Easy Fattoush Salad

Fattoush salad is a middle eastern dish made with vegetables and toasted pita bread. It’s a delicious and filling recipe that can be made quickly and easily! 

What is Fattoush Salad?

Fattoush salad is a relatively common dish in the Middle East, made with vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers and mixed with toasted pita bread. It originated in Lebanon and there are many variations on this type of dish. Since I love panzanella salad, I knew I was going to love Fattoush salad!

Ingredients in Fatoush Salad

• Pita Bread– I like to use traditional pita bread, cut into a single layer and then sliced into triangles. By toasting the pita with a little olive oil, it helps prevent the pita from getting soggy in the salad.
• Olive oil– This is essential for the pita as well as the dressing. I recommend using a high quality olive oil like California Olive Ranch, for the best flavor.
• Lemon juice- This adds a nice bright acidity to the dressing and helps enhance the flavor of the vegetables.
• Za’atar seasoning– If you’re not familiar with this seasoning blend, I encourage you to add it to your pantry! It’s a blend of spices that adds a lovely flavor to the dressing. I’ve included a homemade blend below.
• Garlic powder– I actually prefer garlic powder over fresh garlic when used in a dressing like this. The flavor is a bit more mild.
• Cucumber– You can use a regular cucumber or an English cucumber. English cucumbers have thinner skin and smaller seeds.
• Tomato– I like using large slicing tomatoes but you can use cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced in half, if that’s what you have on hand.
• Cilantro– I love the fruity herbal flavor this adds to the dish but if you don’t like cilantro, you can use parsley.
• Romaine lettuce– This helps add bulk to the salad and makes it easy to enjoy more veggies!

How to Prepare Pita for Fattoush Salad

To prepare your pita triangles, cut into triangles and peel apart the two layers of pita so that each chip is just a single layer. Brush olive oil on each triangle before toasting in the oven. This light layer of oil will help prevent the pita from getting soggy in the salad.

Once the pita is nice and crispy, you can break the chips into smaller pieces for the salad.

Fattoush Salad Dressing

There are lots of variations of fattoush salad dressing. Some are a simple blend of olive oil, lemon juice and spices, some include lots of herbs, and some have a hint of sweetness. I kept this version pretty simple with just olive oil, lemon juice, and za’atar seasoning. Za’atar seasoning is one of my favorite spice blends! It may sound exotic but you can usually find it in the spice section of most large grocery stores. It’s delicious on pita or mixed into hummus. Try this za’atar hummus recipe and you’ll be hooked on the flavor!

Za’atar Seasoning Substitution

If you don’t have any za’atar seasoning in your pantry and you just can’t wait to make this salad, you can make your own seasoning blend!

To make a za’atar seasoning substitute, combine:

• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon sumac
• 1/2 teaspoon ground corriander
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Can I use Pita Chips for Fattoush Salad?

This wouldn’t be the traditional method but you can use pita chips if you want to speed up this recipe. That said, making homemade pita chips ensures you get a nice, crispy pita that has a light layer of oil on the outside, which helps prevent the pita from getting soggy. If you’re using pita chips, be sure to enjoy the salad immediately, as they’ll get soggy faster.

Substitutions & Variations

• If you don’t like cilantro, feel free to use parsley or fresh mint as a substitution. It will still add a fresh, herbal flavor.
• If you love olives, try adding a handful of sliced kalamata olives. It will add a nice briny, salty flavor.
• If you wanted to turn this fattoush salad into a full meal, try topping this salad with roasted chickpeas for added protein!
• You could also top this salad with crispy halloumi cheese for a delicious meal!

What to Serve with Fattoush Salad

Try pairing this salad with these easy chickpea gyros or these chickpea salad sandwiches! This would also be the perfect side dish to serve with these grilled halloumi sandwiches.

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If you’re looking for other salad ideas, try this avocado Panzanella salad. It’s made with toasted bread and plenty of vegetables!

What’s your favorite kind of salad?