Middle Eastern Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. 
Serving Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Fatteh
A dish consisting of pieces of fresh, toasted, or stale flatbread covered with other ingredients.
Contains common allergens
In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.
Good to know
- Ready in under 30 minutes
Matched from this dish's own ingredients and timing. Browse more: 30-minute meals
Instructions
6 steps- 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Spread the pita squares on a baking sheet, toss with a little olive oil, and bake for 8-10 minutes until golden and crispy.
- 2
In a small saucepan, warm the canned chickpeas along with their liquid and the ground cumin until steaming hot.
- 3
In a medium bowl, whisk together the plain yogurt, tahini, minced garlic, and 1/2 tsp salt until it forms a smooth, creamy sauce.
- 4
In a small skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the pine nuts and toast constantly stirring for 3-4 minutes until they are golden brown and fragrant.
- 5
To assemble: Place the crispy toasted pita squares in an even layer at the bottom of a large, deep serving dish.
- 6
Using a slotted spoon, distribute the hot chickpeas over the pita, adding a few spoons of the hot broth to slightly soften the bread. Pour the cold yogurt-tahini sauce evenly over the top, and immediately finish by pouring the hot butter and toasted pine nuts over the yogurt.
Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Listahan Family Score™
62/100
Works for many families
Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.
Nutrition
per serving310
Calories
18 g
Protein
19 g
Carbs
19 g
Fat
Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.
Listahan cooking guide
Chef notes & practical guide
Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.
Cultural context
Fatteh, from the Arabic word for crumbs, is a layered Levantine dish built on torn pieces of toasted or fried pita softened under a warm topping. The most common version layers chickpeas, garlicky yogurt, and crisp bread, but Egyptian, Syrian, and Lebanese cooks each have their own. It is breakfast, comfort food, and celebration dish depending on the toppings.
Listahan note
This version is the chickpea-and-yogurt fatteh, assembled in layers right before serving so the bread keeps some crunch. The contrast of crisp, creamy, and warm is the whole point.
Technique cues
- Toast or fry the pita until properly crisp so it survives the yogurt without going to mush instantly.
- Warm the chickpeas in seasoned liquid so they are hot when they meet the cool yogurt.
- Assemble and serve immediately; fatteh is built to be eaten while the textures still contrast.
Kitchen flow
- Parallel prep
- Toast the bread and pine nuts while the chickpeas warm and you whisk the yogurt sauce.
- Make-ahead
- Prep each layer ahead and refrigerate, but only assemble at the table to keep the crunch.
- Leftover move
- Stir any softened leftovers into a quick chickpea-yogurt soup rather than re-layering.
- Cleanup rhythm
- Build directly in the serving dish so the layering bowl is the only extra to wash.
Ingredient brief
Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.
Pita bread
crisp foundation
Purpose: The toasted crumbs are the structural and textural base the dish is named for.
Handling: Tear and toast or fry until golden and shatter-crisp.
Adaptation: Day-old flatbread or pita chips work well.
Chickpeas
warm protein layer
Purpose: Hearty chickpeas give the dish body and make it a meal.
Handling: Warm cooked chickpeas in a little of their cooking liquid or broth.
Adaptation: White beans or a mix with shredded chicken for a richer version.
Plain yogurt
creamy garlic sauce
Purpose: The cool, garlicky yogurt is the defining counterpoint to the warm crisp layers.
Handling: Whisk with garlic and a little tahini until pourable.
Adaptation: Dairy-free coconut yogurt for a plant-based version.
Garlic
sauce aromatic
Purpose: Sharpens the yogurt so it lifts the chickpeas and bread.
Handling: Grate to a paste and whisk into the yogurt.
Adaptation: Roasted garlic for a gentler, sweeter sauce.
Pine nuts
crunchy garnish
Purpose: Toasted nuts add richness and crunch to the top.
Handling: Toast in butter or oil until golden, watching closely so they do not burn.
Adaptation: Slivered almonds, or omit for a nut-free version.
Technique notes
- Spoon a little warm chickpea liquid over the bread layer first so it softens evenly, then top with yogurt.
- Finish with browned butter and toasted nuts poured over the top for a celebratory presentation.
- Layer hot and cold deliberately; the temperature contrast is what makes fatteh special.
Ingredient swaps
- Dairy-free option
- Use a thick coconut yogurt whisked with garlic and tahini.
- Nut-free direction
- Skip the pine nuts and finish with toasted sesame seeds.
- Heartier direction
- Layer in shredded poached chicken for a fuller meal.
Serve alongside
- Fattoush salad
- Pickled vegetables
- Sliced cucumbers and mint
- Olives and feta
- Ayran (salted yogurt drink)
- Mint tea
- Pomegranate juice
Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.
Storage & reheating
- Fatteh is best assembled and eaten immediately, since the bread softens within minutes. Store the components separately in the fridge for up to three days and rebuild fresh. The yogurt layer does not freeze well.
Equipment
- Sheet pan or skillet for toasting
- Whisk
- Small saucepan
- Wide serving dish
Make this household-aware
Listahan Pro checks this recipe against your household's allergens, finds pantry-aware swaps, builds the shopping list, and helps you plan the week around it.
Plan it in Listahan
Add Fatteh to your week, check it against your household's allergens, and build the shopping list automatically.
More Middle Eastern recipes
Middle Eastern Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Halawet El Jibn
A Levantine sweet cheese roll of stretched mozzarella and semolina dough wrapped around rose-scented clotted cream, topped with crushed pistachios and sugar syrup.
Middle Eastern Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Dolma (Warak Enab)
Grape leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice, meat, and herbs.
Middle Eastern Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Mujadara
A comforting dish of cooked lentils together with groats or rice, garnished with sautéed onions.