Fattoush (Pitta Salad)

JinxTheCat's Note:

A middle eastern dish, absolutely delicious and a welcome change to the usual, plain lettuce and rocket salad for those watching their weight.

• Total Time: 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 pitta bread, torn into small pieces
• 8 plum tomatoes, seeds removed, quartered
• half cucumber, peeled, cut into 5cm/2in batons
• half green pepper, cut into strips
• 8 radishes, sliced
• 1 shallot, sliced
• 1 small handful rocket
• 1 small little gem lettuce
• handful fresh mint leaves

For the Dressing

• 300 ml/ 10 fl.ozs. olive oil
• 5 lemons, juice and zest only
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 4 tablespoons sumac
• salt & freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Start off by making the salad dressing - Everything into a blender (oil, lemon juice, garlic clove, pepper and salt, sumac) and whiz it for a minute or so until everything is blended. -- If you have no sumac, then I wouldn't recommend replacing it with anything else, rather leave it out and add sesame seeds/oil (very small amount) and thyme instead. Sumac has a distinct taste, lemon-y.
2. Next,chop all the salad into pieces, however you wish and put in a large salad bowl. I like them chunky. Tear the pitta bread into pieces and add to the bowl.
3. Serve with the dressing drizzled over the top.