Fattoush

Fattoush is derived from the Arabic fatt which mean "crush". When making this salad you toast pita bread then break it up and add to the salad this is one of the main ingredients that makes fattoush different from any other salad. The other main ingredient is the spice sumac

Sumac isn't a herb but a type of berry that is grown on a Mediterranean bush and mostly grown in southern Italy and the Middle East. If you've ever eaten za'atar, you've probably eaten sumac because it is usually one of the ingredients of za'atar.

Sumac was used as a medicine specifically in the medieval times where it treated almost half a dozen illnesses. Research has also found that sumac has anti microbial properties which suggest that sumac might be used to treat and prevent hyperglycemia, diabetes and obesity due to hypoglycemic properties. Recent research also suggests that sumac has antioxidant properties. In one experiment, sumac was added to animal's drinking water and it was found that there was less oxidized DNA bases in their colons, livers, lungs and lymphocytes.

Our homemade fattoush

So now that we know more about fattoush and sumac here is the recipe on fattoush.

•Ingredients:
4 Cucumber
2 Tomato
2 Green pepper
2 Radish
Handful of fresh Mint
Handful of Parsley
1/2 Lemon
1 tablespoon Sumac
Olive oil
2 Pita bread

•Directions
- first toast the pita bread and make sure not to burn it !
- roughly chop the tomatoes, cucumbers, and green peppers.
- thinly slice the radish
- roughly chop mint and parsley
- add sumac
- add lemon and olive oil and if needed salt
- I would suggest to add the bread at the last minute so it won't get soggy or even each person add it into their own plate just incase you don't finish the salad.

And enjoy!!!