Have you ever taken a bite of something so delicious that it transported you to another world? That is the power of Tabbouli (tabbouleh), a refreshing and flavorful Middle Eastern salad that has been winning over taste buds for centuries.
Made with fresh ingredients like parsley, tomatoes, and bulgur, Tabbouli offers a burst of flavors and textures that will leave you wanting more. So grab a fork and let's dig into some Tabbouli.
This simple side dish is so refreshing in summer when cucumbers and tomatoes are in their prime. The hardest part is waiting for the grains to cook or soak.
Traditionally tabbouli is made with bulgur or cracked wheat, which can be ready in 5 to 45 minutes depending if you choose fine, medium or coarse grind.
Don't feel forced to use cracked wheat. I have also used barley; or you could use couscous or quinoa which both cook very rapidly.
Ingredients for Tabbouli
The ingredients are pretty simple to find. The bulgur will be with the other grains like rice, couscous, barley, etc.
Fresh herbs and firm tomatoes are a must for this. Especially the fresh parsley.
- cooked bulgur (cracked wheat)
- tomatoes
- cucumber
- green onions
- fresh parsley
- fresh mint
- lemon juice
- olive oil (or other vegetable oil)
- salt and pepper to taste
Optional ingredients:
- chopped black or green olives
- chopped celery
- chopped artichoke hearts
More Middle Eastern Recipes from Our Family Table
Let's travel to the Middle East and treat our tastebuds to some delicious flavor combinations:
Easy Middle Eastern Food Recipes
- Ghorayeba by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Kufta in Tahini Sauce with Efficiency Tricks by Art of Natural Living
- Nan e Barbari | Persian Flat Bread by Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Palestinian Musakhan Made Easy by Pandemonium Noshery
- Shakshuka by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Tabbouli by That Recipe
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Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked bulgur (cracked wheat), couscous, quinoa, or barley
- 2 medium tomatoes (diced)
- 1 medium cucumber (peeled, seeded and diced)
- ½ cup green onions with tops (chopped)
- ½ cup fresh parsley (chopped)
- ¼ cup fresh mint (chopped)
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
OPTIONAL
- 2 tablespoons black or green olives (chopped)
- ¼ cup celery (chopped)
- 2-3 cooked artichoke hearts (chopped)
Instructions
- Prepare bulgur or other grain according to package directions.2 cups cooked bulgur (cracked wheat), couscous, quinoa, or barley
- Combine bulgur, vegetables, and herbs in a medium bowl. Add optional ingredients if using.2 medium tomatoes, 1 medium cucumber, ½ cup green onions with tops, ½ cup fresh parsley, ¼ cup fresh mint
- In a small bowl whisk together lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper. Immediately pour over salad ingredients and toss gently to coat.¼ cup lemon juice, ¼ cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Place in refrigerator and chill for 1 hour. Serve on individual salad plates or on a platter over a bed of lettuce leaves. Garnish with sprigs of fresh mint and a slice of lemon and tomato.
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Hezzi-D
We love tabbouli but I've never made it before...definitely giving this a try!
Karen
This sounds so refreshing, herby ,nutritious, and delicious!
Inger @ Art of Natural Liivng
Looks so good! I need to make this more often!
Christie
I've always seen it on the menu, but I've never ordered it. I don't know why. It looks delicious! I think I need to add this to my menu.