Fattoush Dressing Recipe (Homemade Lebanese Salad Mix)
This homemade fattoush dressing recipe is the whole reason fattoush salad tastes the way it does. A good fattoush runs fourteen bucks locally and nearly an hour’s drive. The salad itself is straightforward: romaine, radishes, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and crunchy fried pita chips (khubz) tossed in a bright, tangy dressing. Make it at home for $1.47 a batch.
The secret to authentic fattoush dressing is sumac, a dark red powder that delivers the sour, slightly citrusy flavor fattoush is known for. Don’t skip it, don’t sub it out. It’s available at any Middle Eastern grocery and online. Without it you’ve just made lemon vinaigrette. With it, you’ve got the real thing.
If you’re building out your homemade dressing collection, try our Creamy Avocado Salad Dressing, Olive Garden House Dressing, or Creamy Parmesan Dressing next.
The secret to authentic fattoush dressing is sumac, a dark red powder that delivers the sour, slightly citrusy flavor fattoush is known for. Don’t skip it, don’t sub it out.
It’s available at any Middle Eastern grocery and online. Without it you’ve just made lemon vinaigrette. With it, you’ve got the real thing.
How to Make Fattoush Salad Dressing Mix from Scratch
You’ll Need:
- 2 teaspoons ground sumac
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried mint
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Fattoush Dressing Recipe from Homemade Mix
Combine all dry ingredients in a small jar or zip bag. Seal and label. Makes one batch of mix.
To Prepare the Dressing:
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 packet of the mix above
Add the mix to a jar or dressing cruet with the lemon juice and olive oil. Seal tight and shake hard until fully combined. Refrigerate for at least four hours before serving; the sumac and mint need time to bloom in the acid. The spices will float back up as they saturate, so shake again right before you dress the salad.
💡 Expert Tip: Make the dressing mix in bulk. Multiply the dry ingredients by 4 or 6, store in a labeled jar, and you’ve got fattoush dressing on demand. One batch of mix per 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup olive oil every time.
To Assemble the Salad:
Toss romaine, sliced radishes, cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, and bell pepper in the fattoush dressing. Top with fried khubz (pita chips fried in a little oil until golden and crispy). Want to make it a meal? Add shawarma-seasoned chicken pieces on top.
Serving: Dress the salad immediately before serving; fattoush does not hold well once dressed. Store any leftover dressing in the fridge for up to two weeks. Shake before each use.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Fattoush Dressing Recipe
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
Ground sumac |
~$5.98 |
2 tsp |
$0.30 |
|
Sugar |
$3.48 / 4 lb |
1 1/2 tsp |
$0.02 |
|
Dried mint |
~$3.48 |
1 tsp |
$0.12 |
|
Salt |
$0.58 / 26 oz |
3/4 tsp |
$0.01 |
|
Garlic powder |
$1.96 |
1/4 tsp |
$0.04 |
|
Black pepper |
$1.96 |
1/4 tsp |
$0.03 |
|
Lemon juice |
$2.48 / 32 oz |
1/2 cup |
$0.39 |
|
Olive oil |
$5.98 / 16.9 oz |
1/4 cup |
$0.56 |
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown |
Cost |
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$1.47 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving (serves 4) |
$0.37 |
🏪 Restaurant Fattoush Salad |
$14.00 |
💰 You Save |
$12.53 per serving |
📅 Walmart prices last verified June 22, 2025. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change.
Frequently Asked Questions about Homemade Fattoush Salad Dressing Mix
Fattoush dressing is made from ground sumac, dried mint, sugar, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper mixed into fresh lemon juice and olive oil. Sumac is the key ingredient that gives it the distinctively sour, tangy flavor.
Sumac tastes tart and slightly fruity, similar to lemon but earthier. It’s made from dried and ground sumac berries and is widely used in Middle Eastern cooking to add sourness without extra liquid.
Not really, if you want authentic flavor. Sumac is what makes fattoush taste like fattoush. Extra lemon juice can approximate the sourness but won’t replicate the depth. Track down sumac at a Middle Eastern market or order it online.
Stored in a sealed jar in the refrigerator, fattoush dressing keeps for up to two weeks. Shake it well before each use since the spices will settle.
Yes, and it’s worth doing. The dry spice mix keeps in a sealed jar at room temperature for several months. When you want dressing, just combine one packet of mix with lemon juice and olive oil.
A classic fattoush salad includes romaine lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and green or bell peppers. It’s a flexible salad; use what’s fresh and in season.
Khubz is Arabic flatbread, essentially pita. For fattoush, it’s torn into pieces and fried in oil until golden and crispy. The crunch is a defining feature of the salad.
Yes. Bagged pita chips work fine and save a step. Fried fresh khubz has a better texture, but pita chips are a solid shortcut on a weeknight.
It’s loaded with fresh vegetables and dressed in olive oil and lemon, so yes by most measures. The fried pita chips add carbs and fat; bake them instead of frying if you want a lighter version.
Tabbouleh is a parsley-and-bulgur salad with tomato, onion, and lemon. Fattoush is a mixed vegetable salad built around crispy bread and a sumac-heavy dressing. Both are Lebanese, both are good, but they’re very different dishes.
Homemade fattoush dressing in five minutes, for about $1.47 a batch. Tag us @budget101 when you make it.
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📝 Homemade Fattoush Salad Dressing Printable Recipe Card
Fattoush Salad Dressing Recipe
Instructions
- Combine all dry mix ingredients in a small jar or zip bag. Seal and label. This is one batch of fattoush dressing mix.2 teaspoons ground sumac1 1/2 teaspoons sugar1 teaspoon dried mint3/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon garlic powder1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- To make the dressing, add the dry mix to a jar or dressing cruet with the lemon juice and olive oil.1/2 cup fresh lemon juice1/4 cup olive oil
- Seal tight and shake hard until fully combined.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving to allow the sumac and mint to fully bloom.
- Shake well before dressing the salad.
Recipe Size Alteration
If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cooking/baking time.
I love Fattoush! In essence, Fattoush is a bread salad that originated in the northern part of Lebanon. Farmers in Lebanon would fry leftover pita scraps in olive oil to add extra flavor.
With herbal and vegetable notes that are accentuated by the vinegar and sumac, fattoush is bright, assertive, and refreshing. This dish can be eaten on its own, bulked up with grilled protein like chicken or steak, or served as a side dish or appetizer.
Thanks for the dressing recipe!
This blend is 100% authentic. Tangy, zesty, and perfect with crispy pita and fresh herbs. I use this on cucumber-tomato salad too!
This mix is dead-on! Tangy, fresh, and that sumac kick brings it all together. I sprinkle it on roasted veggies too—it’s not just for salad! 🥗