Don’t be intimidated if the flavor-packed salad known as “fattoush” is unfamiliar to you - it’s about to be your new favorite! The signature feature of fattoush is the addition of pita chips for crunch, but this version has the added texture of seasoned roasted chickpeas, creamy tahini dressing, and soft-boiled eggs.

I owe my love of fattoush salad to Cook Smarts where it is a fan favorite that we dish up through our meal plans at least once a year. And really, who can resist any excuse to put chips in a salad? Add a runny-yolk soft-boiled egg on top and friends, this salad is some of my favorite things on a plate. And if you are loving the crispy chickpeas on this salad, check out this Greek Goddess Salad recipe that uses the same chickpea technique.

What is Fattoush?

Fattoush is a Middle Eastern salad made with fresh vegetables. It gets its signature crunch from the addition of toasted pita bread.

This recipe is:

Healthy
Fresh
Colorful
Vegetarian (Easily Vegan)
Good for Lunch or Dinner (or breakfast if you’re a salad-for-breakfast person!)

Ingredients

Chickpeas - Canned chickpeas add a plant-based protein to this salad. Toss them in a mixture of spices and roast them so they are a warm, intensely flavorful addition to the other fresh ingredients.
Paprika, Ground Sumac, Curry Powder - This blend of spices adds warm flavor to the roasted chickpeas. Look for mild curry powder or substitute ground turmeric if you don’t want any spicy heat. See below for more details on ground sumac.
Chopped Salad Greens - Use your favorite. I like a mix of romaine (for crunch) and baby spinach (for color and flavor).
Pita Chips - Don’t skip the pita chips for crunch! I like to just buy these, but you can also buy pita bread, tear it into bite-sized pieces, and toast it yourself (this is the traditional method for making fattoush).
Cucumber and Cherry / Grape Tomatoes - These are classic vegetables to use in this style salad.
Green Onions - These add a fresh, tart flavor to the salad. They’re worth adding, but feel free to skip them if short on time.
Feta Cheese - This adds salty, savory flavor. Goat cheese is also delicious here and avocado works well as a non-dairy stand-in.
Eggs - A soft-boiled egg on top really puts this salad over the top and makes it feel worthy of a stand-alone lunch or dinner.
Tahini - This creamy sauce / paste is made from ground toasted sesame seeds. It’s the key ingredient that adds flavor to hummus and can be found in most grocery stores in the international aisle.
Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Balsamic Vinegar, Honey - Pantry / fridge staples you’ll need for the dressing.

What is Ground Sumac?

Ground sumac is a red powder that comes from grinding the fruit of a sumac plant. It is most common as a seasoning in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine and has a tart, slightly sweet, citrusy flavor.

Ground sumac has such a wonderful, unique flavor that it’s a shame it isn’t more common outside of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes. It is so flavorful that it can be used entirely on its own to flavor chicken, fish, lamb, or steak, but a sprinkle of this bright red powder also really makes the flavors pop in salads and on roasted vegetables. It’s great sprinkled over hummus and makes this fattoush salad extra special. I try not to recommend too many obscure spices and seasonings, but ground sumac really is worth tracking down. Once you taste it, you’ll definitely find ways to use it!

Possible Variations for Fattoush Salad

Make it Vegan - Skip the egg and feta. Use a vegan-friendly sweetener instead of the honey. If making this vegan, I highly recommend adding the avocado mentioned below for an extra texture.
Make it Gluten-Free - Skip the pita chips and use your favorite gluten-free chips, crackers, or croutons for crunch.
Skip the Egg - To save time or if you’re serving this salad as a side dish to other more hardy dishes, skip the egg.
Add Avocado - This salad is great with chopped avocado.

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5 from 3 votes