Authentic Lebanese Fattoush

Description

Fattoush is a Lebanese salad, good for hot weather. This recipe uses two unusual ingredients: sumac and purslane. Sumac, usually sold ground, is ground red berries and used in Middle Eastern, particularly Lebanese, cooking. Purslane is succulent with a lemony flavor, and makes a nice salad green. I find them at farmer’s markets.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • ⅓ cup lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons sumac powder
  • salt to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced
  • 2 large tomatoes, diced
  • 4 green onions, chopped
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh mint
  • 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1 cup chopped purslane
  • ½ (5 ounce) package arugula
  • 4 pita rounds, toasted and torn into pieces

Instructions

  1. Make dressing: Stir together water and cornstarch in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until thickened. Remove from heat and mix in lemon juice
  2. garlic
  3. sumac
  4. salt
  5. and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  6. Assemble salad: Combine lettuce
  7. tomatoes
  8. bell pepper
  9. cucumber
  10. purslane
  11. green onions
  12. arugula
  13. parsley
  14. and mint in a large serving bowl. Toss with dressing and serve with toasted pita.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 20 mins

Servings: 4

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