Salad is the essential ingredient in day to day food all over the world but when we talk about Middle Eastern food, a salad made with fresh garden vegetables with crispy pita bread occupies our minds. This is Fattoush, a very rustic and delicious coleslaw of this region.  It belongs to the famous branch of Arabian food  called ‘Fatta‘. In Lebanon and Syria, it is specially eaten in summer.

Fattoush has a special Middle Eastern influence in its taste. The cooks always select the seasonal produce and various herbs for Fattoush. Major ingredients of Fattoush are vegetables, herbs, feta cheese, kalamata olives, parsley, coriander, and mint. The right mix of herbs, vegetables and additives make Fattoush so luxurious and exquisite. The toasted pita bread makes it more crunchy and aromatic. Fattoush ‘s recipe varies according to the taste as the veggies can be  added or excluded . Instead of pita bread, French or Italian bread can also be used in preparation of Fattoush. In Syria,  lettuce and romaine are also preferred for making Fattoush.

The dressing in making of Fattoush is an art. The pita breads are brushed with plenty of olive oil and a lot of sumac is sprinkled on top. Fattoush is normally tossed and served with breadsticks.