Tabbouleh Recipe - Lebanese Recipes

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Tabbouleh

Lebanese Tabbouleh with Couscous
Tabbouleh

I have been making a lot of salads in the recent past. The other day, I made a couscous based Lebanese recipe, Tabbouleh. Light on the stomach, filling and healthy vegetarian/vegan salad. I enjoy Middle Eastern cuisine especially the pita bread, shawarma wraps, baba gonuash (made with eggplant), falafel, hummus, fattoush, tahini and baklava to name a few. In fact, I am hoping to blog my favorite Middle Eastern recipes as a series similar to the Chaat recipes I blogged two years ago.

The authentic version of Tabbouleh recipe calls for the use of Bulgur, which is basically partially steamed wheat kernels/wheat berries that are dried, coarsely ground and sifted to various sizes ranging from very fine to very coarse. Bulgur is high in fiber with a light, sweet and nutty flavor and chewy texture. Since its precooked, Bulgur is done by pouring boiling water over it and letting it to sit for a few minutes with a lid. It is often confused with cracked wheat which is not precooked like Bulgur. Bulgur is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine and is an essential ingredient in the Lebanese classic salad, Tabbouleh recipe, along with olive oil and lots of parsely.

how to make tabbouleh
Ingredients to make Tabbouleh

Fine Bulgur is used in the authentic Tabbouleh recipe. Since I did not have Bulgur on hand, I have substituted it with Couscous which is a grain type of pasta made from wheat or sometimes from other grains such as barley, millet, sorghum or maize, and is a staple in North African cuisine. Its hard to find Bulgur or Couscous in India but they can be easily substituted with Dalia aka cracked Wheat aka Bansi Rava. Parsley can be substituted with fresh coriander leaves.

tabbouleh with couscous
Lebanese Vegetarian Salad ~ Tabbouleh

Tabbouleh

  Prepare time:  Cook:  Serves: 3  Cuisine: Lebanese couscous,lebanese-recipes,tabbouleh,All Recipes,Lebanese Recipes,Middle Eastern Recipes,Recipes Vegetable Dishes,Salad Recipes
5 stars based on 5 reviews

 Ingredients

  •   Bulgur 1/4 cup (substitute with couscous or cracked wheat/dalia)
  •   Boiling water 1/2 cup
  •   Parsley 1 cup, finely chopped and tightly packed (substitute with fresh coriander leaves)
  •   Mint 1/2 cup, finely chopped
  •   Onion 1/2, finely chopped
  •   Tomatoes 3, finely chopped, allow the water to drain
  •   Lemon juice 3-4 tbsps
  •   Olive oil 2 tbsp
  •   Salt to taste
  •   Cinnamon powder large pinch (optional)
  •   Pepper powder pinch

Method for making Tabbouleh

  1. Bring water to a boil. Add salt to taste and bulgur or couscous. Remove from heat and place lid. Keep aside for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove lid and use a fork to loosen the fluffy bulgur/couscous. Keep aside.

  2. In a bowl, add chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, chopped parsley, chopped mint, olive oil, lemon juice, pepper powder and cinnamon powder and mix.

  3. Add the bulgur or couscous and mix. Serve immediately.

Tips

  •   If using cracked wheat instead of bulgur or couscous, bring 1 3/4 cups of water to a boil, add 1/2 cup of cracked wheat and stir constantly for 2 mts. Reduce flame, place lid and cook on simmer for 10-15 mts till done.
  •   Do not use the stems of mint or parsley or coriander leaves. Finely chop the leaves only.
  •   I like to have more couscous in my tabbouleh, so I used 1/2 cup instead of 1/4 cup.
By Published: Tabbouleh recipe is a classic Lebanese vegetarian salad prepared with bulgur and fresh parsely. Lebanese recipes are popular in India and I especially relish hummus and baklava.