Tabbouleh Salad Recipe
Tabbouleh Salad is a vibrant, refreshing Middle Eastern favourite made with fresh parsley, mint, bulgur, cucumber, tomatoes and spring onions, all tossed in a zesty lemon and olive oil dressing. This colourful Salad Recipes favourite is light, healthy and perfect for lunch, mezze platters, family meals or summer gatherings.
Equipment
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
- 1 Medium Saucepan –
- 1 Sharp Chef’s Knife
- 1 Chopping Board
- 1 WhiskFork
- 1 Serving Spoon:
Ingredients
- 3 cups finely chopped curly parsley
- ⅓ cup fresh mint leaves - finely chopped
- ⅔ cup cooked bulgur wheat
- 1 cup diced English cucumber
- 1 cup cored and diced tomatoes
- 2 spring onions - finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove - finely grated
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ⅓ cup olive oil - extra-virgin
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
- A pinch of ground cinnamon
- Water - as needed for preparing bulgur
Instructions
🌾 Step 1: Prepare The Bulgur
- 🍲 Place the required amount of water in a saucepan and bring it to a boil.
- 🌾 Stir in the coarse bulgur, cover the saucepan, and remove it from the heat.
- ⏱️ Leave it covered for approximately 20–30 minutes, or until the bulgur becomes tender.
- 🍴 Drain any excess water and fluff the bulgur gently with a fork.
- ❄️ Transfer the bulgur to a bowl and allow it to cool completely before assembling the Tabbouleh Salad.
- Fine bulgur can also be soaked in water for approximately 20 minutes until tender, depending on the type you are using.
🌿 Step 2: Prepare The Herbs
- 🔪 Wash the parsley thoroughly and dry it as well as possible.
- 🌿 Remove any particularly thick parsley stems.
- 🔪 Finely chop the parsley by hand.
- 🌱 Finely chop the mint leaves.
- 🚫 Avoid using a food processor, as aggressive processing can bruise the herbs and create a wetter texture.
- ✨ Finely chopped herbs give the Tabbouleh Salad its distinctive texture and appearance.
🥒 Step 3: Prepare The Vegetables
- 🥒 Dice the cucumber into small, even pieces.
- 🍅 Core and dice the tomatoes.
- 🧅 Finely chop the spring onions.
- 🧄 Finely grate the garlic clove.
- 💧 Drain away any excess liquid if the tomatoes or cucumber are particularly watery.
🍋 Step 4: Make The Dressing
- 🥣 Add the extra-virgin olive oil to a small mixing bowl.
- 🍋 Pour in the fresh lemon juice.
- 🧄 Add the grated garlic.
- 🧂 Sprinkle in the sea salt.
- 🌿 Add the ground coriander.
- ✨ Add a tiny pinch of ground cinnamon.
- 🥄 Whisk everything together until well combined.
- This bright lemon-and-olive-oil dressing gives the Tabbouleh Salad its fresh, tangy character.
🥗 Step 5: Combine The Salad
- 🥣 Place the chopped parsley and mint into a large mixing bowl.
- 🥒 Add the cucumber, tomatoes, and spring onions.
- 🌾 Add the cooled bulgur.
- 🍋 Pour the dressing over the ingredients.
- 🥄 Gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
- 🧂 Taste and adjust the salt or lemon juice if necessary.
❄️ Step 6: Chill And Serve
- 🥗 Cover the bowl and refrigerate the Tabbouleh Salad until ready to serve.
- ⏱️ Allowing the salad to rest gives the herbs, vegetables, bulgur and dressing time to mingle.
- 🌡️ Serve chilled or allow it to sit briefly at room temperature before serving.
- ✨ Give the salad one final gentle toss before serving.
Notes
- 🌿 Use Fresh Herbs: Choose fresh, vibrant parsley and mint for the best flavour, aroma, and colour in your Tabbouleh Salad.
- 🔪 Chop By Hand: Finely chop the herbs with a sharp knife rather than using a food processor to maintain their fresh texture.
- 🌾 Cool the Bulgur: Allow the cooked bulgur to cool completely before combining it with the fresh vegetables and herbs.
- 🍅 Drain Watery Vegetables: If your tomatoes or cucumber are particularly juicy, drain excess liquid to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
- 🍋 Use Fresh Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides the bright, zesty flavour that makes this salad so refreshing.
- 🫒 Choose Good Olive Oil: Use quality extra-virgin olive oil because its flavour is noticeable in the simple dressing.
- 🥗 Toss Gently: Fold the ingredients together carefully to keep the herbs, cucumber, and tomatoes fresh and intact.
- ❄️ Chill Before Serving: Refrigerating the salad briefly allows the flavours to mingle while keeping it crisp and refreshing.