Tabouli salad is the darling of all Mediterranean salads. Not for its simplicity only, but for its rich and tangy flavors. A handful of ingredients and you are off to an edible garden right on your dinner table.
Tabbouleh salad is my absolute favorite salad to make and eat, in the Levantine area, no banquet or gathering is completer without Tabulah. Scoop Tabouli, the traditional way with Romaine lettuce, or simply enjoy it with a fork. Delicious, lemony and full of addicting earthy flavors.
Best served with grilled meat(s) such as this juicy kofta kebab or oven-baked drumsticks.
Tabouli Salad
I fell hard for this salad when I was just 9 years old!. It is strange that I got hooked at such a young age. This shows you how much I am into lemony dishes. Tabulah was not popular in Egypt back in the early 80s. We were at a Palestinian's friend house for dinner and she made it, my mom happily left with a recipe that has been a favorite since then.
These days you can see lots of Tabouli recipes online, with quinoa with couscous and even one with apples!. These were the words of one angry Lebanese friend, who is thinking that Tabouli is being abused on the internet. Although I am a fan of recipe renewal and thinking outside the usual, challenging yourself ans stepping out of boundaries. She got a point guys, all those other recipes should say " Tabouli inspired" :).
The good news is, I got you some great tips from my friend for an authentic Lebanese Tabouli recipe. Tabouli is a labor of love, it requires patience and practice to finely chop everything, but the reward is a fantastic bowl that everyone will rave about
How healthy is tabouli?
Tabouli is known for being a healthy vegan recipe that is loaded with fibers, minerals and healthy fats. The fat in the olive oil is unsaturated fat hence it is not the harmful one.
How do you eat tabouli?
Traditionally, tabouli is scooped or wrapped in Romaine lettuce. You can also have it with a fork. It makes a great side dish with falafel and also grilled meats.
Is tabbouleh served hot or cold?
Cold, I've never seen it served hot or room temperature. It is always chilled. If you have sensitive teeth though, you can serve it room temperature.
Tabouli salad tips and tricks:
- Do not use food processor: When it comes to chopping Tabouli, no one can beat my mom, really she is a pro in this. I do not know how she does this but she can chop parsley very very finely- of course her kitchen turns into a mess afterwords. Being always busy with my work back in Egypt, when I tried to make tabbouleh I used my food processor trying not to make a mush out of the parsley. So never, never ever use a food processor, this was very offensive to my Lebanese friend when she knew 😄.
- Do not add cucumber: this one was really a surprise for me.. what!! no cucumber. She told me you can add cucumber but don't you dare call it tabbouleh, tabbouleh salad does not have cucumber in it.
- Do not use pomegranate molasses: well, usually I do not, but I know people who do use it like my sister. So for tabbouleh use only lime juice.
- Do not soak bulgur: yes, this was another surprising fact about authentic tabbouleh, bulgur should only be rinsed several times and that's it.
- Add salt only before serving: when you add salt long before serving you'll find tabbouleh swimming in a puddle of water and the veggies will be soggy , parsley and mint will not look wilted.
- Use hard tomatoes and chop everything finely:chop onions and tomatoes finely and try to use the hardest tomatoes you can find.
How do you make Tabouli?
What goes into Tabouli?
Tabouli salad: step by step
- In the bottom of a large bowl, combine washed bulgur with dry mint if using. Some people like using special Arabic spices i.e "Baharat".
- Pour over the lemon juice.
- Mix bulgur, mint and lemon juice well together. This was the bulgur is soaked in lemon juice and not in water which will give it a distinct taste.
- Add finely chopped tomato as a layer over the bulgur and do not mix it in. Tomato will release water which will also acts as a soaking liquid for the bulgur.
- Layer green onions on top of the tomato layer.
- Finally top all those with a huge layer of parsley. Again do not mix anything. Cover and refrigerate.
- Before serving by 30 minutes to 1 hour, take the bowl out, uncover, notice how the parsley and veggies are not wilted?
- Add salt to your liking but I highly recommend the amount I went for. Tabouli should be a bit salty.
- Pour a hefty amount of olive oil over.
- Now make sure to mix everything well together. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
Serve Tabouli with
You may need
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This vegetables chopper helps me a lot around the kitchen and I've used the small blade for veggies in this recipe.
Tabouli Salad Recipe
Taboui salad, is a famous recipe in the Lebanese cuisine. Tabouli is a labor of love as it requires a LOT of finely chopping.
If you like this recipe do not forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and attach a photo of your finished dish. It is always a pleasure of mine to see your photos and check your own take of the recipe. Thank you.
Tabouli Salad
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (70g) fine #1 bulgur wheat.
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice. (Note1)
- 2 Tablespoons (4g) dry mint. (Note2).
- 3-4 firm Roma tomatoes finely diced.
- 5 green onions (65g) cleaned trimmed and sliced (white and green).
- 3 bunches (330g) fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped.
- 1/2 cup (120ml) olive oil.
- 1 1/2 7g teaspoon salt.
Instructions
- Wash bulgur thoroughly, do not soak, drain. Place in a deep bowl.
- Pour over lemon juice and dry mint if using, mixing them all well. (Note3)
- Layer the other ingredients as follows, tomatoes, green onions and parsley.
If you are serving it right away (not recommended):
- Let it set for about 30 minutes.
- Add salt and oil, mix everything well together and refrigerate for at least an hour.
- If you are serving it after 8 hours or more (recommended):
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
- Before serving by one hour, add salt, oil then mix everything well and refrigerate again for 1 hour.
- Serve with romaine leaves or eat it by a fork.
I fell in love with this from a local Arabian restaurant/store that sells everything from the middle east. I'm thankful you have a recipe so I can make it myself. Thank you for your recipes.
Thanks Elizabeth, I hope you'll like it.
Thank you, Amira. This is the flavor I remember from growing up. Comforting and fresh tasting. I am looking forward to trying your other recipes.
Cucumbers are used. Just depends on which region you are from. There is no rule that it cannot be used. It is widely used in the mountains of Lebanon. The standard dressing is as listed but in certain parts of the Middle East, other things are used e.g pomegranate syrup. I do not use that.
Thank you, Tom for the valuable information. I used to add cucumber to my tabouli until my friend told me not to :). I love pomegranate syrup and I am gonna try to add it next time.
This recipe is perfect. Tastes like my Lebanese mother in-law used to make it.
Thank Teresa for your feedback, I am happy you liked it.
I learned to make Tabouli from my 1st husband, who was from Syria. He always put cucumbers in his, so I have always put it in mine. I also use the lemon juice for the wheat, and have never followed the directions on the box for preparing it (they say add boiling water and cover for 5 minutes). I didn't have tomatoes once, when I made it, so I left them out. I like it better without the tomatoes! I also don't use the olive oil, as I don't like the flavor. I've learned that you can vary a lot of things and it still tastes good.
Sure thing, we all have different taste buds and as I always say make the recipe as is the first time then venture out and experiment.. Thanks you for your suggestions Kimberly.