Quinoa Tabouleh Salad recipe

Try a new twist on traditional tabbouleh, with quinoa instead of bulgur.

Tabbouleh or tabouleh is a standard part of mezze – the array of small, piquant dishes set down on the table before a serious meal in the Middle East. Traditionally made with bulgur wheat, tabbouleh is really a cold salad packed with herbs and vegetables. But we’ve found that for a change, or to boost nutrition, quinoa, an “ancient new grain” like freekah, makes a very good substitute for bulgur. Try this modern variation on a traditional Middle-Eastern dish.

Quinoa Tabbouleh

4 generous servings

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa, rinsed twice and drained

1- 1/2 cups boiling water

1 teaspoon olive oil for cooking the quinoa

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup olive oil for the dressing

1/4 cup lemon juice

3 ripe tomatoes, chopped finely

1  cucumber, diced

3 scallions, chopped finely

1 raw carrot, coarsely grated

1 cup  parsley, chopped finely

1 /4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped finely

1/2 cup feta cheese chopped into small cubes

Method:

1. Put the quinoa in a medium-sized saucepan. Add the teaspoon of olive oil, salt,  and the boiling water. Stir, then cover.

2. Steam the quinoa over a low flame for 15 minutes. Allow it to rest, covered, another 5. Before removing it from the pan, fluff it up with a fork.

3. Combine the 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, and all the vegetables and herbs in a bowl. Mix the cooled quinoa in. Stir the feta cubes in. Taste the salad and add salt if needed.

4. Cover the tabbouleh and refrigerate it for at least 2 hours to overnight, to allow the flavors to marry.

Drizzle tehina over each serving, and enjoy!

Discover more Middle-Eastern recipes with Green Prophet:

• Lemon-Scented Vegetarian Couscous
• Moroccan Fish Stew

Author: Miriam Kresh

Miriam Kresh is an American ex-pat living in Israel. Her love of Middle Eastern food evolved from close friendships with enthusiastic Moroccan, Tunisian and Turkish home cooks. She owns too many cookbooks and is always planning the next meal. Miriam can be reached at miriam (at) greenprophet (dot) com.

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