Authentic Lebanese Fattoush Salad Recipe (Crispy Pita Salad)
Vibrant, colorful, rich, and bursting with fresh flavor! Fattoush is a classic Middle Eastern bread salad that you will find on the menu of Lebanese restaurants around the globe. It is a daily staple salad in Lebanese homes, loved for its zesty dressing and crunchy texture.
Whether you are looking for a refreshing summer side dish or a healthy Mediterranean meal, this authentic Fattoush recipe is the perfect choice.

Why This is the Best Fattoush Salad
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- Perfect for Meal Prep: You can chop the vegetables ahead of time and toss them right before serving.
- Reduces Food Waste: It is a terrific salad for using up stale Lebanese bread or leftover pita bread.
- Customizable Crunch: We include a secret ingredient—cabbage—for an extra pleasant crunch that sets this recipe apart.

Authentic Fattoush Salad Ingredients
The main vegetables used in a traditional Middle Eastern garden salad include:
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- Romaine lettuce & Cucumbers (for a refreshing base)
- Tomatoes & Radishes (for color and juiciness)
- Fresh mint leaves & Parsley (for herbal brightness)
- Purslane leaves (the traditional choice for authentic Lebanese salad)
- White and red cabbage leaves (My personal twist! Cabbage provides the salad with an extra layer of crunch).

The Secret to the Zesty Fattoush Dressing
The two tangy star ingredients in Fattoush are sumac and pomegranate molasses! Both take the flavor profile of this dish to another level.
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- Pomegranate Molasses: This is a thick pomegranate syrup made by boiling down pomegranate juice until it reduces to a dark-brown liquid. It adds a deep, sweet-tart depth.
- Sumac: A vibrant, dark red spice made from ground lemony berries. It gives the dish its signature mild citrus flavor.
Note: You can easily find both authentic ingredients at Middle Eastern grocery stores or online.

Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Crispy Pita Chips
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- Cut your Lebanese or pita bread into medium-sized squares.
- Toast in the oven for a healthier option.
- Alternative: For a crunchier and richer flavor, you can fry the pita squares in oil instead (perfect for special occasions!).

Step 2: Make the Tangy Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together pomegranate molasses, sumac, fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, and a pinch of salt. This blend ties all the flavors together, creating a wonderfully tangy and savory dressing.
Step 3: Toss and Serve
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- Combine all your chopped vegetables in a large salad bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the vegetables and mix well to combine all the flavors.
- Add the fried or toasted bread just before serving. Serve immediately so the bread stays perfectly crispy and doesn’t become soggy!

What to Serve with Fattoush Salad
Fattoush is incredibly filling on its own, but a well-balanced Mediterranean meal isn’t complete without protein. It tastes absolutely wonderful alongside grilled foods! Try serving it with:
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- Grilled chicken skewers (Shish Taouk)
- Grilled lamb or beef kofta
- Baked or grilled fish

Fattoush
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Prep: 20 minutes minutes
Servings 4 person
Course
SALADS
Cuisine
#Middle Eastern
Lebanese
RECIPES FROM AROUND THE WORD
Description
Fattoush! Vibrant, colorful, rich, and bursting with flavor. A Middle Eastern/Lebanese bread salad, it is found on the menu of Lebanese restaurants around the globe and is a staple in Lebanese homes.It’s made with fresh vegetables, toasted or fried pita bread, and a bright dressing composed of freshly squeezed lemon juice, sumac, pomegranate molasses, and olive oil. A humble, fresh, and flavorful salad, fattoush has become so trendy and fashionable that some people have even started adding fruit and cheese to it.Okay, I personally like some kind of fruit in my salads, but definitely not in fattoush! If you really want an authentic Lebanese fattoush, just stick to the vegetables and bread!
Ingredients
- 2 cucumbers cut into slices, preferably use Persian or English seedless cucumbers
- 1 small onion cut into rings
- 1 parsley bunch finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper finely diced
- 5 leaves of lettuce shredded
- 3 radishes sliced into discs
- ½ mint bunch use the leaves only
- A handful of purslane leaves
- 2 leaves cabbage shredded
- 1 leaf red cabbage shredded
- 4 medium-sized tomatoes diced
For the dressing:
- 1 garlic clove crushed
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 large loaf pita bread or 2 small pita breads
- 1/2 teaspoon sumac
Instructions
- Cut the pita bread into medium squares and toast in the oven. For a crunchier and richer flavor, pita squares can be fried instead.
- Mix all the vegetables in a big salad bowl. Add the garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, sumac, salt, and pomegranate molasses.
- Add the toasted or fried pita bread to the salad. Mix and serve immediately!
- Looking for more pita crouton salads, check our Labneh Tomato and Pomegranate Salad
- Looking for more lemony tangy saladscheck our Tabbouleh, Middle Eastern Salad, Potato, Green Bean and Avocado Salad
Video
Notes
If you make this recipe, share your pictures on Facebook! I would love to see your creations!Hashtag them #Hadia's Lebanese Cuisine
Keyword Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, Pomegranate Molasses, Sumac
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4 Comments
Looks beautiful!
Hi,
What is the alternative to pomegranate molasses. I am allergic to pomegranates.
Thanks
I prepare fattoush always But No Garlic at all Never !