The Tabouli Recipe

The Tabouli recipe is a healthful and delicious traditional Lebanese food recipe prepared with cracked wheat, mint, garlic, tomatoes, green onions, olive oil and lemon.

An excellent picnic food idea, it tastes great chilled or at room temperature.

Spell it Tabouli, Tabouleh, or Tabule, there's no confusion about one thing-- it's a really nice departure from ordinary salad recipes, a vegetarian meal in itself.




Tabouli


2 cups cracked wheat (bulghur)
2 cups very hot water
1 cucumber, chopped
2 small tomatoes, chopped
1 bunch green onions, (8) sliced
1/2 cup fresh chopped mint
2 cups fresh chopped parsley
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)


Dressing:

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon pepper
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste


Soak the cracked wheat in the hot water until the water is absorbed, about 30 minutes. When it's ready, drain any excess water, if necessary, and squeeze dry.

Meantime, prepare the vegetables for the salad and mix the dressing ingredients together. Set aside.

Stir the prepared wheat, other salad ingredients, and dressing together in a medium bowl.

Serve chilled or at room temperature. Makes about 8 cups, 12 to 16 servings.