Bulgur Wheat Salad Tabbouleh (Printable)

Refreshing bulgur wheat with herbs, tomatoes, cucumber, and lemon dressing. A vibrant light meal ready in 30 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bulgur

01 - 1 cup fine bulgur wheat
02 - 1 cup boiling water

→ Fresh Produce

03 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
04 - 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
05 - 4 scallions, finely sliced
06 - 1 large bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped (approximately 1 cup packed)
07 - 1/2 bunch fresh mint leaves, finely chopped (approximately 1/2 cup packed)

→ Dressing

08 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
09 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
10 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
11 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How To Make It:

01 - Place bulgur wheat in a large bowl, pour boiling water over it, cover, and let stand for 10 to 15 minutes until tender and water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and cool to room temperature.
02 - Add diced tomatoes, cucumber, scallions, parsley, and mint to the cooled bulgur and gently mix to combine.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the bulgur mixture and toss gently until well incorporated.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
06 - Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The herbs are the star, not the filler, which is how it should be
  • It gets better as it sits, making it perfect for make ahead lunches
  • That lemon garlic dressing makes everything taste alive
02 -
  • The ratio of herbs to bulgur should feel almost wrong, with the herbs dominating, because traditional tabbouleh is an herb salad, not a grain salad
  • Chilling time is not optional because it transforms the salad from a pile of ingredients into a cohesive dish
  • Drain your diced tomatoes on paper towels for 10 minutes before adding them to prevent the salad from becoming watery
03 -
  • Chop your herbs by hand instead of using a food processor because the metal blade can bruise them and make them taste bitter
  • Use a glass bowl to marinate because plastic can absorb the strong garlic and lemon flavors
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