Food Files: Tabbouleh Salad
“The perfect dressing is essential to the perfect salad, and I see no reason whatsoever for using a bottled dressing, which may have been sitting on the grocery shelf for weeks, even months – even years.” Julia Child
Food Files: Tabbouleh Salad – Fresh, Tart & Tangy Ingredients
Tabbouleh, variously known as Tabbouli, Tabouli, Tabbouleh, and Tabouleh, is a popular Levantine vegetarian dish that so many of us in the West consider a side and/or a Salad. In the Middle East, this delicious tangy dish is offered as a Meze (appetizer) before a full-course meal is served. Since I love foods from around the world and salads hold a special place in my heart, especially as the weather warms, and we look for no-cook, easy-to-make dishes, I decided to share this recipe with you. Of note is that I originally wanted to share a crunchy salad with Romaine lettuce and my favorite power greens ( chard, spinach, kale, and more) but, the greens price spike: due to the recent shortage in lettuce in the USA made me choose to share this dish which, I’m glad to say, remains one of my favorites.
As with any recipe, you can always substitute another similar ingredient to replace one you don’t like or that is unavailable in your area. Since the Tamari is salty, you can use less of it and the Kosher salt or skip one of them. There is nothing rare/exotic on my list. Cukes is really cucumber so pick your favorite kind in your local food store. Every ingredient listed below can be found in a standard supermarket or farmer’s market. The joy of Tabbouleh is that it is a dish made with fresh, local ingredients and, if you can’t get bulgur, you can use couscous.
INGREDIENTS
¼ cup Cracked bulgur
¼ cup Lemon juice
¼ cup Red wine vinegar
¼ cup Olive oil
½ – 1 tbsp Tamari soy sauce
½ tsp Lemon zest
¼ tsp Coarsely ground black pepper
¼- ½ tsp Kosher Salt
½ cup Red onion
½ – 1 stem Scallion onion
½ cup Cukes or gherkins
1-2 bunch Fresh parsley sans stem
1 bunch Fresh mint leaves
2 large/firm Tomatoes
A dash of hot pepper oil
Preparation Below
More Below
“Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.” Brian O’Driscoll
Food Files: Tabbouleh Salad – Fresh, Tart & Tangy Ingredients
PREPARATION
Time from start to serve: 1 hour
What I love about salads in general is that they are easy to prepare, don’t require much cooking, and you can toss and combine almost any combination of ingredients to produce a healthy and even colorful dish. While many see a salad as a side dish or a starter dish, it can be made into an important part of a meal. Simply add your favorite protein and voila! fait accompli.
In a large metal bowl, combine the following ingredients: ¼ cup Cracked bulgur, ¼ cup Lemon juice, ¼ cup Red wine vinegar, ¼ cup Olive oil, ½ – 1 tbsp Tamari soy sauce, ½ tsp Lemon zest and then set aside for about 1-2 hours. The reason is that instead of cooking the bulger and turning it into a mush, by soaking it, you will end up with a slightly crunchy wheat.
As the bulger softens, finely dice and chop the Red onions, Scallion onion, Cukes or gherkins, Fresh parsley, Fresh mint leaves, and Tomatoes. Set aside until your bulger has softened to your taste. Combine all the ingredients, and add your kosher salt and pepper to taste. Add a dash of hot pepper oil if you wish. Refrigerate your salad until ready to serve. Serve with warm slices of Rosemary-infused Foccacia bread, slices of tomatoes, and a protein of your choice. Enjoy! Recipe serves 4
More Recipes: World’s Best Tabbouli / Tabouli / Tabbouleh / Tabouleh Salad
TABOULEH
Have a Happy, Healthy 2017!
Positive Motivation Tip: Food brings people together across cultures and beliefs. Reach out and share your food.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: Some Photos from my Personal Collection except Bulger via Wikipedia, Vegetables via Pixabay
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Will be sure to save this one and try it but I have a question. What is a scallion onion? 😃🐻
It’s a member of the green onion family… Some distinguish it from the green onion by its thin stems
Thanks for the info 😊🐻
A summertime favorite at our house. I love all the contrasting flavors. We’re always looking for variations, so I’m copying this one to try.
Great. Let me know if you like my version… TY! 🙂
I will. Our CFA will be distributing in a month, so yay to local veggies and yummy summer dishes.
Yay! 🙂
I’ve never heard of this type of salad before. It looks and sounds like it would be delicious!
It’s popular globally but especially in the Mid East. You can get in NY and in many immigrant communities.
Oh yummm! I love Tabbouleh!!!
You’re in good company!
Oh, I really love this post! Tabbouleh is one of my all time favorite foods! Whether it’s for a quick bite with pita chips or something more substantial, it definitely is one of my go-to foods! I will try your version! xo, Jessica
Great! Enjoy it.
Those are the cutest cukes that I have seen. This sounds like a yummy dish!
Aren’t they? Such cute heirloom cukes
Wow. This is really healthy. some ingredients are not available in the supermarket near my place. Haven’t heard of bulgur also. But this, surely, is a must try! 🙂
Yes, try it
Wonderful recipe and good information about its origin. I’d crave more if you do a video of how you finish or cook your recipe. Thanks!
Thank you! One day I will… For now, I prefer this medium.
I made this with long grain brown rice instead as we are wheat free and it came out excellent. Cook the rice with a bit of extra water so it cooks till kernels ‘open.’ Was a huge hit at potluck and great for a light summer salad.
So you made a brown rice salad. That’s delicious. Bulgur or couscous are standard to the Tabbouleh so another grain like rice becomes a rice salad. 🙂
My daughter is vegetarian and I am always looking for new food ideas for her. I will share it with her and give this one a try. Not sure I personally would like it as I do not care for raw onions but she does.
Thanks.
Oh you can always modify the dish and skip the onions.
I’ve eaten this kind of salad a few times, whenever my Mum is in the mood for Middle Eastern cuisine. This salad is delicious, and now I can take a stab at preparing it myself, thanks to your recipe. 🙂
Great! I love it too
I am a terrible cook so salad is a big staple of mine. It is easy to make, and I can’t burn it! I will definitely have to try this recipe. Summer is such a great time for salads like this since I get to use veggies from my garden!
You’d enjoy this.
Looks so beautiful and fresh! Bulgar is on my 2017 to-try list, and this looks like a great dish to give it a go, thank you!
You would enjoy it!
Have got to takes some notes on this! never knew about this kind of dish, but definetly looks amazing!
I eat middle eastern cuisine all the time, and this dish is one of my favorites. I love the texture. It’s something you don’t find often in Western cuisine.
True! It has a wonderful texture and taste
I have never tried this before but it sounds like it would be good!
The vegetables in this a super foods, healthy and tasty! Your pictures of this salad are making me super hungry! It’s a great recipe for the summer.
The ingredients and look of the Tabbouleh Salad remind me of Muffaletta. I love Muffaletta so I think I would like Tabbouleh, too. Also, I didn’t know there was a lettuce shortage in the U.S.! Wow! I buy most of my fresh veggies at a local city farmers market. This was good to know!
I LOVE Muffaletta TOO! <3
This is one of my favorite summer salads. It goes with just about anything and you can change up the ingredients foe whatever in season.
I haven’t tried anything even remotely close to this (I had to look up bulgar to see what it was). I am intrigued though, and guessing I would love it!
My salads are always so simple I need to try this one, it looks so healthy an easy to do .
Try it! 🙂
I’ve definitely never had this before – but as a fellow salad lover, I’m certainly curious. Maybe I’ll have a chance to try it out one day when my kids are at school – they’re weird about eating new foods, but I love experimenting in the kitchen.
Give it a try… I think you’d love it. 🙂
This looks really yummy and fresh! I should give it a try! I love salads in the warmer months!
I did not know what Bulgur was at first so I googled it. I guess it is the same as cracked wheat? Anyway, I think this salad will be a favorite in our house. I’d maybe add some more greens too.
Some of the ingredients are unfamiliar but I will still make this salad as soon as I gather everything I need.
Which ingredients are unfamiliar? I’m curious because you can get everything on my list in a standard supermarket.
Mmm, I’ve never heard of tabbouleh salad, but I’d certainly try it. It looks delicious!
I also love salads because there are so many variations of ways to make them. I ate so much salad last summer that I got kind of sick of it but moderation is key.
This looks like a delicious recipe. I can’t wait to try it. I always love a good salad.
I had a tour a few months back in Israel, and your post brought back memories. We visited a lot of other cities and places, and we’ll always have this during our meals. Love this post!
Fantastic and I bet they were all different with special spices added.
I love salads and this looks quite refreshing with the ingredients. Saving this recipe and will try out soon.
It looks like a great salad. I have had some of these salads before. I know they are supposed to be very healthy.
Yes, they are. 🙂
This looks amazing. Now that the weather is nicer I love salads like this!
My husband gets to sample many cultural cuisines. This salad, I would love to try. I don’t think I could find the ingredients completely, but thank you for sharing. _ Colette S
I’ve always enjoyed tabouleh at restaurants. Glad to get to know the stuff behind it.
Tabbouleh salad is something that I choose as a side when I order from one of my favorite Middle Eastern restaurants. I haven’t made it at home for myself yet.
Delicious looking salad! The vegetables in this salad would blend very well together and the cracked wheat gives just the right balance. Great recipe!
It is delicious too. TY! Eileen
I love Tabbouleh Salad. We always get it as a side when we go to Lebanese restaurants.
Oh how wonderful! 🙂
This salad is favorite at home. Its healthy and delicious too.
This sounds like a lovely salad to have for the summer. I think it’s nice that it’s zesty, I like that citrus flavor in my salads. I wouldn’t mind making this and I can have it as a main course instead of an appetizer or a side.
You sure can! 😉
I really enjoy eating salad. Thanks for this recipe. I have another specialty to make.
That is looking amazingly fresh. Perfect for the season. Interesting recipe.
oh this looks yummy! I will have this for dinner! Thanks!
It’s strange you mention the shortage of lettuce in the US because in the UK there was a shortage of brocolli this year. The Tabbouleh Salad looks delicious, so much creation in it!
Really? Interesting. I love Broccoli too.
Maybe if I’m feeling kind I’ll make this for my husband. It sounds like the kind of recipe he’d enjoy but I don’t think I’m adventurous enough 🙂
That salad sounds wonderful. I could see myself eating this outside on my deck on a nice spring day.
This is one of my firm favourites! So healthy and fresh and I love this particular recipe – it’s slightly different from mine
I’ve recently started my fitness and i’m currently in a 90 day challenge. I have a life time of abuse to my body to work through. I’ve been having alot of salads lately so this post couldnt have come at a better time. I cant wait to try this one out
A little different from our classic ta ouleh but I would love to try this out! I freaking love tabbouleh at any time of the day!!
I love Tabbouleh! I made some and added chicken to mine. This, however, looks amazing! I think I am going to have make some more soon!
Recently I am on a strict diet veggies and fruits only. Your recipe looks very tasty and colorful too,
Mmmm I love this. Vegan healthy yum. Your pictures are GORGEOUS as well. Did you take them yourself?
I’ve actually never had this dish before! I’m all about trying new cuisines so will have to try it out!
I am not much of a salad fun but this looks really healthy. I would like to try the tabbouled salad.
This sounds like such a delicious recipe with so many mouth watering ingredients. I think my partner would really enjoy this!
Chelsea
I wish I could eat salads, but I just never could. My husband loves them so I can prepare this one for him. 🙂
This looks so healthy and delicious! I need to make this asap!!
I liked your story about Tabbouleh being an appetizer vs the salad we would normally use it for. We’ve started enjoying a caprese salad (tomato & mozzarella) salad as an appetiser to nibble on while we prepare dinner, or when we know we’ll be eating late. This might be a fun alternative although it’s a bit more work to prepare.
My husband and I are trying to be healthier with the way that we eat. It’s so hard nowadays with all the temptations for deliciousness everywhere we go! However, this looks really good and I bet it tastes just as good as it looks! I would love to try this with my husband!
I definitely love to consume salads that are freshly made. I also love to plant my own vegetables and pick my ingredients from my garden. I am excited to have this recipe and looking forward to making this salad once I am able to harvest my ingredients during the summer.
Tabbouleh is one of my favorite salads! I love the fresh taste .. lots of colors .. it’s easy to make .. and not to mention delicious! (ps: Love the Julia Child quote!)
This salad looks delicious! I eat salad everyday for lunch or dinner so I’m always looking for new ideas and inspirations!
I love tabbouleh and this is the perfect spring/summer salad. I look forward to making it for events!
wow i love salads and this recipe looks really interesting and something new to try
I love how healthy and fresh the salad looks. This would be especially delicious during warmer months 🙂 x
This is just pure awesome. I love salads especially during the warmer days of the year. It’s also a great way to enjoy fresh produce! This one is definitely worth a try, I am keeping the recipe! I really appreciate that you shared this with us.
Tabbouleh Salad is something I honestly have never heard of. It looks interesting though. I also did not realzie there was a shortage of lettuce, but ti makes sense. We were int eh grocery store a few weeks ago and there was no lettuce. I thought it was strange!
That does look delicious. I’ve bookmarked it for inspiration in the future!
Oh, I really love this post! I think I’ve never tasted Tabbouleh! But a very great blog.. I’ve to try it seriously after reading this blog. Nice directions by the way.
Traditional salad such as tabbouleh is one best nutritional foods!
The ingredients that go into this salad are amazing! I think I have tried making it a few times, but my family doesn’t eat a lot of herbs or grains except for rice. I wish I could make some of this more often – I love the freshness of it and the acidity – just a perfect addition to a Mediterranean menu!
I must try this salad, look easy to prepare and very nutritious.
Great dish. I can surprise my boyfriend, he is vegetarian and sometimes it’s hard for me to cook for him, but I hope he will like this.
This is the first time that I heard about this and looks a yummy salad. Glad you share this with us
We love salad but we are used to eating salads with the bottled dressing or mayo.I should try this recipe soon 🙂
My mama loves this kind of recipe since she loves veggies so much. I sharing this awesome post.
Ha! I grew up on this stuff because my parents love it! I’ll have to try out your recipe to see if there’s a little bit of difference : ) thanks! (you brought me down memory lane!)
This colorful salad would be a perfect treat in Spring/Summer to beat the heat and delight taste buds! The recipe looks simple and easy to make!
I love that its a salad, but doesnt look like the pretty boring ones I’m used to. Definitely going to try this one out!
Looks good and I am already drooling lol! I love broccoli and I don’t even cook it, just love eating!
Love Tabouleh! Its been a while since i made it though! Gonna try this recipe too!:)
Being a college student, it`s often easier to eat out. Eating salads as part of my meals is something I hope to do very soon.
❀ Grace ❀
Bookmarking this!!! Kind of unique salad recipe compared to the usual ones that we get in restaurants. Very refreshing!
Looks yummm and healthy! I guess the cauliflower rice can also be used as a substitute instead of Bulgur or Couscous.
I love this and I am always looking for new and healthy things to get my family to eat that taste good! This looks just scrumptious and I will have to try it out! Yum!
This is a bit of an unusual recipe for Tabouleh. I’ve never seen it with redwine vinegar, cucumber or tamari before and I’ve been to the Middle East many times.
This looks delicious and just packed with nutrients!! I would love to try it, just not sure my children would go for it like I would!!
This is one healthy dish I’ve actually never made. This recipe makes it sound easy. I just might try it!
This sounds a unique salad.I always love to prepare salads at home.As said at the beginning,the dressing makes the perfect salad!
I love tabbouleh, it is a healthy and delicious salad, I can almost eat it all day long and never get bored.
My mouth is watering already at the sight of this. In the mid to southern Philippines we have this salad we call “kamote tops” using the leaves of sweet potatoes mixed with vinegar, soy sauce, tomatoes, and green mangoes. I feel you will love it too.
Would really want to try this. I just hope I can find the ingredients here where I am. The name is unusual and I like it
Yes! I do agree with what Mark Twain said about travel, because when we step out from our comfort zone we’ll be opened to many different things that make us realized we should do this or we should not do this. A lot to learn in this world.
I love tabbouleh and this recipe sounds amazing! I’ll definitely have to give it a try!
I’ve never heard of Tabbouleh, nor have I seen it in the local supermarket. But now that I know how it looks like, I will be more aware and try spotting it! Hope to be able to find it!
The salad looks really good! Would love to have some. Thanks for sharing the recipe. (P.S. I agree with Julia Child.)
Wow, i have just seen this kind of Salad actually, but looks so luscious and tempting. I truly appreciate the complete Recipe that you had included in your post, this might be a help if I get to try making that kind of Salad as well. Thank you for sharing!
It looks so delicious, I bet it tastes soo good! Can’t help but drool and it’s very healthy!
I absolutely love tabbouleh. When I was a kid, we always had some ready in the fridge and it was just so nice for dinner in summer. This recipe is so cool, it’s bringing so much memories! I’ll defo try it out!
This salad recipe looks so good! I can’t wait to try this someday. Thanks a lot for sharing this recipe!