March 18, 2015

Spring Fattoush Salad (Grain-Free)

Name: Spring Fattoush Salad (Grain-Free)
Prep time: 15 min
Yield: serves 2 to 4
Ingredients: ½ cup fresh or frozen petite peas; 1 Tablespoon/15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice; 2 Tablespoons/30ml extra-virgin olive oil; 1 Tablespoon/15ml plain whole milk yogurt (I like sheep’s milk); Sea salt; Freshly ground pepper; 1 head of frisee lettuce; 3 to 4 small watermelon radishes, thinly sliced; ½ a small bunch fresh mint, stems removed and coarsely chopped or torn; 1/4 cup chopped chives; 2 grain-free pita rounds , broken into bite sized pieces and sprinkled with a pinch of sumac instead of oregano before baking (see Mediterranean Nachos recipe ); 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (optional)

This spring version of fattoush is a cool, tangy salad with lots of crunch.

pring Fattoush Salad Recipe

Traditionally a handy vehicle for using up stale pita or flat bread, fattoush is most often a mix of lettuces with chunks of raw vegetables like tomatoes or cucumbers and a kicky vinaigrette. The beauty of fattoush is in its lively mix of flavors and textures.

There’s the crisp lettuce, the crunchy pieces of pita and the sour flavor of lemon juice and sumac to keep your palate happy with every forkful.

Spring Fattoush Salad Recipe

It’s a wonderful salad for spring or summer, cool and easy, just the thing for an easy lunch or dinner. A salad with lots of lightness and crunch and a lemony, herby freshness.

My take on this traditional Middle Eastern salad is a spring version featuring watermelon radishes and petite peas along with my homemade pita chips.

I use a bed of frisee lettuce as the base to which I add a generous amount of chives and mint. That’s topped with tender peas, paper thin slices of pink hued radishes and roughly broken chunks of toasted pita chips. (These are the same chips from my Mediterranean Nachos just with a sprinkle of sumac instead of oregano.)

Spring Fattoush Salad Recipe

The dressing couldn’t easier either, just lemon juice, olive oil and a bit of yogurt. It’s that little bit of creaminess from the yogurt I find really brings the entire thing together, making the crisp textures and flavors of spring shine through in every bite.

Crisp, tangy, creamy and satisfying, this is the kind of salad that’s all about contrasts.

What are your favorite spring salads?

Spring Fattoush Salad (Grain-Free)

Yields serves 2 to 4

15 minPrep Time

15 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

½ cup fresh or frozen petite peas
1 Tablespoon/15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 Tablespoons/30ml extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon/15ml plain whole milk yogurt (I like sheep’s milk)
Sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 head of frisee lettuce
3 to 4 small watermelon radishes, thinly sliced
½ a small bunch fresh mint, stems removed and coarsely chopped or torn
1/4 cup chopped chives
2 grain-free pita rounds , broken into bite sized pieces and sprinkled with a pinch of sumac instead of oregano before baking (see Mediterranean Nachos recipe )
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (optional)

Instructions

Lightly blanch the peas in boiling salted water until just tender ( 2 to 3 minutes) and drain. Place into an ice water filled bowl to stop the cooking and retains color.
In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil and yogurt, season with salt and pepper to taste.
In a medium sized serving bowl, combine the frisee along with the radishes, peas, mint and parsley. Add dressing, and toss well to combine. Just before serving, add the pita chips broken into large pieces and feta if using and gently toss again. Taste for seasoning and serve immediately.

Notes

Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian

https://gourmandeinthekitchen.com/spring-fattoush-salad-grain-free/

gourmandeinthekitchen.com