Fattoush Salad with Ricotta Salata Cheese
Deep crimson ground sumac, the crushed dried berry of a bush widely found in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, is an essential ingredient in this dish. Its citrusy tang cannot be matched, so seek out the spice in Middle Eastern or specialty-food stores. Purslane, a sour, succulent Mediterranean herb, is also a classic addition, but if you cannot find it, use mâche or more romaine.
Estimated Nutrition (whole recipe, rough)
Counts 14 of 17 ingredients — the other 3 aren't in our nutrition table and contribute nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume — 14 portions →
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Ricotta Cheese | 1/2 cup (124g) part-skim | 174 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Cheese | 1 oz (28g) cheddar | 113 |
| Cherry | 1 cup (138g) | 87 |
| Pita Bread | 1 slice (30g) white | 79 |
| Grape | 1/2 cup (76g) | 62 |
| Red Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Tomato | 1 medium (123g) | 22 |
| Cucumber | 1/2 cup sliced (52g) | 16 |
| Lemon | juice of 1 lemon (48ml) | 12 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Romaine Lettuce | 1 cup shredded (36g) | 5 |
| Parsley | 1 tbsp chopped fresh (3.8g) | 1 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Purslane | not in our table | 0 |
| Peppermint | not in our table | 0 |
| Sumac | not in our table | 0 |
Totals for the whole recipe, adding one typical portion per ingredient — listed above. Quantities in the recipe are not counted, so this is a rough guide only — not suitable for medical or dietary planning.
Ingredients
- Olive oil for frying
- 1 large pita bread round, torn into bite-size pieces
- 1 heart of romaine lettuce, cored and chopped (about 2 cups)
- 1 cup purslane, chopped (see note above)
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
- 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
- 1/3 cup very thinly sliced red onion
- 3 Tbs. chopped fresh mint
- 2 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 oz. ricotta salata cheese, coarsely grated (optional)
- 1/2 tsp. ground sumac, plus more for garnish
- 3 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
- 1/4 tsp. ground sumac
- 1/4 cup olive oil