Fattoush

A classic Lebanese salad often eaten as a starter or light lunch.

Ingredients

• 1 head lettuce
• 2 cups chopped or sliced tomatoes
• 1 cucumber
• 5 large radishes
• 1 tbsp chopped scallions
• 1 small red pepper
• 4 tbsps parsley
• 2 large pita bread
• 3 tbsps olive oil
• 4 fl oz lemon juice
• 3 oz mint

Directions

1. Set the oven at 400° F (200° C). Place the bread squares on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven for 8 minutes or until lightly browned; set aside.
2. In a bowl, toss the cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, scallions, mint, and parsley.
3. In another bowl , whisk the lemon juice, salt, pepper, olive oil, and sumac until blended. (Sumac is an essential spice made from the dried, powdered berries of the sumac tree.)
4. On a large platter with a raised rim, arrange the lettuce leaves.
5. Spoon the cucumber mixture over the leaves. Scatter the bread pieces on top.
6. Sprinkle with dressing and more salt and pepper.
7. Note: recipe from The Lebanese Cookbook by Hussien Dekmak.