Best Tabbouleh or Tabouli Salad Recipe Ever! (2024)

Tabbouleh or Tabouli is the quintessential Middle Eastern salad. It’s made of chopped parsley, diced tomatoes, and bulgur wheat and seasoned with olive oil and fresh lime juice.

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I first posted this tabbouleh salad recipe back in 2010. At that time, living in Southern California, I grew all the products to make this salad in my kitchen garden.

However, now that I live in lovely but not-so-bucolic Miami, I shop for fresh local produce and keep making humongous tabbouleh bowls because this is, by far, my favorite salad. Following is my original post.

A family of tabouli lovers

One of the reasons I grow parsley more than any other fresh herb is because of this tabbouleh salad. In my house, this is called “the parsley thing.”

Every time I make it, my sybarite gourmet son, Andrés Ignacio, who is almost 9 years old and, like me, is a tabbouleh killer, starts to get around the kitchen picking the parsley leaves. And he doesn’t stop until he gets the first bowl.

He learned to eat this salad when he was a baby. I remember the day I had tabbouleh when he was 9 months old. He sat in his baby-eating chair, watching me eat, and began drooling. So I let him sample it. It was love at first bite!

What is tabbouleh?

Tabbouleh is the classic Middle Eastern salad. For me, tabouli is the quintessential salad: fresh, crispy, colorful, and flavorful:

  • The freshness comes from the parsley and the mint.
  • The crispiness comes from the parsley and the bulgur.
  • The color comes from the combination of the green herbs, the ripe red but firm tomatoes, and the purple-red onions, all contrasting with the plain neutral bulgur.
  • The flavor is given by mixing all the ingredients with the most straightforward seasoning: olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and salt. What can be better than this?

What is bulgur?

Bulguir is the main characteristic ingredient of this salad. This is a cereal made from several different kinds of wheat. It is usually confused with cracked wheat, but the bulgur is parboiled and dried.

Bulgur is common in Middle Eastern, Indian, and Mediterranean cuisines. It comes in different grinds: #1 is fine, #2 is medium, #3 is coarse, and #4 is extra coarse.

What is the best bulgur for tabbouleh?

The bulgur for tabbouleh is #2. You can find it in Middle Eastern specialty stores, natural food stores, and online.

How do I prepare bulgur to make tabbouleh?

I usually soak bulgur in water for about 20-30 minutes. Then, I drain it. Some people cook it, but I don’t think is necessary. You can also squeeze the juice of the tomatoes and limes to hydrate the bulgur.

What kind of onion is good for tabbouleh?

You can make tabbouleh with red or green onions. Some people use just regular yellow onions. I prefer the red-purple ones because their flavor is sweeter and more mellow. However, when I don’t have red onions handily, I use green ones.

How to make tabbouleh salad

To make tabbouleh, cutting is crucial: dice the tomatoes and finely chop the onions and herbs.

My secret to getting the parley perfectly chopped was to pick the leaves and soak them in iced water, dry it with the help of a salad spinner, and then chop them in a food processor (I use my Cuisinart ) by pulsing 3-5 times, being very careful not to over-process.

Best Tabbouleh or Tabouli Salad Recipe Ever! (7)

More recently, I discovered that adding some parsley steams doesn’t hurt. Even better: if the parsley is fresh, the steams will add a crunchy texture.

Following is a list of utensils and ingredients to make my tabouli recipe:

How to pair tabbouleh

Best Tabbouleh or Tabouli Salad Recipe Ever! (8)

Tabbouleh goes perfectly with Middle Eastern food: baba ganoush, kibbe, pita bread, hummus, falafel, shawarma, and seekh kebabs. I usually have it with my majadra (lentil and rice) and shanklish salad. And it’s heavenly delicious.

Other Levantine recipes

Hungry for more Middle Eastern recipes? Check these out:

  • Baba Ganoush
  • Hummus
  • Majadra
  • Red quinoa tabbouleh
  • Shanklish salad

Tabbouleh or tabouli salad recipe

Following is my recipe. I hope you like it as much as we do. Thank you for subscribing to my YouTube channel and visiting my Amazon shop.

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4.96 from 44 votes

Tabbouleh

This is a Middle Eastern dish and the quintessential salad: fresh, crispy, colorful and full of flavor.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Refrigerate30 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr

Servings: 8

Calories: 217kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ cup of bulgur #2
  • 2 cups of water
  • 4 cups of parsley leaves chopped
  • ½ cup of mint leaves finely chopped
  • ¾ cup of red onion or 10 green onions finely chopped the white part and some of the green
  • 2 cups of tomatoes finely diced
  • 1/3 cup of fresh lime juice
  • 2/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt

Instructions

  • Soak the bulgur in the water for 20-30 minutes.

  • Drain the bulgur in a fine colander, pressing to squeeze the water out.

  • Combine all the ingredients in a big salad bowl.

  • Season with olive oil, lime juice and salt to taste.

  • Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Video

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Tabbouleh

Amount Per Serving (1 cup)

Calories 217Calories from Fat 162

% Daily Value*

Fat 18g28%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Sodium 25mg1%

Potassium 340mg10%

Carbohydrates 13g4%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 2957IU59%

Vitamin C 50mg61%

Calcium 62mg6%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Salads

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Keyword: how to make tabbouleh, how to make tabouli, Parsley salad, Tabbouleh, Tabbouleh recipe, Tabbouleh salad, Tabouli, Tabouli recipe, Tabouli salad

Author: Enri

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Enri

Soy una escritora que cocina o una cocinera que escribe: el orden de los factores de no altera el producto. Desde 2010 hice de SAVOIR FAIRE el lugar donde convergen mis dos pasiones y ahora desarrollo recetas profesionalmente y trabajo como estratega y creadora de contenidos digitales, incluyendo la producción de videos de cocina. Disfruta mis recetas.

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Best Tabbouleh or Tabouli Salad Recipe Ever! (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep tabbouleh from getting soggy? ›

Pre-salting the tomatoes and parsley removes excess liquid through osmosis, preventing the salad from becoming soupy later. Tomato water is re-infused into the salad by using it to soak the bulgur, enhancing the flavor. Soaking the bulgur in heated tomato water ensures it will soften, regardless of its grind size.

What are the main ingredients in tabouli? ›

Tabbouleh is basically parsley salad. There's technically no lettuce in it. It's a salad made up of parsley, tomatoes, bulgur wheat, and green onions – all finely chopped and tossed with olive oil and lemon juice!

Why is my tabouli bitter? ›

By lightly salting the vegetables in a colander, you can extract some of the water and get more concentrated veggie flavours in the tabbouleh. Why is my tabbouleh bitter? The most likely sources of bitterness in a tabbouleh are parsley and olive oil. The parsley should be finely chopped to avoid bitter flavours.

How long does tabouli last in the fridge? ›

Letting tabouli sit for a day in the refrigerator may even help the flavors mingle. Because of its ingredients, tabouli will last in the refrigerator for up to four days, so make sure you eat it before then.

What is a substitute for bulgur in tabbouleh? ›

While the classic tabbouleh recipe includes bulgur wheat, alternative versions can be made without it, using substitutes like quinoa, couscous, or even omitting the grain entirely. These variations allow for dietary restrictions or personal preferences while still maintaining the essence of the dish.

How long can tabouli sit out? ›

Can tabbouleh salad be kept out? Tabbouleh salad keeps well. It can sit out for several hours without wilting.

How healthy is tabouli salad? ›

Tabbouleh is a healthy, vegetarian food that has no cholesterol, is low in fat, and high in fiber, vitamins, and much more. Plus, it makes great use of the backyard gardener's abundance of parsley, mint, tomatoes and cucumbers. This vegan dish can be made gluten-free by substituting quinoa for bulgur wheat.

What is an interesting fact about tabbouleh? ›

History. Edible herbs known as qaḍb formed an essential part of the Arab diet in the Middle Ages. Dishes like tabbouleh attest to their continued popularity in Middle Eastern cuisine today. Originally from the mountains of Lebanon and Syria, tabbouleh has become one of the most popular salads in the Middle East.

Is tabouli good for gut health? ›

It's great for your digestive health and skin. Some versions of tabbouleh tend to be heavier on the bulgar wheat, whereas traditionally the parsley is the main feature. I like both varieties but if I'm serving it as a side dish or in a flat bread I prefer the lighter, greener type.

What neutralizes bitter taste? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

How are you supposed to eat tabouli? ›

Tabbouleh Serving Suggestions

Try pairing it with a falafel wrap, or add it to a mezze platter with components such as these: Dips and spreads. Hummus, baba ganoush, muhammara, and tzatziki are all fantastic with tabbouleh. Pita bread.

What kills a bitter taste? ›

Try using a cream sauce, milk, fatty cheese, olive oil, or similar fatty ingredients to help cover bitter tastes. This is a great trick to get kids to eat more bitter vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts, or cabbage. Add some cheese or cheese sauce to their veggies and they won't notice the bitterness.

What goes well with tabouli? ›

Tabbouleh alongside grilled anything is such a delicious winner: kebabs, chops, steaks, chicken, even grilled vegetables—the smokey, charred flavor of anything grilled just loves the contrast of tabbouleh, which has all of the refreshing flavors of parsley and mint along with a lemony vinaigrette.

Can you eat tabouli everyday? ›

Tabouli is a great side that I could eat every day. I love the textures from the bulgar wheat and chopped vegetables. The flavors are bold from the fresh herbs and lemony dressing. I find that tabouli is so versatile that I enjoy it along so many different mains like grilled chicken, steak, and shrimp.

Can you eat tabouli by itself? ›

Tabouli is often a salad that's served alongside mezze spreads or grilled meats. But there are no rules as to when you can enjoy it: make it and serve it with any food you like. You can also eat tabouli by itself.

Why is tabouli so good? ›

Tabbouleh is a healthy, vegetarian food that has no cholesterol, is low in fat, and high in fiber, vitamins, and much more. Plus, it makes great use of the backyard gardener's abundance of parsley, mint, tomatoes and cucumbers. This vegan dish can be made gluten-free by substituting quinoa for bulgur wheat.

How to soften bulgur wheat? ›

Boil bulgur wheat in water for 10-15 mins, or put in a heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water and leave to soak for 20-30 mins, until the water is absorbed and the grains are tender. Soaking the bulgur will give you a chewier texture, which is perfect for salads like tabbouleh.

What to pair with tabbouleh? ›

Tabbouleh Serving Suggestions
  1. Dips and spreads: Creamy Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Tzatziki, Tahini Sauce.
  2. Crispy Baked Falafel.
  3. Fattoush Salad with Mint Dressing.
  4. Mujaddara (Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions)
  5. Dukkah with bread and olive oil.

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