Tabbouleh Recipe: A Fresh and Healthy Middle Eastern Salad


Tabbouleh is a light and refreshing salad that’s bursting with amazing flavour and packed with nutritious ingredients. This traditional Middle Eastern dish is a celebration of fresh herbs, bulgur wheat, and zesty lemon. It makes the perfect side dish or light meal. Whether you’re following the Mediterranean diet, or you simply want to add a nutritious salad to your weekly rotation. This easy tabbouleh recipe will become a go-to favourite.

What is Tabbouleh?

Tabbouleh is a classic salad from the Levantine region of the Middle East, primarily enjoyed in countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Traditionally, it’s made with finely chopped parsley, fresh mint, diced tomatoes, green onions, and bulgur wheat, all tossed in a light lemon and olive oil dressing. It’s a vegan, dairy-free, and fibre-rich salad that’s not only delicious but incredibly nutritious.


Why You’ll Love This Tabbouleh Recipe:

  • Nutritious & Healthy: Packed with fresh herbs, whole grains, and a citrusy dressing, tabbouleh is full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It’s also low in calories and high in fibre.
  • Quick & Easy: This recipe is ready in under 30 minutes, making it a great choice for busy weeknights or meal prep.
  • Versatile: Serve it as a side with grilled meats like lamb kofta, or enjoy it as a light lunch with pita bread or hummus. It’s also the perfect addition to a mezze platter.

Ingredients for Authentic Tabbouleh:

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious tabbouleh recipe:

  • ½ cup fine bulgur wheat – Bulgur is a key ingredient in tabbouleh and gives it a nice, chewy texture. Fine bulgur absorbs the lemon and olive oil beautifully without needing to be cooked.
  • 2 cups fresh parsley, finely chopped – The star of the show! Flat-leaf parsley works best for an authentic tabbouleh flavour.
  • ½ cup fresh mint, finely chopped – Adds a refreshing note to the salad.
  • 1 large tomato, diced – The juicier, the better.
  • 1 small Lebanese cucumber, finely chopped – not traditional but adds extra crunch and freshness.
  • 2 green shallots (scallions), finely chopped – Adds a mild onion flavour without overpowering the salad.
  • Juice of 2 lemons – The fresh lemon juice gives tabbouleh its signature tang.
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil – Opt for extra virgin olive oil for the best flavour.
  • Salt and pepper to taste – Adjust to your liking for a perfectly seasoned salad.

Tips for the Best Tabbouleh:

  • Chop finely: The finer you chop the herbs and vegetables, the better the texture and flavour of the tabbouleh.
  • Use fresh ingredients: Fresh parsley, mint, and lemon juice make all the difference in the flavour of this dish.
  • Bulgur substitution: If you’re gluten-free, you can substitute the bulgur with quinoa or cauliflower rice for a similar texture.
  • Allow the salad to rest: Tabbouleh tastes even better after it’s had time to sit and the flavours have blended, so make it ahead of time if possible.

Serving Suggestions:

Tabbouleh is incredibly versatile and pairs well with many dishes. Serve it as a side with grilled meats like our delicious lamb kofta, chicken shawarma, or fish. You can also add it to a mezze platter alongside hummus, baba ganoush, and falafel for a full Middle Eastern feast.

For a lighter meal, enjoy tabbouleh with pita bread or stuff it into a wrap with hummus and vegetables for a fresh and filling lunch.


Health Benefits of Tabbouleh:

Thanks to its simple and wholesome ingredients, tabbouleh is packed with health benefits:

  • Rich in vitamins: Parsley and mint are loaded with vitamins A, C, and K, which support immunity, eye health, and bone health.
  • High in fibre: Bulgur wheat provides a healthy dose of dietary fibre, which aids digestion and keeps you feeling full.
  • Low in calories: Despite its nutrient density, tabbouleh is low in calories, making it a great option for those looking to eat lighter meals.
  • Plant-based and vegan: This salad is naturally vegan, making it a fantastic option for plant-based diets. You can also add some chickpeas for a fuller meal.

Try This Tabbouleh Recipe Today!

With its bright flavours, fresh herbs, and healthy ingredients, tabbouleh is a delicious and nutritious salad that’s easy to prepare and perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or looking for a quick weekday side, this authentic Middle Eastern tabbouleh recipe is sure to impress.

Looking for more Mediterranean-inspired recipes? Be sure to check out our Lamb Kofta and Hummus recipes to complete the meal!

Tabbouleh

Tabbouleh is a fresh, zesty, and nutritious Middle Eastern salad that's packed with parsley, mint, bulgur wheat, tomatoes, and a refreshing lemon-olive oil dressing.
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Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Levantine, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Keyword: Asian Chicken Salad, Parsley Salad, Tabbouleh, Tabouleh
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 186kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Salad Bowl
  • 1 small mixing bowl

Ingredients

  • ½ cup fine bulgur wheat
  • 2 cups parsley finely chopped
  • ½ cup fresh mint finely chopped
  • 1 large tomato diced
  • 2 green onions finely chopped
  • 1 small cucumber finely diced (optional)
  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice fresh
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Prepare the bulgur wheat:

  • Place the bulgur wheat in a bowl and pour over ½ cup of boiling water. Cover and let it sit for 10 minutes until the water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and let cool.

Chop the herbs and vegetables:

  • Finely chop the parsley, mint, tomato, cucumber and green onions. The key to great tabbouleh is finely chopping the ingredients to allow all the flavours to combine evenly.

Mix the salad:

  • In a large bowl, combine the chopped parsley, mint, tomato, cucumber and green onions with the cooled bulgur wheat.

Dress the salad:

  • Pour the lemon juice and olive oil over the salad, and season with salt and pepper. Toss everything together until well combined.

Let it rest:

  • Allow the salad to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. This helps the flavours meld together beautifully.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 470mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3162IU | Vitamin C: 49mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 3mg


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