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.
People who are passionate about Middle Eastern food may want to stop by Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurantin gorgeous San Diego, California. If you follow a healthy diet, this cafe may pique your interest in a significant way. Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant specializes in many exciting vegan food and vegetarian food meals for people who appreciate Middle Eastern fare.
If you’re someone who likes to eat fresh and tasty vegetables on a regular basis, you’ll have an abundance of great choices available to you on the menu at Aladdin Restaurant. Some examples of dishes that are perfect for veggie lovers at Aladdin Restaurant include falafels, hummus, vegetarian borak and dolma. Falafels are chock-full of seasoning. They’re a combination of spices, onions, garlic, parsley and garbanzo beans. Hummus is a combination of olive oil, lemon, fresh garlic, tahini and garbanzo beans. Vegetarian borak is a lovely blend of sumac, lemon juice, tomatoes, onions and spinach. It’s also commonly known as “spinach pie.” Dolma, last but not least, is a popular meal option among vegetarians who dine at Aladdin Restaurant. It’s a seasoned blend that includes chopped onions, parsley, rice, lemon sauce, grape leaves and tomatoes. It’s often referred to simply as “stuffed grape leaves.” If you want to dine on a meal that is optimal for a healthy vegetarian diet plan, you’ll enjoy your experience at Aladdin Restaurant without a doubt.
People don’t have to be veggie enthusiasts to enjoy food at Aladdin Restaurant, however. That’s because the Middle Eastern eatery also has plenty of options in meat-based meals. If you’re the kind of person who likes filling up on meat, you’ll love lamb borak, chicken salad, chicken bryani and lamb tika kebab. Lamb borak is a strong dish choice for people who adore ground lamb, yogurt, tomatoes, onions, roasted pine nuts, pomegranate juice, garlic and tahini. Chicken salad is suitable for people who love flame-broiled chicken breasts, romaine lettuce, pistachio nuts, tomatoes, fresh cilantro and feta cheese. Chicken bryani is a solid dish choice for fans of roasted nuts. Lamb tika kebab, finally, is optimal for diners who want to savor marinated lamb cubes, tomatoes, hummus, onions and green bell peppers. If you’re in the mood for excellent meat that feels and tastes perfectly fresh, you may want to head to Aladdin Restaurant right away.
Sweet dessert options are available to diners at this establishment as well. People can choose between baklava with pistachio and kunafa. Both are popular options.
If you’re looking for first-rate corporate catering in San Diego, Aladdin Restaurant may be a good healthy choice for you. The eatery’s catering menu is varied and includes exciting and delicious foods such as hummus, pita bread, falafels, baba ghanouj and vegi dolma.