When I’m looking for a fresh and light salad that won’t weigh me down, I make Israeli salad, quinoa salad and this classic tabbouleh (also known as tabouli!). My local Mediterranean restaurant makes the most delicious platter with hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, spanakopita, olives and many other delicious specialties. I wanted to make these delicious appetizers at home. I researched and taste tested in the kitchen to develop my favorite versions of these recipes. The project was a success and I developed some fantastic recipes! Seriously, I make them all the time! My fresh, homemade hummus is rich, creamy and delicious. This baba ghanoush is the very best version I have ever tasted. I balance these dips with my cool and delicious tzatziki sauce. All these dips are great paired with some pita bread and hot spanakopita or falafel. I also developed a light and refreshing tabbouleh. It’s versatile side dish that’s easy to make and bursting with flavor! If you want to serve these for a special dinner or party with a fancier presentation, check out my Mediterranean mezze platter.
Tabbouleh Ingredients
To make tabbouleh you will need bulgur wheat, parsley, tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, mint, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.
How Do You Make Tabbouleh?
This recipe starts with bulgur wheat, which soaks in hot water until it’s soft and tender. The bulgur is combined with finely chopped parsley, tomatoes, green onions, cucumber and mint. A simple mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper serves as the dressing for this dish. Chill the salad until you’re ready to serve it, then enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Tabbouleh Salad
Bulgur wheat is available in most grocery stores. I typically buy mine in the bulk bins. This recipe requires quite a bit of chopping to get the fine texture that’s so traditional with this salad. To save a little time, you can use the food processor to chop the parsley. I like to use English cucumbers in this dish, but small Persian cucumbers are also a great choice. The fresh mint leaves in this salad are an optional addition. I like the fresh taste mint provides, but it can sometimes be a little strong for some people.
Salad Variations
This is the traditional way to serve tabbouleh, but I sometimes add other ingredients to my salad to turn it into more of a main course offering.
Protein: Try adding chopped cooked chicken or shrimp to your salad. Cheese: I like to add 1/2 cup finely crumbled feta cheese to the mix. Beans: This salad is great with the addition of 1 cup of canned chickpeas. Vegetables: You can add other finely chopped veggies such as bell peppers, red onion, or try using cherry tomatoes instead of diced tomatoes. You can use flat-leaf parsley if you don’t have curly parsley.
Tabbouleh salad is a unique and unexpected offering for parties, potlucks or any other event where you need a lighter salad to accompany the meal.
Tabbouleh Salad Video
