Fattoush Toasted pita bread salad

Serves 4–6
2 large pita bread, broken into pieces and
toasted lightly
juice of about 1½ lemons
2 garlic cloves
4 ripe plum tomatoes, halved, seeded, and
cut into ½in (1cm) dice
1 cucumber, halved, seeded, and cut into
½in (1cm) dice
1 tbsp ground sumac (available in
Middle Eastern markets)
4 scallions (green onions), thinly sliced
handful of fresh arugula leaves
½ bunch of flat-leaf parsley leaves
½ bunch of mint leaves
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1Place the toasted bread pieces in a large bowl. Add the juice of ½ lemon,
and season well with salt and pepper.
2Crush the garlic cloves with a little salt until you have a smooth purée. In
a small bowl, combine the tomato and cucumber with the garlic purée.
Season with salt and pepper, the sumac, and some more lemon juice. Add to the
toasted bread, along with the scallions, arugula, parsley, and mint. Drizzle in the
olive oil and toss gently to mix.
3Taste the salad, adding more lemon if needed. It should be sour from the
lemon juice and peppery hot from the arugula and seasoning. The tomatoes
and cucumber will be sweet, and the sumac is a grand spice that is purple in
color and provides an essential lemony, peppery element to the flavor of the
salad. Serve at once, as the lemon juice will begin to discolor the greens.