Fattouche is one of my favorite salads. It is one of the most popular dishes in Lebanon. You have it everywhere you go, kind of like the Caesar salad in the US…
It has an amazing mix of flavors and textures! The fried bread soaked in the olive oil, lemon and garlic dressing is to die for! One thing about Fattouche is that you cannot omit any of the ingredients, otherwise, it will not be Fattouche anymore… Each ingredient has its purpose.
Ingredients
- 1 head of romaine, chopped
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon sumac (sumac is a dark red spice, very sour, that you can find in any middle-eastern or Indian store - This is the foundation of the fattouche)
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- 1 heirloom tomato, diced
- 1 bunch radishes, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped mint
- 1 pita bread, open in half
- 3 tablespoons veggie oil
- Dressing: 4 tablespoons olive oil, 1 lemon juice, 2 cloves garlic crushed, salt and pepper
Instructions
Heat the veggie oil in a skillet and fry each half of the pita bread on both sides for about 2 or 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel to drain and cool.
Break the pita bread into bite size pieces and set aside. The fried pita is essential to the fattouche. Do not try to bake it, you will lose a lot in taste and texture.
In a large bowl, dredge the sliced onion with the sumac. It is better if you do it with your hands, so that the onion is entirely coated with sumac.
Fattouche-Onions
Add the cucumber and tomato and season with salt and pepper without tossing. Add the radishes, bell peppers, mint, parsley, and romaine. Then add the bread.
Mix all the ingredients of the dressing in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
Pour over the bread just before serving and toss. Enjoy!
You will feel the warmth of the Lebanese people!
