Grilled Fattoush Salad with Eggplant

Delicious Fattoush salad filled with grilled pita bread, eggplant and feta cheese is the perfect side salad or light lunch.

What is Fattoush Salad?

Fattoush is a chopped Middle-Eastern salad consisting of most importantly bread and chopped vegetables and finished with Sumac. Mine includes grilled eggplant which isn’t traditional but makes an excellent addition. I grill the eggplant with the pita bread which makes it the prefect Summer side dish.

Ingredients needed

• Pita bread. I use toasted pita bread but pita chips can be used as a substitute.
• Tomatoes. Use any ripe in-season tomatoes you can find. Cherry tomatoes are my favorite but any ripe tomatoes will be delicious.
• Cucumber. I prefer using smaller Mediterranean cucumbers as I find they are sweeter.
• Eggplant / Aubergine. I also often use my marinated eggplant for this salad.
• Feta cheese. I always use feta cheese in brine.
• Lettuce. Not essential but it adds bulk which is great if you’re feeding a crowd. Romaine lettuce and Iceberg lettuce are good options.
• Spring onion / Green onion / Scallion. Thinly sliced red onions can also be used.
• Herbs. I used fresh mint leaves and parsley.
• Spices: Sumac, salt and black pepper.
• Olive oil. 
• Lemon juice. 
• Garlic.

How to make grilled Fattoush salad

1. Grill the pita and eggplant: Slice eggplant into thin slices then brush with oil. Brush whole pita bread with oil and place on a hot grill with the eggplant. Allow the pita to grill until golden and crisp. The eggplant is ready when it’s slightly charred and golden on both sides. Remove from the grill and set aside.
2. Make the dressing: Whisk together olive oil, fresh lemon juice, fresh garlic that you’ve minced or crushed, sumac, salt and pepper.
3. Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and spring onion. Roughly break over feta cheese. Tear the pita bread into bite-sized pieces then add to the salad with the grilled eggplant. Pour over the dressing and toss to combine. Sprinkle over more sumac, taste and adjust seasoning if necessary and serve.

Can I make Fattoush salad ahead?

The eggplant can be grilled a day in advance. The pita can be grilled up to an hour before assembling the salad. The assembled salad (without dressing) will be fine at room temperature for up to an hour. The vegetables will start softening the bread so it’s best to add the grilled bread just before serving.

Easy salad recipes

1. Easy cucumber radish salad
2. Guacamole salad
3. Easy tomato feta green bean salad