Lebanese Fattoush Salad My Way

This Middle Eastern Fattoush-Lebanese Bread Salad is a very nice change from a basic salad... and this recipe is extra special because it is made “My Way.” I have added black & green pit less olives, grape tomatoes, chickpeas and creamy cheese pieces coated with a nice blend of herbs… and with a little tahini sauce around the side of the dish.. Enjoy!

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup olive oil
• 4  tablespoons lemon juice
• 1  tablespoon lemon zest
• 1  tablespoon  chopped garlic
• 1  pita bread
• 1⁄4 cup chickpeas (from a can or tin)
•  salt and pepper
• 6  artichokes, quartered (from a can or tin)
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2  tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• 1  teaspoon dried mint
• 6  ounces  laughing cow swiss cheese, wedges (Laughing Cow brand)
• 4  cups  salad greens, baby spinach and a small amount of arugula (Option, other types of salad greens)
• 1  cucumber, seeds removed and cut lengthwise and then into slices
• 1⁄4 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half
• 1⁄2 cup  black and green-pitted  olive
• 3  tablespoons parsley, chopped
• 3  tablespoons  tahini sauce

Directions

1. PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS.
2. Combine ½ cup olive, lemon juice, lemon zest and chopped garlic, set aside.
3. Cut pita bread into small pieces and toast under a broiler until they are crispy, set aside.
4. Add and toss with the chickpeas salt and pepper to taste, set aside.
5. Sprinkle a little cinnamon powder on the artichokes, set aside.
6. Combine chopped cilantro, mint and a small amount of cinnamon powder in a small bowl, then dip cheese wedges in the mixture, coat on all sides, then cut each wedge into two or three pieces and set aside.
7. INSTRUCTIONS.
8. In a large bowl add the salad greens, cucumber, grape tomatoes, pit less olives, parsley, toss and set aside in a nice sized serving dish.
9. Add on top of the salad greens & vegetables the chickpeas, cheese wedges and crisp bread.
10. Pour over all the salad greens and vegetables the olive oil and lemon juice mixture including some on the crispy pita bread as well.
11. Finally, drizzle a small amount of tahini sauce around the edge of the dish.
12. Enjoy.
13. NOTES.
14. Add the toasted pita bread at the end so it remains crispy. Khoubz Arab bread can also be substituted for the pita bread.
15. You can also add coarsely ground sumac or zahtar seasoning and/or crumpled up feta cheese.
16. Also, this Fattoush bread salad can be added to a nice individual plate of Hummus as well.