Best Tabbouleh Salad
Best Tabbouleh Salad
Rachel Artus | August 19, 2020
- prep time: 15-20 minutes
- cook time: 1-2 hours
- total time: 2.5 hours
- servings: 3-4
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
½ cup diced cherry tomatoes
1 cup cooked tri-color quinoa
¾ cup diced cucumber
¼ cup diced feta cheese
2 Tbsp olive oil
Juice from ½ lemon
Dash red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a small saucepan, prepare your grain according to the directions on the package. I went with tri-color quinoa, which takes about 15 minutes to cook, but anything will work. Some of my other favorites include long-grain rice and farro.
- After quinoa has cooked and cooled, combine all of the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Mix completely and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours to develop the best flavor. This can also be served immediately.
- Stores for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Tabbouleh is one of my favorite Eastern Mediterranean dishes. Though I’ve had (and made) many different variations of tabbouleh, it’s typically made of finely chopped parsley with tomatoes, mint, onion, and bulgur. This super fresh and herbaceous mixture is dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
For my tabbouleh lovers out there who are trying to avoid having onion breath in the workplace after lunch, I made a few slight changes to a typical tabbouleh recipe to ensure that we’re still developing maximum flavor. To replace the onion, I added red wine vinegar and feta cheese: both of which bring a tangy and savory kick.
I also swapped bulgur for quinoa, mostly because it was the only grain I had on hand. BUT quinoa also has a slightly higher protein content than bulgur. That being said, bulgur is delicious, so definitely do not sleep on it.
I’ve come across some tabbouleh recipes that are made with little to no grains, making it a fresh topping for gyros and hummus plates. This tabbouleh salad recipe stands out because the added grain makes it a hearty and filling side to any Mediterranean-style meal. Store this in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days and serve as an accompaniment to create balanced and delicious meals all week.