Tabbouleh Salad - Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health (2024)

Published: August 30, 2019

Tabbouleh Salad - Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health (1)

Known for its Middle Eastern origin, Tabbouleh, also known as Tabouli, has recently gained popularity in Western culture.

Tabbouleh is a healthy, vegetarian food that has no cholesterol, is low in fat, and high in fiber, vitamins, and much more. Plus, it makes great use of the backyard gardener’s abundance of parsley, mint, tomatoes and cucumbers. This vegan dish can be made gluten-free by substituting quinoa for bulgur wheat.

This is a great make-ahead salad that tastes better the day after it is made. It can serve as a side dish to a protein, as a complete lunch, or as a sandwich in a lettuce leaf or pita bread. So, slice and dice away.

Preparation time: 40-45 minutes

INGREDIENTS

(Double recipe as needed)

  • ½ cup bulgur wheat (1 cup of cooked quinoa can be substituted)
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 bunch fresh parsley (1 cup) finely chopped
  • ¼ to ½ cup mint leaves, finely chopped, optional
  • 2-3 small tomatoes or Roma tomatoes, seeds removed and diced into ½-inch pieces
  • ½ cucumber, seeded and diced into ½-inch pieces
  • 4 scallions, finely sliced, or ½ cup red or white onion, finely chopped
  • 6 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 ½ lemons)
  • 2 Tablespoons good quality extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Place bulgur wheat in small bowl. Bring 1 cup water to boil and pour over bulgur wheat. Stir and soak for 30 minutes until water is absorbed. Do not drain.
  2. While waiting for the bulgur to absorb water, prepare the vegetables and herbs.
  3. To make the dressing, mix together the lemon juice, olive oil, cumin and salt in small bowl.
  4. Toss the bulgur wheat, vegetables and herbs together. Stir in the dressing. Refrigerate at least an hour before serving. Keeps for several days in refrigerator.

Makes 7, ½ cup servings.

Note: Tomatoes and cucumbers are seeded to prevent the salad from getting too juicy. To seed, cut vegetables in half than scoop out the pulp with a spoon. If salad seems too juicy after being kept in the refrigerator, drain off some of the liquid before serving.

Nutritional Information:
Per ½ cup serving: 117.5 calories; 4.4g total fat (0.6g saturated, 0.5g polyunsaturated, 2.9g monounsaturated); 34.1mg sodium; 0.0mg cholesterol; 18.7g carbohydrate; 4.2g fiber; 2.0g sugars; 3.1g protein; 192.3mg potassium.

Blog Topic

Media Type

About LG Health Hub

The LG Health Hub features breaking medical news and straightforward advice to help individuals of all ages make healthy choices and reach their wellness goals.The blog puts articles by trusted Lancaster General Health clinical experts, good 'n healthy recipes, videos, patient stories, and health risk assessments at your fingertips.

Tabbouleh Salad - Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health (2024)

FAQs

How healthy is tabouli salad? ›

Tabbouleh is a healthy, vegetarian food that has no cholesterol, is low in fat, and high in fiber, vitamins, and much more. Plus, it makes great use of the backyard gardener's abundance of parsley, mint, tomatoes and cucumbers. This vegan dish can be made gluten-free by substituting quinoa for bulgur wheat.

How many carbs are in tabbouleh salad? ›

Tabbouleh (bulgar With Tomatoes And Parsley) (1 cup) contains 15.8g total carbs, 12g net carbs, 14.9g fat, 2.6g protein, and 198 calories.

Does tabbouleh help with constipation? ›

The fiber-rich ingredients in tabouli salad, such as bulgur wheat and vegetables, support digestive health by promoting regular bowel movements and preventing constipation. Fiber also acts as a prebiotic, feeding the beneficial bacteria in your gut and promoting a healthy balance of gut microbiota.

Is tabouli high in sodium? ›

Tabouli can be high in sodium, with a 1-cup serving containing 450 milligrams, or 20 percent of the sodium a healthy adult should limit himself to each day, according to the American Heart Association.

How many calories are in 100g of tabbouleh? ›

3.5 oz (100g) of tabbouleh has 102 calories and 60 calories from fat. It contains 2.3 g of protein.

Is tabbouleh good for your gut? ›

It's great for your digestive health and skin. Some versions of tabbouleh tend to be heavier on the bulgar wheat, whereas traditionally the parsley is the main feature.

Can diabetics eat tabouli salad? ›

Fresh mint, parsley, olive oil and lemon juice brighten this Middle Eastern dish.

Is Tabouli low in cholesterol? ›

Tabouli has no cholesterol and is a low fat, high fibre salad, packed with vitamins and minerals. burghul itself is low GI and a source of manganese, magnesium, iron, protein, and fibre.

How much sugar is in tabbouleh? ›

Tabbouleh contains 202 calories per 160 g serving. This serving contains 15 g of fat, 2.6 g of protein and 15 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 2.1 g sugar and 2.9 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate.

How many calories are in 2 cups of tabbouleh? ›

There are 397 calories in 2 cups of Tabbouleh (Bulgar with Tomatoes and Parsley). * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Is tabbouleh good for weight loss? ›

Looking for a fresh, easy meal to help boost your metabolism? This delicious tabbouleh is packed full of healthy vegetables and is ideal for an office lunch or lighter evening meal. We'll explain how to make it and show you how each ingredient can help you on your weight loss journey.

Can you eat tabbouleh every day? ›

Tabouli is a great side that I could eat every day. I love the textures from the bulgar wheat and chopped vegetables. The flavors are bold from the fresh herbs and lemony dressing. I find that tabouli is so versatile that I enjoy it along so many different mains like grilled chicken, steak, and shrimp.

Who should not eat bulgur wheat? ›

You can also try drinking more water to help digest the fiber. Some people, such as those with gluten allergies, shouldn't eat bulgur. Others who experience poor tolerance and adverse digestive effects from bulgur should avoid it or limit their intake.

Is Tabouli good for kidneys? ›

Tabbouleh Salad is a popular Middle Eastern dish that combines bulgur, spring onions, fresh parsley, mint, olive oil, and lemon juice. This kidney-friendly combination keeps well in the refrigerator, so make a batch to serve throughout the week.

Is Tabouli good for high blood pressure? ›

Tabbouleh is an incredibly healthy and tasty dish to eat, especially when you add in the tanginess of goat cheese. When you're trying to tackle high blood pressure, there are few better or tastier ways of doing so.

Does Tabouli have a lot of carbs? ›

Are There Carbs In Tabouli? As soon as I said wheat, I'm sure you realized that's not low carb. One cup of tabbouleh contains approximately 16 grams of carbohydrates.

Is bulgur healthier than rice? ›

Cooking Light magazine published a comparison between bulgur and brown rice, showing that a cup of bulgur has fewer calories and less fat. In terms of nutrition, bulgur holds its own when compared to fiber-rich brown rice – with more than twice the fiber and four times as much folate!

Can diabetics eat Tabouli? ›

Khorasan Wheat Tabbouleh incorporates olive oil, lemon juice and khorasan wheat to create a recipe that is a good alternative to wheat-based recipes for diabetics. A complete dietary overhaul isn't always the solution for diabetics.

How much sugar is in Tabouli? ›

When prepared as directed, a serving of bulgur wheat and seasoning plus olive oil, chopped fresh tomatoes and lemon juice provides 3g Total Fat (0.5g Saturated Fat, 0g Trans Fat), 0mg Cholesterol, 270mg Sodium, 23g Total Carbohydrate (5g Dietary Fiber, 2g Sugars), and 4g Protein.

Does Tabouli have a lot of sodium? ›

The favorite choice for the term "Tabouli" is 1/2 cup of Tabbouleh (Bulgar with Tomatoes and Parsley) which has about 400 mg of sodium.

Is it good to eat tabouli every day? ›

Tabouli is a great side that I could eat every day. I love the textures from the bulgar wheat and chopped vegetables. The flavors are bold from the fresh herbs and lemony dressing. I find that tabouli is so versatile that I enjoy it along so many different mains like grilled chicken, steak, and shrimp.

Is tabbouleh good for the kidneys? ›

Tabbouleh Salad is a popular Middle Eastern dish that combines bulgur, spring onions, fresh parsley, mint, olive oil, and lemon juice. This kidney-friendly combination keeps well in the refrigerator, so make a batch to serve throughout the week.

Is tabouli low in cholesterol? ›

Tabouli has no cholesterol and is a low fat, high fibre salad, packed with vitamins and minerals. burghul itself is low GI and a source of manganese, magnesium, iron, protein, and fibre.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Madonna Wisozk

Last Updated:

Views: 5883

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (48 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Madonna Wisozk

Birthday: 2001-02-23

Address: 656 Gerhold Summit, Sidneyberg, FL 78179-2512

Phone: +6742282696652

Job: Customer Banking Liaison

Hobby: Flower arranging, Yo-yoing, Tai chi, Rowing, Macrame, Urban exploration, Knife making

Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.