Lebanese Fattoosh Food

LEBANESE FATTOUSH

Steps:

• Toss together the lettuce, cabbage, radish, cucumber, red bell pepper, carrot, corn, tomato, onion, garlic, parsley, mint, olive oil, pomegranate seeds, and pomegranate syrup in a large bowl.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry the pita breads until golden in color. Remove to cool on paper towels. Crush the bread into small pieces; sprinkle over the salad.

FATTOUSH SALAD

Steps:

• Break the pita bread into small bite-size pieces. Heat 3 tbsp of olive oil in a large pan until shimmering, and add the pita bread. Fry briefly until browned, tossing frequently. Using a pair of tongs, transfer the fried pita chips to a plate lined with paper towel to drain. Season with salt, pepper and sumac.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, green onions with the sliced radish and parsley.
• To make the dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together the lemon or lime juice, olive oil, pomegranate molasses (if using), salt, pepper and spices.
• Pour toss lightly. Finally, add the pita chips, and more sumac if you like, and toss one more time. Transfer to small serving bowls or plates. Enjoy!

LEBANESE FATTOUSH SALAD

Steps:

• Make the Dressing: Whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, sumac, pomegranate molasses, dried mint, salt and pepper. Slowly stream in olive oil, whisking continuously until emulsified. Set aside.
• Fry the Pita Bread: In a large skillet, heat olive oil on medium heat. Add the pita bread and season with salt and pepper. Cook stirring frequently until the pita break becomes crispy and golden in color, about 5-7 minutes. Set aside.
• Place the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, radishes, green onions and parsley in a large serving bowl. Pour the dressing on top and toss to combine.
• Add the fried pita bread to the salad immediately before serving.

LEBANESE MEZZA DISHES: FATTOUSH, HOUMMUS, BABA GHANNOUJ

Steps:

• In a small bowl mix all dressing ingredients well.
• Put all salad ingredients in a large bowl and toss with 1/2 to 1 cup dressing. Serve immediately.
• Drain and dry chick peas. Put garlic in food processor and mince. Add chick peas and mince, scraping down the sides. Add salt, tahini and lemon juice. Mix. Taste. Add enough reserve chick pea juice to make a thick creamy consistency. You should be able to make an indentation in the hummus with a back of a spoon. Check taste again for additional lemon or salt.
• Serve on a platter and garnish with radishes, tomato roses, reserve chick peas, parsley and or cayenne pepper. Serve with olive oil and fresh pita bread.
• Slice eggplant in half lengthwise and put upside down on a greased foil lined pan. Put under a broiler until the outside skin is charred black and the pulp inside is soft (15 to 30 minutes). Scrape out eggplant and put in bowl to cool, preferably in refrigerator for several hours. Pour off extra liquid before using.
• In a food processor, mince garlic, and scrape down sides. Add eggplant, salt, and 1/4 cup tahini. Pulse the food processor to mix. Slowly add lemon juice. Taste. Adjust salt and lemon or tahini.
• Serve on a shallow platter and garnish with chopped parsley, miniature eggplant, tomato or radish roses. Serve with Lebanese pita bread.

LEBANESE FATTOUSH SALAD WITH GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• TO PREPARE SALAD:
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Place pita halves rough-side up on a large baking sheet. Brush with 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sumac.
• Bake until golden and crisp, about 15 minutes. When cool, break into bite-size pieces.
• Whisk lemon juice, salt, pepper and the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 1/4 teaspoon sumac in a large bowl.
• Add lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, mint and the pita pieces; toss to coat. Let stand for 15 minutes.
• TO PREPARE CHICKEN:
• Meanwhile, preheat grill to medium-high. Rub the chicken with oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Grill until no longer pink inside, 3 to 4 minutes per side. (Alternatively, broil chicken 4 to 6 inches from the heat source for about 6 minutes per side.)
• Slice the chicken thinly and serve on top of the salad.
• NOTE:.
• The tart berries of the sumac bush add another element to many Middle Eastern dishes. Find them whole or ground in Middle Eastern markets or online at kalustyans.com or lebaneseproducts.com.
• DIETARY EXCHANGES: 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat, 3 lean meat (1 Carbohydrate Serving).

FATTOUSH

Steps:

• The night before, toss together all the salad ingredients except for the pitta bread and sumac. Make up the dressing and season to taste. Leave these separate until the morning.
• The next morning, toast the pitta breads until lightly golden. When cool, tear into pieces and combine with the salad and dressing. Spoon into 2 plastic boxes and sprinkle over the sumac.

FATTOUSH (LEBANESE TOMATO AND PITA SALAD)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Separate pita into 2 rounds, and bake on cookie sheet for about 5 minutes, or until very crisp but not browned.
• Put tomato, red onion, peppers, cucumber, radishes and scallions into large salad bowl. Add romaine or purslane and fresh mint, and sprinkle with sumac and dried mint. Toss.
• Whisk together garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, pomegranate syrup, and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Just before serving, give dressing another quick whisk and then pour it over vegetables and toss.
• Break pita into 1-inch pieces and toss with salad, just before taking salad to table. Taste, add seasonings if needed, and serve immediately.