Fattoush (Toasted Pita Salad)

Fattoush is Syria’s answer to bread salad: a riot of summer vegetables and herbs tossed with toasted pita and a dressing sharpened with sumac and pomegranate molasses. It began as a clever way to use up stale bread, and it became one of the most beloved salads of the Levant, appearing on every mezze table from village kitchens to Damascus restaurants. The pomegranate molasses and sumac give it a tanginess that no other salad can imitate. It is summer on a plate.

A crunchy, tangy salad with toasted pita

The toasted pita shatters in your mouth while the tomatoes and cucumber stay cool and juicy, and the herbs — parsley, mint, green onion — keep everything bright and fresh. The dressing is the star: lemon, garlic, and a good spoonful of sumac, a tangy brick-red spice that tastes like a squeezed lemon without the tartness. Toss the bread in at the last minute so it stays crisp, and serve it beside anything grilled.

Craving more? Explore all Syrian Kitchen recipes.

This dish is built from Middle Eastern pantry staples — explore all 20 in our guide to 20 essential Middle Eastern pantry ingredients.

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