One of our feature salads at Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant is Fattoush. This delicious and vibrant salad is of Mediterranean origin, and varies depending on where you get the salad. Most versions of Fattoush include leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes, and garlic. The dressing is usually a combination of olive oil and lemon juice. One of the most distinguishing features are the pieces of pita bread sliced into the salad.
This salad isn’t just a salad. The ingredients tell a story of centuries of tradition. It goes back to a time when resources weren’t quite as bountiful as they are today, and people of the Mediterranean had to be thoughtful about how to make their food stretch.
The combination of greens and bread is likely a practical way to use leftovers. By combining bread and salad, the people of the Mediterranean made use of everything they had to make something delicious.
This tradition spread in popularity because it was so delicious. Now it is a favorite food in the region, and a feature menu item at almost every restaurant in the Middle East
While Fattoush can’t be traced back to one particular person, most researchers agree that it probably originated in North Lebanon. Historians believe that the farmers in Lebanon would take their old, dry, stale flat breads and try to reuse them.
What can you do with old, dry bread? In their wisdom, Lebanese farmers figured out that if the old bread was baked or fried, it became crunchy and delicious instead. This old bread could then be reused in a flavorful, tasty way.
Salad greens are readily available throughout the year owing to their quick growth, so mixing it into a salad was a sensible choice. The result was Fattoush. Additional ingredients came along later, such as the lemon to brighten the taste of the salad. Sumac is also sometimes used to give the salad a distinctive flavor.
Many legends surround Fattoush, such as a family by that name harboring Christians who were fasting and couldn’t eat meat, but these stories are very unlikely. The name Fattoush is more likely to come from the Arabic word, “fatt” which means crushed or crumbled. It’s likely this word was used for the pieces of flat bread or pita crumbled into the salad.
Fattoush is often celebrated as a sustainable dish because of it’s history making use of leftovers. It also makes use of seasonal ingredients, and can be adapted to keep people fresh, healthy, and getting the most out of their food all through the year.
Fattoush has been popular in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine for hundreds of years. What was once a dish designed by thrifty farmers to try and reuse food is now a celebrated dish widely eaten around the world.
The next time you order a salad, consider trying this remarkable dish. Fattoush is delicious, healthy, and has a rich history behind it as well.
At Aladdin Cafe, we love a good meal and enjoy seeing others savoring Middle Eastern food and vegan food. We also understand the benefits of eating healthy.
Managing a healthy diet isn’t about limiting food or staying thin. It’s balancing that pizza with foods that maximize energy, improve mood and minimize health risk. What we eat has a significant influence on not just our physical but our emotional and mental well being.
Healthy choices doesn’t necessarily mean giving up foods. It means being aware of what goes in our bodies. We know it’s not as easy as it sounds. We love to eat as much as the next guy. But we also think about healthy eating, such as adding one salad a day to our diet. You’ll find once you get in the habit of making healthy choices, you’ll see the results and be more conscious of making healthy choices.
Here are a few tips to help with that.
Get in the habit of reading labels. Manufacturers know most consumers don’t. Consumers have no idea of the huge amounts of sugar and unhealthy fats these companies put into packaged foods.
Eat more foods with fewer trans fats. It doesn’t always have to be fried chicken. From time to time, go with grilled fish seasoned to taste. Be aware of the refined carbs you ingest. These are infamous contributors to risks like heart disease and so many of us consume them beyond healthy boundaries.
We spend too much time concerned with calories, obsessively counting them to the decimal point so that we can eat a donut. We’ve come to believe that’s healthy, when truthfully, denying ourselves regular portions of food isn’t always the best option if you haven’t been advised by a doctor. Instead of counting calories, simply make healthier choices. Look at foods in terms of variety, freshness and color. Avoid processed and packaged foods.
This cannot be stressed enough: drink water. Water is natural and flushes the system of all the toxins and waste that otherwise gestate. Low energy, headaches and consistent lethargy can be symptoms of dehydration. On top of this, many people often see thirst as hunger and end up eating unnecessarily. If you find yourself hungry — especially if you’ve eaten within the last two hours — drink a glass of water and see if the desire passes.
Be aware of your mood after you eat. Consumption of junk food might feel satisfying, but it can drain you of energy and make you uncomfortable and nauseous. Healthy foods won’t do this. Aladdin Cafe is all about healthy, fresh and premium quality meals. Whenever you eat with us, you make a healthy choice.
There is a definite advantage to choosing reputable corporate catering for a special business meeting or presentation. The staff, servers, and chefs at Aladdin Café, located at 5420 Clairemont Mesa Blvd in San Diego, take great pride in presenting top quality Middle Eastern food at their restaurant or the meeting area you’ve selected. Tasty appetizers and entrees make a nice break from the speeches and workshops found at corporate events.
Hiring a good catering service lets you pay attention to the tasks you need to complete. Aladdin Café handles the planning and delivery of the meal. The menu includes Vegetarian food and Vegan food so that attendees find foods that appeal to their appetite and dietary restrictions. The advantage is that no one is obligated to leave the building to satisfy their hunger. A secondary benefit is the appreciation for your company for providing such a good meal!
Appetizers help spike the interest of meeting participants. One favorite is Dolma. The stuffed grape leaves are a Vegetarian favorite and part of a healthy diet. They are a medley of rice, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, and parsley. The mixture is rolled in grape leaves, steamed, and topped with lemon sauce.
Hummus is a popular appetizer and dip. This Middle Eastern food from Aladdin’s is a tasty blend of tahini, fresh garlic, garbanzo beans, and lemon. The 12-inch tray serves 8 – 10. If you’re expecting a large group, select the 18-inch tray that serves 25-30. Simply provide the guest list to the café catering experts. They will discuss how the food will be presented and how much of each item should be ordered. The delivery will live up to your professional expectations.
An enticing salad for each guest provides a satisfying meal. The chopped chicken salad is a favorite. It starts with chopped Iceberg lettuce. Slices of tomato and cucumbers add colorful appeal to the salad. Black olives, sun dried tomatoes, and Feta cheese are added along with pistachios. It is tossed with homemade Greek dressing and topped with carrots and sliced flame-broiled chicken breast.
Organized preparation, service, and cleanup provide a well-received meal and allow attendees to focus on the business agenda once the lunch break is over. Guests appreciate the special effort made to cater to their requirements, such as Vegan food. The success of the meal will likely be a main theme of conversations about the meeting for weeks to come and boost the reputation of your own company.