Fattoush Salad

I don’t claim to be a mind reader, but for most, the first question is going to be: ” what is fattoush salad?”

Fattoush Salad is of Arabic descent consisting of marinated vegetables, usually tomatoes and radishes, and tossed with grilled flatbread. #fattoushsalad www.savoryexperiments.com


 

Fattoush Salad is of Arabic descent consisting of marinated vegetables, usually tomatoes and radishes, and tossed with grilled flatbread.

Okay, the name sounds funny and not really appetizing. What is it? The easy answer: marinated vegetables served as a side dish or on top of other items, such as chicken shawarma or stew.

Traditionally speaking, fattoush is tossed with grilled pita or flatbread. Tossing the bread in extra virgin olive oil prior to adding to the salad creates a barrier, preventing it from getting soggy. Or you can be like me and omit the pita bread altogether.

Make sure you PIN this Fattoush Recipe!

You can serve your fattoush over a bed of mixed greens or just use the marinated vegetables. I use this recipe as a side dish for BBQs, potlucks and even on top of grilled chicken in the summer months.

Fattoush Salad is of Arabic descent consisting of marinated vegetables, usually tomatoes and radishes, and tossed with grilled flatbread. #fattoushsalad www.savoryexperiments.com

It is bright, tasty and fairly healthy. I generally just call it a marinated vegetable salad since the name tends to scare people off. I think it is the “fat” part of fattoush.

Traditional fattoush has two ingredients no readily available in the states: pomegranate molasses and sumac. Instead of ordering and having these items shipped, I substituted. 

Bowl of fattoush

Balsamic vinegar reduced with honey served as a sweet syrup instead of pomegranate molasses. Lemon zest was the tart and sour substitute for sumac. If you have the actual of either, feel free to omit the substitutions.

PRO TIP: Use a cheaper balsamic vinegar and save the good stuff. After you mix it with honey and the other ingredients, you won’t be able to tell whether it was the expensive stuff or not. 

In the instructions, I warn against using a metallic mixing bowl for this recipe. Make sure to check out my article on using the right mixing bowl to find out why.

Fattoush Salad is of Arabic descent consisting of marinated vegetables, usually tomatoes and radishes, and tossed with grilled flatbread. #fattoushsalad www.savoryexperiments.com

Check out these other easy salad recipes:

rim view of mandarin orange salad in a white bowl

Orange Fluff Jello Salad

If you love easy and delicious desserts then you need to whip up this quick and nostalgic Orange Fluff Salad. Tasty, unique and fast!
See The Recipe!
angled shot of bowl of pickled asparagus salad

Pickled Asparagus Salad

Pickled Asparagus Salad is made with blanched asparagus marinated in a vinaigrette and tossed with water chestnuts and roasted red pepper.
See The Recipe!

Tools for making fattoush salad:

Wood cutting board – wood won’t dull your knives like plastic and if treated properly, has natural antimicrobial properties.

Good knife – Global is my favorite! They are worth the price, I promise. I am kind of obsessed with them and store them tucked away so no one else can use them. Including hubby. Hands off my good stuff!

Good Extra Virgin Olive Oil– A good olive oil will taste like, well, olives, while a poorly made one will taste like vegetable oil. Gross. While people tend to favor Italian and Greek olive oils, I prefer to buy mine domestically.

There are some great ones out there from all over the world, but the reporting of ingredients isn’t always the same and you could find that your super expensive olive oil was actually cut with vegetable oil.

Zester and Juicer– Another kitchen necessity! Whether it be a savory or sweet recipe, every house needs a way to zest and juice citrus. Also great for making.

Fattoush Salad is of Arabic descent consisting of marinated vegetables, usually tomatoes and radishes, and tossed with grilled flatbread. #fattoushsalad www.savoryexperiments.com
Fattoush Salad is of Arabic descent consisting of marinated vegetables, usually tomatoes and radishes, and tossed with grilled flatbread. #fattoushsalad www.savoryexperiments.com

Fattoush Salad

5 from 3 votes
Fattoush Salad is of Arabic descent consisting of marinated vegetables, usually tomatoes and radishes, and tossed with grilled flatbread. 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Marinating: 1 hour
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan, combine balsamic vinegar, honey and sugar. Heat over low heat. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes or until mixture reduces and start get sticky. Remove from heat and set aside. 
  • Combine balsamic mixture, lemon juice, lemon zest, crushed garlic cloves, sea salt and black pepper, whisking well. 
  • In a large, non-metallic mixing bowl, combine all chopped vegetables including cucumber, plum tomatoes, radishes, red onion and parsley. Toss with prepared dressing. 
  • Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour, but up to 24 hours. 
  • Gently tear pita pieces into bite-sized sections. Toss with extra virgin olive oil. 
  • Carefully tilt mixing bowl with vegetables or place in a fine mesh colander to discard remaining marinade. Add torn pita bread. 
  • Serve immediately. 

Nutrition

Calories: 229 kcal, Carbohydrates: 46 g, Protein: 3 g, Fat: 4 g, Sodium: 743 mg, Potassium: 224 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 28 g, Vitamin A: 705 IU, Vitamin C: 13.5 mg, Calcium: 48 mg, Iron: 1.1 mg
Author: Chef Jessica Anne
Calories: 229
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Keyword: fattoush salad
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    Well you didn’t read my mind 🙂 My hubby is Lebanese though, so I had a bit of an advantage. We LOVE a good fattoush salad, and this version sounds so quick and easy to whip up. YUM

  2. 5 stars
    I’m a big red onion fan so this salad would certainly catch my eye at a summer BBQ! What a delicious way to get in those veggies.