Shellfish Free Classic Tabbouleh
Fresh, herby, and bright with lemon, this Lebanese-inspired grain salad is the kind of dish that tastes even better the longer it sits on the table. Mountains of finely chopped flat-leaf parsley and fresh mint form the backbone of the salad, with juicy ripe tomatoes, slender scallions, and a whisper of allspice and cinnamon rounding everything out. The bulgur is soaked rather than cooked, absorbing lemon juice as it softens into tender, nutty little grains that hold the whole salad together without weighing it down. Draining off the excess tomato liquid before tossing is a small but smart step that keeps the texture clean and vibrant rather than soggy. Everything is dressed simply with extra-virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice, so the quality of your produce really gets to shine. Scoop it up with crisp romaine leaves for a satisfying, naturally light bite that works as a starter, a side, or an easy lunch straight from the fridge.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- ¼ cup fine bulgur wheat
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp fine salt, plus more to taste
- 2 medium ripe tomatoes (about 10 oz total), cored and finely diced
- 3 cups flat-leaf parsley leaves and tender stems, very finely chopped (from about 2 large bunches)
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, very finely chopped
- 4 scallions (green and light green parts only), thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ tsp ground allspice
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
For serving
- romaine lettuce leaves, for scooping (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Place the bulgur in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse briefly under cold water. Transfer to a small bowl, pour over 1 tbsp of the lemon juice and a pinch of salt, and stir to combine. Let the bulgur soak at room temperature for 20–30 minutes, until the grains are just tender and have absorbed the liquid.
- 2
While the bulgur soaks, place the diced tomatoes in a large mixing bowl and season with a pinch of salt. Let them sit for 5 minutes, then tilt the bowl and spoon off any excess tomato liquid that has pooled.
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