straight up veg

Fattoush salad is almost like a middle eastern version of a North American garden salad, but better. When I was in Dubai last Fall, I had their McDonalds version of a fattoush salad, that included Quinoa. In my version, I used couscous. This salad is super easy to make, inexpensive and delicious.

**Feel free to click on the red links for photo references**

SALAD DRESSING INGREDIENTS 

• 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses
• 2 tbsp white wine vinegar (substitute: cider vinegar)
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tsp ground sumac
• 2 small cloves garlic, grated
• salt to taste

SALAD INGREDIENTS

• 1 pita, cut into 1″ squares
• 1 quart vegetable oil (substitute: any frying oil)
• 2 cups cucumber, diced
• 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
• 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 cup red onion, diced
• 3 tbsp parsley, minced
• 3 tbsp mint, minced
• sumac (garnish)
• feta (substitute: soy feta)
• 1/2 cup plain couscous
• fattoush salad dressing

1. Salad dressing: whisk all ingredients together
2. Put couscous in a bowl, and pour in 3/4 cups of boiling water. Cover for 5 minutes. fluff using a fork, and add 1 tbsp mint, 1 tbsp parsley and a pinch of sumac. stir and set aside.
3. Heat your oil to 300F. Fry your pita piece for approx. 1 minute, or until golden. Remove from oil, and set aside on a paper towl, to remove excess oil.
4. Toss together cucumber, grape tomatoes, lettuce, red onion, remaining parsley and mint, couscous and fried pita. Add desired amount of dressing and garnish with feta and sumac. Enjoy 🙂