FATTEH

If there are people that can turn day-old bread into a sumptuous feast, it would be the people of the Middle East. Resourcefulness is practically in their genes, as they turn lowly lentils into regal Mujaddarah, chickpeas into silky hummus, or stale bread into Fatteh. The word Fatteh in Arabic means “crushed” or “crumbs”, as fatteh transforms dry bread or crumbs into a foundation for rich-tasting casseroles. In this case, day-old pita bread is cut up crouton-sized, then toasted, grilled, or fried. This layer of crunchy bread is then covered with other ingredients that vary according to the region, from Egypt to the Levant.