Posted Jun 12, 2023, Updated May 26, 2024 Ever since my favorite Lebanese restaurant closed its doors, I have been working hard to create recipes for my favorite Mediterranean dishes, like this fresh and simple homemade Tabbouleh. In this tabouli recipe, bulgur, fresh herbs, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers are tossed in a flavorful lemon garlic dressing. It’s truly the perfect Tabbouleh, just as delicious as my favorite restaurant that I loved and miss greatly!
Tabbouleh Recipe: Ingredients and Substitutions
Bulgur Wheat. I have used quinoa or couscous in place of bulgur in a pinch. And while those are good substitutes, they’re not truly authentic. Fresh parsley & mint. there are no substitutes for the fresh herbs in authentic tabouli. Roma tomatoes. choose your favorite tomato variety such as cherry tomatoes, heirloom, etc. Green onions. red onions are good substitutes for green, if desired. Lemon juice. freshly squeezed or bottled both work well. Minced garlic. use jarred or freshly minced garlic.
How to Make Tabouli
We will walk through how to make tabbouleh step-by-step. Be sure to watch the video for extra help!
Prepare the Bulgur
Begin this recipe by preparing the bulgur. To do this, combine ½ cup bulgur and 1 cup water in a pot. Bring to a boil. Then, cover and reduce heat to a simmer and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, drain the excess water. Then transfer the bulgur to a large bowl and fluff with a fork. Let it cool.
Make the Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, sea salt and pepper. Set aside.
Assemble the Tabbouleh Salad
Once the bulgur is cooled and the dressing is ready, it’s time to assemble the tabouli salad. Begin by adding parsley, mint, tomatoes, green onion and cucumber to the cooled bulgur wheat and stir to combine. Then, pour the dressing over the tabbouleh and stir until it’s evenly distributed. Next, cover the bowl and chill the tabbouleh for at least 2 hours.
Serve
Serve cold with your favorite Mediterranean dishes. Here are some suggestions:
Greek meatballs are a family favorite. Serve it alongside these chicken kebabs or grilled Greek chicken. Serve it with a this homemade tzatziki sauce and homemade hummus (you can use store-bought but homemade is so much better)! Make yellow rice, Greek Salad, Greek pasta salad, or Greek Orzo Salad. Pair it with homemade pita bread or homemade naan!
Store
Store leftovers of this Tabbouleh Recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. I do not recommend freezing this recipe, as the texture of the tomatoes and cucumbers will change after freezing and thawing. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
