Fattoush: A War-Born Dish That Became a Lebanese Tradition

Who doesn’t love fattoush? This beloved dish graces every Lebanese table and is a staple at gatherings. But did you know that fattoush was born from the turmoil of war? Here’s the story behind its origins.

Made with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, onions, sumac, olive oil, lemon, and toasted bread, the flavorful dish came to be in 1862. When Christian families were fleeing from the War of the Mountain, they sought refuge in Zahle.

The staple dish was born in the homes of two prominent families, the Fattoush and Skaf households, who were known for their generosity. It is said that when the Fattoush household sheltered a Christian family fleeing the war, their dinner tables were always filled with meat, chicken, and all sorts of food.

The problem was that Christians at the time were fasting. They couldn’t eat the meat and chicken dishes that were on the table. Instead, they decided to eat the salad, topping it with pieces of leftover bread.

One of the members from the Skaf family laughed and said, “Ya Fattoush, look what your guests are doing to the salad!”

This led Maronite Patriarch Gregory Yusuf to say: “We will call it fattoush in honor of this generous household that served us vegetables with bread. From now on, we will eat this dish when fasting.”

^{Source: Old Pictures of Lebanon}

Around the same time, Ramadan was coming to an end. The Muslim villagers around Zahle also adopted this idea, enjoying this simple yet hearty dish after breaking their fast. Since then, fattoush became a staple in every Lebanese household!

Fattoush became not just a dish, but a story of Lebanese heritage! Born in the heart of Zahle, loved by many.

Enjoyed reading about fattoush, the war-born Lebanese dish? You should browse the #Historical Snapshot section on our website.