspiración diaria, tips y recetas deliciosas! Y si alguna vez pruebas una de mis recetas — o tienes una receta familiar favorita — ¡me encantaría saberlo! Mándame un DM en Instagram y hablemos de comida. 🍽️✨
Mi enfoque está en recetas que reúnen a las personas alrededor de la mesa, haciendo de cada comida un momento sencillo, delicioso y significativo. También soy autora de Yo Cocino Latino, y mis recetas han sido destacadas en varias revistas y publicaciones en línea.
¡Sígueme en mis redes sociales para inspiración diaria, tips y recetas deliciosas! Y si alguna vez pruebas una de mis recetas — o tienes una receta familiar favorita — ¡me encantaría saberlo! Mándame un DM en Instagram y hablemos de comida. 🍽️✨
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