Fatoosh

Fatoosh Salad

Fatoosh is a simple salad made with fresh vegetables and fried pita bread. The unique flavoring in the seasoning comes from the addition of sumac which is a tart Middle Eastern ingredient that adds a tangy twist to many Arabian recipes. Fatoush is often made during the month of Ramadan along with many other traditional soups and dishes. The salad is originally from the Levantine region of the Middle East, which includes Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine but has spread throughout the Middle East region as a popular meze dish.  The recipe is very simple, but versatile as you can omit or add various ingredients.

INGREDIENTS:

1 Romaine lettuce or 1/2 head of  iceberg lettuce

3 Medium tomatoes

2 Medium cucumbers

1/3 C Chopped green onion

 4 Sliced radish

1/2 Chopped Parsley, finely

1/2 c Chopped fresh Mint, finely

1-2 Pitas, diced fried or toasted

DRESSING:

1/3 C Olive oil

1/4 C Lemon juice

2-3 Cloves of garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons of Sumac

1 Teaspoon dried mint

1 Teaspoon Salt, or to taste

1. Give all the vegetables a medium chop and mix all together with herbs.

2. With a knife cut the pita bread into small cubes similar to the size of the tomatoes and cucumbers.

3. On medium-high heat fry the pita bread in corn or vegetable oil until lightly brown. If you would rather toast the pita chips you can do so by adding 2 tablespoons of olive oil and placing them in the oven for 15 minutes on broil.

4. When you're ready to serve the salad, mix the dressing  and pita chips and toss well.