With a touch of Valantine?

Today's lunch had a special valantinish touch with these lovely heart-shaped croutons topping a delicious Fattoush salad next to a grilled chicken breast.

Grilled chicken breast recipe: http://lailaskitchen.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-ultimate-grilled-chicken-breasts.html

Fattoush salad recipe: http://lailaskitchen.blogspot.com/2014/10/fattoush-salad.html 

Croutons recipe:

Ingredients:

3 slices white bread toast

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil

5 garlic gloves

½ tsp salt

Steps:

1. Cut the croutons into the desired shape (here I’ve cut them into small hearts!)

2. Crush the garlic cloves and mix them with the extra virgin olive oil and salt in a small bowl

3. Preheat the oven to 180 degree Celcius on top heat.

4. Brush each bread cube with the dressing on both sides

5. Line a baking tray with a baking sheet and put the bread cubes on it

6. Bake the croutons for 5 minutes or until golden and crispy (keep an eye on the oven because croutons may get burnt if left for a longer time)

7. Let them cool down then top your favorite salad with these delicious croutons. 

Fattoush salad

Fattoush is a popular salad in the Middle East among Arabs. The main difference between Fattoush and Tabbouleh is the addition of toasted pita bread and sumac to Fattoush, which gives it an extra crunch and a tangy lemony taste.

Ingredients:

6 cup chopped lettuce

3 cucumbers

3 radishes

2 tomatoes

2 cups watercress

2 cup fresh mint

1 tbs sumac

1 pita bread

Dressing:

1 garlic clove (crushed)

2 tbs lemon juice (juice of half a lemon)

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil

½ tsp salt

Steps:

Cut the pita bread into squares and toast it in a 200 degree Celsius oven for 1 minute.

Chop all of the ingredients and add it to the bowl.

Mix the dressing ingredients and drizzle it over the salad.

Add the sumac, the toasted pita bread squares and toss the salad well

Serve immediately 

Watermelon Salad

Watermelon salad is great for outdoor picnics, you can also have it as dinner or a healthy snack between meals. It is a great salad to cool down the summer heat and can be done in less than 10 minutes.

Ingredients: 

4 cup watermelon (cut into cubes)

2 cup fresh white cheese “Akkawi” (cut into cubes)

½ cup fresh mint leaves

Steps: 

watch the steps demonstrated in the video above

Pasta salad

Ingredients:

2 cups pasta (cooked)

1 green bell pepper

½ cup red beans (cooked)

1 cup sweet corn (cooked)

½ cup black olives (sliced)

Dressing:

Juice of ½ lemon

1 tbs extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp salt

Steps:

watch the steps demonstrated in the video above

Tabbouleh salad

Tabbouleh is a popular salad in the middle east made of parsley, bulgur, fresh mint and tomatoes.

Ingredients: 

250g parsley
2 scallions
100g fresh mint
3 medium tomatoes
2 tbs fine bulgur (soaked in ½ cup water and drained well)

Dressing:
Juice of 1 lemon
3 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp salt

Steps: 

watch the step demonstrated in the video above

Soak the fine bulgur in boiling water for 20 minutes. Drain it well and set it aside.

             

Wash, dry and finely cut the parsley

Cut the scallions and add them to the chopped parsley

Cut the mint and add it to the previously chopped ingredients

Cut the tomatoes and add it to the bowl

Toss the chopped ingredients until combines

Add the drained bulgur to the bowl and toss the salad

Mix the dressing ingredients and drizzle it over the salad

Toss the salad again and serve it immediately

Notes:

Tabbouleh is usually served with fresh lettuce on the side or as a decoration