Tabbouleh is a delicious blend of bulgar wheat, parsley, lemon, tomatoes and an olive oil heavy dressing. A finely chopped salad, its a zesty and light side dish that goes perfectly with chicken skewers or fish and it's an easy side dish for a BBQ.
If you have ever been in a Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurant, then you will have seen tabbouleh on the menu and hopefully you have ordered it as it is incredible. But, it's really easy to make yourself with just a few ingredients and it is vegan too. The fresh parsley and mint really are the star of this dish.
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What is Tabbouleh?
Tabbouleh is a vegetarian salad originating from The Levant, made mostly of finely chopped parsley, with bulgur, mint, spring onion, tomatoes and seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Some variations add garlic or lettuce.
Why You Will Love It
- Low calorie and low carb
- Really easy to make
- Great for BBQs
- Delicious with chicken skewers or grilled fish
Ingredients and SUbstitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Parsley - You will need a lot of parsley for this recipe, as it really is the star. Make sure to wash it well in cold water and then allow it to dry. You can use a salad spinner to dry it - this can also be done the day before. We used flat leaf parsley, but you can use curly. Check out our tips for cutting parsley below.
- Bulgar wheat - You will need to use fine bulgar wheat - this is the smallest you will be able to find. It is a similar size to couscous and it will be found in the same section of the supermarket.
- Fresh mint - Although parsley is the main herb, mint adds some extra freshness to it. It can be left out though if you prefer.
- Spring onions - This gives a nice subtle onion flavour, as well as adding some extra colour and crunch.
- Olive oil - Try to use the best quality olive oil that you can, as you really will be able to tell the difference.
- Lemons - Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best for this recipe.
- Tomatoes - This recipe is best made at the end of summer when tomatoes are at their best. You can't beat really ripe and juicy tomatoes, not hard and tasteless ones.
- Cucumber - You won't always find this in tabbouleh recipes, but we love the added chunkiness that it gives.
More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.
Step by Step Instructions
One: Cook the bulgar wheat according to the packet instructions. This will take around 20 minutes.
Two: Put all the other ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
Three: Add the cooked bulgar wheat and mix well again.
Four: Refrigerate before serving (at least 2 hours is best). Give another stir before serving.
Parsley in Tabbouleh
Parsley makes up the large part of any tabbouleh recipe, so it is important to get this bit right. We have used flat leaf parsley in this dish.
You will also need A LOT more than you think. Once chopped, the volume of parsley reduces greatly, so aim for about 60-80g (about 3 cups) per person.
As for cutting the parsley, it needs do be done in a slicing motion, rather than chopping. The chopping motion of a knife can somewhat squash the parsley, making it mushy. The same can be said for using a mezzaluna, so avoid those too. Use the sharpest knife you have and slice the parsley as finely as possible.
What Else to Add
As said above, onions and tomatoes make up some of this dish, but you can add more if you wish. Chopped cucumber, bell pepper, courgette (zucchini), olives, broccoli and mangetout (snow peas), all go well, but are far from traditional.
Chickpeas make a good addition, giving a nice creamy texture. The addition of nuts and/or seeds, such as sunflower seeds or flaked almonds will add a nice texture to the dish.
You can even add fruit if you wish, such as sultanas, dried cranberries or pomegranate jewels. You can even add some finely diced apple or pear. Feta is always a good addition on top of this salad.
What to Serve it With
Tabbouleh is typically a side dish, served chilled or at room temperature. It is a perfect accompaniment to other Middle Eastern foods, or as part of a meze set up. Some items that you could serve with tabbouleh are:
- Flatbreads
- Dips, such as Hummus, Baba Ganoush or Tzatziki.
- Falafal
- Fattoush Salad
- Lahmacun (Spiced Lamb Flatbread)
- Chickpea Stew
- Chicken Skewers
Extra Tips
- Cut the parsley in a slicing motion, rather than chopping.
- When refrigerating, drain as much liquid as possible.
- For extra protein, add some chickpeas.
- For a gluten free option you could make a quinoa tabbouleh instead of using bulgar wheat.
- Use really ripe and fresh tomatoes in this dish, as you will really taste the difference.
- For best results, put the tabbouleh in the fridge for at least 2 hours to allow the flavours to come together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this is a super healthy salad. It's low in calories and parley is an anti-inflammatory, which can help to boost your immune system. The bulgar wheat is a good source of fibre too.
Although traditionally it is made with bulgur wheat, you could use couscous, rice or pearl barley or any other grain instead if you don't have bulgur wheat on hand. Why not try quinoa tabbouleh?
The bulgar wheat isn't the main ingredient in this like other grain salads, the parsley is the star here. The bulgar wheat should just add some extra texture and make it a little more filling. It also soaks up all that delicious olive oil and lemon juice dressing too.
Yes, you can make it ahead of time and it's actually our preference. We like to make it 2-3 hours before we are going to serve it and store it in an air tight container in the fridge as it really allows all the flavours to come together.
You can keep tabbouleh in the fridge in an airtight container for no more than 2 days. Before refrigerating, it is important to try and drain some of the juice first, to prevent it going soggy.
More Middle Eastern Recipes
If you’ve tried this tabbouleh recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
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Recipe
Tabbouleh
Ingredients
- 240 g (4 cups) Fresh parsley - finely sliced
- 80 g (0.5 cups) Bulgur wheat
- 25 g (0.5 cups) Fresh mint - finely chopped
- 6 (1) Spring onion (Scallion) - finely sliced
- 2 Tomatoes - very finely diced
- 180 g (6 oz) Cucumber - very finely diced
- 2 (1) Lemons - juice only
- 90 ml (0.33 cups) Olive oil
- 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the bulgar wheat according to the packet instructions. This will take around 20 minutes.
- Put all the other ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
- Add the cooked bulgar wheat and mix well again.
- Refrigerate before serving (at least 2 hours is best). Give another stir before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Cut the parsley in a slicing motion, rather than chopping.
- When refrigerating, drain as much liquid as possible.
- For extra protein, add some chickpeas.
- For a gluten free option you could make a quinoa tabbouleh instead of using bulgar wheat.
- Use really ripe and fresh tomatoes in this dish, as you will really taste the difference.
- For best results, put the tabbouleh in the fridge for 2 hours to allow the flavours to come together.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Kechi says
This might be the most impressive TABBOULEH I have seen! So much flavor and color! This is going into my meal plan for this week, thanks for sharing!
Beth Sachs says
One of my favourite summer side dishes and so simple to make. Great recipe.
Mahy says
I love how easy you made the whole process. It is one of my favorite dishes, and I can't wait to give yours a try!
Farah Abumaizar says
We eat tabbouleh allll the time where I live but I've always been intimidated to make it. Not anymore! Seems so simple and delicious, can't wait to try!
Alex says
Of all the food in the world, the tabbouleh is one of my absolute favorites. I feel like I am eating pure health. Thank you for the recipe!
Emily says
We are making this for dinner tonight. Can't wait!
Jackie says
It is my birthday next week and we are having a bbq/picnic thing, so I will make this. Thanks for sharing Danni.
Kristin says
I love ordering this when we go to our local lebanese restaurant. Nice to know it is easy enough to make.
Rachel says
Beautiful! I love your photos.
Faye says
I am really enjoying your BBQ recipes. Now we actually have some decent weather here in the UK, we can finally have a BBQ. Are you in the UK too?