10 Exquisite Fatta Recipes: A Culinary Journey Through Middle Eastern Flavors

Embark on a culinary journey through the vibrant flavors of the Middle East with these 10 exquisite Fatta recipes. From classic Palestinian Fatta to innovative variations, explore the rich tapestry of tastes and textures that this traditional dish offers. Discover the secrets to creating the perfect balance of crispy bread, tender meat, creamy yogurt, and flavorful sauces, and experience the true essence of Middle Eastern cuisine with these delicious and authentic Fatta recipes.

Creamy Chickpea Fatteh

This recipe guides you through creating a delicious and satisfying Chickpea Fatteh, a layered Middle Eastern dish featuring crispy toasted bread, creamy yogurt, and spiced chickpeas. It’s a simple and flavorful meal perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked chickpeas
• 1 loaf Lebanese bread, toasted
• 4 tablespoons yogurt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon tahini
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 drops vinegar
• Salt to taste
• Pinch of cumin
• Pinch of dried mint
• Fried cashews for garnish

Instructions

1. Gently warm the chickpeas in a pot with a splash of water.
2. Once heated through, drain the chickpeas, reserving some of the liquid. Place the chickpeas in a serving bowl and top with the toasted Lebanese bread.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the yogurt, tahini, vinegar, salt, crushed garlic, and a pinch of cumin. Mix thoroughly. Add a small amount of the reserved chickpea water to the yogurt mixture and stir until smooth and creamy.
4. Pour the yogurt mixture over the bread and chickpeas.
5. Melt the butter in a pan and drizzle it evenly over the yogurt layer.
6. Garnish with a sprinkle of dried mint and the fried cashews.

Creamy Chickpea Fatteh

This recipe provides a simple yet satisfying way to enjoy Fatteh, a Levantine dish known for its layered flavors and textures. This version features crispy toasted bread, creamy yogurt, and hearty chickpeas, creating a truly comforting meal.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 pounds (about 1 kilogram) plain yogurt
• 2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 loaf bread, toasted
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons tahini
• Paprika, to taste
• Salt, to taste
• Cumin, to taste
• A drizzle of olive oil, for garnish

Instructions

1. Cook the chickpeas until tender. You can boil them, or for a quicker method, use canned chickpeas.
2. In a bowl, combine the minced garlic, yogurt, and tahini. Whisk thoroughly until smooth and creamy.
3. Toast the bread until golden brown and crispy. Break it into bite-sized pieces.
4. To assemble the Fatteh, start by layering the toasted bread in a serving dish. Top with the cooked chickpeas.
5. Pour the yogurt mixture over the chickpeas and bread. Sprinkle generously with paprika, cumin, and salt to your liking.
6. Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and a few extra pieces of toasted bread for added crunch. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Creamy Chickpea Fatteh

This recipe guides you through making a delicious and satisfying Chickpea Fatteh. This Middle Eastern and Levantine dish features layers of crispy pita bread, creamy yogurt sauce, tender chickpeas, and crunchy toasted nuts. It’s a perfect comfort food that is surprisingly easy to prepare.

Ingredients

• 1 can smooth chickpeas
• Cooked whole chickpeas (amount to your preference)
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup tahini
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 3 pita breads (optional, for added texture)
• 2 tablespoons clarified butter (or olive oil)
• Almonds (or pine nuts)
• Cumin, salt, and paprika to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the Yogurt Sauce: In a bowl, combine the smooth chickpeas, yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, minced garlic, and salt. Mix well until the sauce is smooth and creamy.

2. Layer the Fatteh: If using pita bread, toast or fry it until crispy. Place the bread pieces on a serving platter. Add the cooked whole chickpeas and a little of their cooking liquid over the bread. Then, generously pour the prepared tahini-yogurt sauce over the chickpeas and bread.

3. Season: Sprinkle the Fatteh with cumin and paprika to taste.

4. Toast the Nuts (Optional): Heat the clarified butter (or olive oil) in a pan. Fry the almonds or pine nuts until golden brown and fragrant. Sprinkle the toasted nuts over the Fatteh. Garnish with fresh parsley (optional) and serve immediately.

Delicious Chickpea Fatteh

This recipe guides you through making a flavorful and satisfying Chickpea Fatteh. With crispy fried bread, creamy yogurt sauce, and crunchy toasted almonds, this dish is a delightful combination of textures and flavors.

Ingredients

For the Fatteh:

• 1 loaf bread, cut into pieces
• 2 cups cooked chickpeas
• 1 cup chickpea cooking water
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt

For the Garnish:

• Cilantro
• Toasted almonds in butter
• Pinch of cumin
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
• Lemon slices (optional)

Instructions

1. Fry the bread: Fry the bread pieces until golden brown and crispy. Place them in a serving dish.

2. Layer with chickpeas and cooking water: Heat the cooked chickpeas. Add 1 cup of the chickpeas to the fried bread, along with a little chickpea cooking water to moisten.

3. Prepare the yogurt sauce: In a blender, combine the remaining chickpeas, yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Blend until smooth and creamy. Pour this sauce over the bread and chickpea layer.

4. Toast the almonds: Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a pan and toast the almonds until fragrant and lightly browned. Sprinkle the toasted almonds over the fatteh.

5. Garnish and serve: Garnish with fresh cilantro, a pinch of cumin, and a pinch of red pepper flakes, if desired. Lemon slices can also be added for extra brightness. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Easy Lebanese Chickpea Fatteh

This recipe provides a simple and delicious way to make Lebanese Chickpea Fatteh. With a few key ingredients and straightforward steps, you’ll be enjoying this flavorful dish in no time.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 quantity of pine nuts (or sliced almonds)
• 1 piece butter (for toasting pine nuts/almonds)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ⅔ cups sheep’s milk yogurt (about 400 grams)
• 1 cup pre-soaked and cooked chickpeas (about 200 grams)
• 1 Lebanese flatbread (or baguette)
• Oil (for frying/toasting bread)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Yogurt Sauce: In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, minced garlic, salt, and tahini. Mix thoroughly until smooth and set aside.

2. Prepare the Chickpeas: In a saucepan, add the chickpeas and cover with water. Bring to a boil.

3. Prepare the Bread: Heat oil in a skillet and fry the Lebanese flatbread (or baguette) until golden brown. Alternatively, toast the bread in a non-stick pan for a healthier option. Be careful not to burn the bread.

4. Layer the Fatteh: In a deep serving dish, place the fried or toasted bread and break it into pieces. Pour the cooked chickpeas and a little of their cooking water over the bread, allowing the bread to absorb some of the liquid.

5. Add the Yogurt Sauce: Pour the yogurt mixture evenly over the chickpeas and bread, covering the entire surface.

6. Toast the Nuts: In a hot skillet, toast the pine nuts (or sliced almonds) with butter until fragrant and lightly browned.

7. Final Touches: Pour the hot toasted nuts over the fatteh. Garnish as desired. Suggestions include pistachios, olives, eggplant makdous, and pickles.

Enjoy your homemade Lebanese Chickpea Fatteh!

Chickpea Fatteh with Tahini: A Simple and Flavorful Breakfast

This recipe guides you through making a delicious and satisfying Chickpea Fatteh, a Middle Eastern and Levantine dish, featuring crispy bread, creamy chickpeas, and a tangy tahini sauce. It’s perfect for a hearty breakfast or a comforting brunch.

Ingredients

• 1 can chickpeas
• 1 can chickpeas with tahini
• Stale bread, as needed
• Yogurt
• Tahini
• Salt
• Ghee, for topping
• Pinch of cumin, pomegranate molasses, and chili powder, for topping

Instructions

1. Prepare the bread: Cut the stale bread into small squares or pieces. Heat the chickpeas in a pot with a little water.

2. Soften the bread: Pour the warm chickpea water over the bread, allowing it to absorb the liquid and become soft. Then, add the chickpeas to the bread.

3. Make the tahini sauce: In a separate bowl, combine the can of chickpeas with tahini, 1 tablespoon of yogurt, additional tahini, salt, and lemon juice (if desired). Blend or whisk until the sauce is very smooth, not thick.

4. Assemble the Fatteh: Pour the tahini sauce over the chickpea and bread mixture.

5. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the top with a pinch of cumin, chili powder (or red pepper flakes), and a drizzle of pomegranate molasses. Heat the ghee and drizzle it over the dish. Serve hot for breakfast.

Crispy Pita and Chickpea Salad with Tangy Yogurt Sauce

This recipe provides a simple and delicious way to enjoy a classic Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dish, Hummus Fatteh. It features layers of crispy pita bread, tender chickpeas, and a tangy yogurt sauce, creating a satisfying and flavorful meal.

Ingredients

• 50 gms dry chickpeas
• 1 Pita bread
• 160 gms Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon tahini
• 1 large clove Garlic
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Optional: Cayenne pepper

Instructions

1. Prepare the Chickpeas: Soak the dry chickpeas overnight in a bowl of water. Drain and rinse the soaked chickpeas. Then, boil them in a pot of salted water until tender. This usually takes about 1-2 hours depending on the chickpeas.
2. Crisp the Pita: Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). Cut the pita bread into bite-sized pieces. Arrange the pita pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
3. Make the Yogurt Sauce: Mince or crush the garlic clove. In a bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, tahini, and minced garlic. Mix well. Season with salt to taste.
4. Assemble the Fatteh: In a serving dish, layer the cooked chickpeas and crispy pita bread. Generously top with the yogurt sauce. Drizzle with olive oil. For an extra kick, sprinkle with cayenne pepper (optional).

Enjoy this flavorful and easy-to-make Hummus Fatteh!

Easy Layered Eggplant Fatteh

This recipe guides you through creating a delicious and easy Eggplant Fatteh, a layered Middle Eastern dish featuring crispy pita bread, flavorful eggplant sauce, spiced ground beef, and a creamy yogurt topping. It’s a satisfying meal that’s perfect for sharing.

Ingredients

Eggplant Sauce:

• 1 large eggplant, cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 Roman tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup water
• 1 Maggi bouillon cube
• Salt, to taste

Meat:

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

Yogurt Sauce:

• 2 1/2 cups plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup tahini paste
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup water
• Salt, to taste

Other Ingredients:

• 3 pita breads, cut into squares
• Pine nuts
• Pomegranate seeds
• Parsley, chopped

Instructions

Prepare the Eggplant Sauce: Sauté the chopped onion in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat until tender. Add the cubed eggplant and chopped tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and mix well. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste, water, and Maggi bouillon cube. Mix again, cover, and cook for another 10 minutes.

Cook the Meat: In a separate skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Season with salt, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, and garlic powder.

Make the Yogurt Sauce: In a bowl, combine the plain yogurt, tahini paste, minced garlic, lemon juice, water, and salt. Mix well and set aside.

Toast the Pita Bread: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Cut the pita bread into squares and arrange them on a baking sheet. Toast for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.

Assemble the Fatteh: In your serving dish, layer the ingredients in the following order: toasted pita bread, eggplant sauce, seasoned ground beef, and yogurt sauce.

Garnish and Serve: Garnish with pine nuts, chopped parsley, and pomegranate seeds. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Egyptian Fattah: A Step-by-Step Guide to this Hearty Beef and Rice Dish

This recipe provides a detailed guide to preparing Egyptian Fattah, a flavorful and satisfying dish featuring tender beef, fluffy rice, crispy pita bread, and a rich tomato-based sauce. Follow these steps to create a delicious and authentic Fattah experience.

Ingredients:

For the Beef:

• 1 large onion, quartered
• 4 cardamom pods
• 1/2 kg beef cubes
• 1 tsp Baharat spice blend
• 1 tsp salt and pepper

For the Sauce:

• 5 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 1 cup beef broth (reserved from boiling the beef)
• 1 tsp salt and pepper

For the Rice:

• 2 cups Egyptian Calrose rice
• 1 cup beef broth (reserved from boiling the beef)
• 1/4 tsp turmeric (optional, for color)

For the Bread:

• 1 pita bread, cut into cubes

Instructions:

Preparing the Beef:

Wash the beef thoroughly. In a pot, combine 4 cups of water, the quartered onion, cardamom pods, Baharat, salt, pepper, and 1 cup of beef broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for approximately 2 hours, or until the beef is fork-tender.

Preparing the Bread:

Cut the pita bread into bite-sized cubes. In a pan over medium-high heat, toast the bread cubes until golden brown and crispy.

Preparing the Garlic Mixture:

Crush the garlic cloves and grind them in a mortar and pestle. Add the coriander powder and mix well.

Making the Sauce:

Heat a pan over medium heat. Add the garlic-coriander mixture and cook until golden brown. Add the vinegar and simmer for 30 seconds. Stir in the tomato paste, then add the reserved beef broth, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, then set aside.

Preparing the Rice:

Wash the rice thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch. Soak the rice in water for 5 minutes, then drain.

In a pot, heat 1 tbsp of ghee (or butter). Add the washed rice and turmeric (if using). Stir to coat the rice with the ghee. Pour in 1 cup of reserved beef broth and salt to taste. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.

Assembling the Fattah:

Quickly soak the toasted pita bread cubes in the remaining beef broth for about 1 minute. In a serving dish, layer the rice, then top with the soaked bread cubes and finally, generously spoon the tomato-beef sauce over the bread. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Easy Chicken Fatteh

This recipe provides a simple and delicious way to enjoy chicken fatteh. It’s a quick meal, perfect for a single serving.

Ingredients

• 1 piece chicken breast
• 3 tbsp yogurt
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 slice bread
• Olive oil (as needed)

Instructions

1. Prepare the bread: Cut the bread into small square pieces. Toss with olive oil and bake until golden brown and crispy.

2. Cook the chicken: Cook and shred the chicken breast, removing the skin and any bones. Place the shredded chicken on top of the toasted bread pieces.

3. Make the yogurt sauce: Mince the garlic and mix it thoroughly with the yogurt. Pour this mixture over the chicken and bread.

4. Serve: Enjoy your delicious and easy chicken fatteh!

History of Fatta

Fatta holds a rich history, deeply intertwined with celebrations and resourcefulness across the Middle East. Its name, derived from the Arabic word “fatt”, meaning “crumbled” or “broken,” speaks to its core ingredient: stale bread. This resourceful use of leftover bread highlights the dish’s practical origins.

Historically, fatta was considered a peasant food, a way to utilize day-old bread and create a hearty, satisfying meal. Its association with abundance and celebration, however, transformed it into a dish served during special occasions like religious holidays, weddings, and births.

The communal aspect of fatta is significant. Often prepared in large quantities, it’s a dish meant for sharing, reflecting the values of hospitality and generosity prevalent in Middle Eastern culture.

While variations exist across different regions, the core elements remain consistent: bread, a flavorful broth, and a protein, often meat or chickpeas. This adaptability has allowed fatta to evolve over time, incorporating regional influences and ingredients while maintaining its essential character.

Nutritional Content and Benefits of Fatta

Fatta, while undeniably delicious, is a dish best enjoyed in moderation due to its rich nature. It’s traditionally a celebratory dish, and its ingredients reflect this. The dish centers around carbohydrates from rice and bread, providing a substantial energy source. The addition of chickpeas introduces protein and fiber, contributing to satiety and digestive health.

The yogurt sauce, a key component of fatta, provides calcium and probiotics, beneficial for bone health and gut flora. However, it’s important to note that the fat content can be significant, particularly from the clarified butter (ghee) and often the meat used in some variations. This contributes to the rich flavor but also means fatta is calorie-dense.

While not a dish packed with micronutrients, fatta can offer certain benefits depending on the specific ingredients used. For example, variations incorporating nuts can provide healthy fats and additional protein. Ultimately, fatta is best appreciated as an occasional indulgence, enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.

Tips for Choosing Quality Lamb

Choosing the right lamb is crucial for a delicious Fatta. Look for lamb with a bright red color and firm texture. The fat should be creamy white or slightly yellowish. Avoid lamb with a grayish color or overly soft texture.

Smell is another important factor. Fresh lamb should have a mild, slightly sweet aroma. A strong or unpleasant odor is a sign of spoilage.

Consider the cut of lamb you need for your chosen Fatta recipe. Some recipes call for shoulder, while others benefit from leg or shank. Ask your butcher for recommendations based on your specific dish.

Finally, whenever possible, source your lamb from a reputable butcher. They can provide information about the lamb’s origin, age, and feeding practices, allowing you to make an informed choice and ensuring the best flavor for your Fatta.