Fattoush
 | |
| Type | Salad |
|---|---|
| Region or state | Levant |
| Main ingredients | Khubz, mixed greens, vegetables Dressing: olive oil, lemon juice |
Fattoush (Arabic: فتوش; also fattush, fatush, fattoosh, and fattouche) is a Levantine salad made from toasted or fried pieces of khubz (Arabic flat bread) combined with mixed greens and other vegetables, such as radishes, cucumber and tomatoes.[1][2] Fattoush is popular among communities in the Levant.[3][4]
Etymology
[edit]Fattūsh is derived from the Arabic fatt "crush" and the suffix of Turkic origin -ūsh. Coining words this way was common in Levantine Arabic.[citation needed]
According to Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest English use of the word fattoush was in 1955 by Stevens Point Journal.[5]
History
[edit]According to historian Nawal Nasrallah, recipes of vegetarian tharid reminiscent of fattoush can be found in 10th-Century Arabic cookbook by Ibn Sayyar al-Warraq, made using dried and crumbled bread, cucumbers, herbs, and olive oil.[6][7]
Ingredients
[edit]Fattoush belongs to the family of dishes known as fattat (plural of fatteh), which use stale flatbread as a base.[1][8] Fattoush includes vegetables and herbs varying by season and taste. The vegetables are cut into relatively large pieces compared to tabbouleh which requires ingredients to be finely chopped. Sumac is usually used to give fattoush its sour taste, while some recipes also add pomegranate molasses along with the sumac.[citation needed]
Variations
[edit]In Palestinian cuisine, fattoush is prepared by crushing garlic, salt, chili pepper (or any hot pepper), and fresh basil leaves together in a pestle and mortar, then mixing them with a generous amount of lemon juice and tahini, and occasionally yogurt. Bite-sized pieces of untoasted pita bread are dipped into this mixture to absorb the liquid. Vegetables are added afterward, and the dish is finished with olive oil. A distinctive feature of the Palestinian version is the inclusion of white onions, which are absent in the Lebanese version. In Jordan, a similar method is followed, but jameed is used in place of the tahini mixture[citation needed]
In Culture
[edit]Fattoush is a frequent item of discussion about cultural appropriation within the politics of food in the Arab–Israeli conflict.[9][10][11] Fattoush being labelled as "Israeli" is considered by many to be cultural appropriation.[12][13][14]
In 2025, fattoush ranked 5th in the "100 Best Foods by Category" list published by Taste Atlas in the salads category based on user ratings.[15][16]
See also
[edit]
- Dakos
- Arabic salad
- List of bread dishes
- List of hors d'oeuvre
- List of salads
- Panzanella, an Italian bread salad
References
[edit]- ^ a b Wright, 2003, p. 241
- ^ George, Maria (2019-08-29). Mediterranean Cuisine: Flavors for a Healthier You. Christian Faith Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-1-64515-991-9.
- ^ Hobby, Jeneen (2009). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 60. ISBN 9781414448909.
- ^ Edelstein, Sari (2010). Food, Cuisine, and Cultural Competency for Culinary, Hospitality, and Nutrition Professionals. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. p. 585. ISBN 9781449618117.
- ^ "fattoush". Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ al-Warrāq, al-Muẓaffar Ibn Naṣr Ibn Sayyār (26 November 2007). Annals of the Caliphs' Kitchens. Translated by Nasrallah, Nawal. BRILL. p. 239. ISBN 978-90-04-15867-2. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ Nasrallah, Nawal. "Salad With Toasted Pita Croutons from Delights from the Garden of Eden by Nawal Nasrallah". app.ckbk.com. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ Claudia Roden, The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, 2008, p. 74
- ^ "'Israeli' hummus is theft, not appropriation". The New Arab. 4 Sep 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "BDS bulletin: Reappropriating hummus for justice". The New Arab. 26 Mar 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ Murray, Adriana (31 August 2016). "'Israeli American' Restaurants serving up traditional Arab dishes". Arab America. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "Preserving a Palestinian Identity in the Kitchen". The New York Times. 19 Oct 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "New York Times Joins the Food War Against Israel". The Algemeiner. 25 Oct 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ Campana, Melissa (2 August 2022). "Why Instagram Is So Divided Over Ina Garten's Salad". Mashed. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "Antalya-style piyaz named one of World's Best Salads by TasteAtlas". Türkiye Today. 22 Apr 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ Mazonakis, Stella (15 April 2025). "Two Greek Salads Crowned World's Best by Taste Atlas Greek City Times". Greek City Times. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
Bibliography
[edit]- Wright, Clifford A. (2003). information Title Little foods of the Mediterranean: 500 fabulous recipes for antipasti, tapas, hors d'oeuvre, meze, and more (Illustrated ed.). Harvard Common Press. ISBN 1-55832-227-2.
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