Tabouli Salad with Feta, Brown Rice, and Cauliflower (2024)

We’re calling it a tabouli salad (or as it’s sometimes spelled ‘tabbouleh’). But I took some liberties! With a combo of riced cauliflower and brown rice, plus the addition of some feta– we’ve got a tabouli-ish salad– packed full of veggies and flavor– but even more macro-friendly. Plus, this is one seriously easy tabouli recipe.

Tabouli Salad with Feta, Brown Rice, and Cauliflower (1)

If you have cooked brown rice on hand already, then you can whip together this tabouli salad in no time. Of course, you could sub in quinoa, or farro, or even couscous. It’s great for lunch or dinner. Just add in your favorite grilled protein!

Tabouli Salad with Feta, Brown Rice, and Cauliflower (2)

Tabouli Salad Base of Brown Rice and Cauliflower Rice

Tabouli salad is traditionally made with bulgur, which you can definitely use in this recipe, but I’m a fan of using the things we always have on hand! And brown rice is a staple grain over here. The cauliflower rice is just a great way to stretch the carbs much farther, so you can keep your portion large, and the carbs low. You can leave your cauliflower rice raw if you’d prefer, but I prefer it steamed. Roasted would also be delicious! I like to buy a 10-ounce bag of cauliflower rice and steam the rice in the bag– because it’s easy. And I need more easy in my life. I’m gonna guess YOU DO TOO.

Again, I also use brown rice here. I usually use precooked organic brown rice from Costco (the one that’s sold in the bowls). But you can also use farro, bulgur, or quinoa. The macros will vary slightly, but if you stick to the same cooked weight as I list in this tabbouleh recipe, it’s gonna be very close! I wouldn’t stress.

Tabouli Salad with Feta, Brown Rice, and Cauliflower (3)

How to Make Tabouli Salad with Feta, Brown Rice, and Cauliflower

Once you have your cauliflower rice and brown rice ready and cooled, then it’s time to chop some veggies! Here’s the chopping list. These are all essential tabouli ingredients.

  • Diced English cucumber
  • Seeded and diced tomatoes
  • Diced red onion
  • Minced parsley
  • Chopped arugula (or just add more parsley if arugula isn’t your favorite)
  • Minced fresh mint

Combine these vegetables with your cauliflower rice and brown rice in a large bowl, along with some feta cheese.

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Next, in a separate small bowl, whisk together your lemon juice and garlic. Pour this all over your salad. Then drizzle with some olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Finally, toss everything together really well and enjoy!

You can serve this tabouli salad with practically any grilled protein—chicken, fish, shrimp, pork tenderloin… You get it!

Tabouli Salad with Feta, Brown Rice, and Cauliflower (5)

Serving Suggestions

Here are some delicious proteins that would go great with this tabouli salad:

  • Balsamic Herb Grilled Chicken
  • Lemon Basil Honey Grilled Chicken
  • Greek Marinated Chicken Skewers
Tabouli Salad with Feta, Brown Rice, and Cauliflower (6)

More Salad Recipes

Here are a few more salads you might like:

  • Quick Mexican Chicken Salad
  • Easy Buffalo Chicken Grain Salad
  • Farro and Sweet Potato Salad with Blackened Salmon

If you make this tabouli salad with feta, brown rice, and cauliflower, be sure to tag me on Instagram @lillieeatsandtells!

Tabouli Salad with Feta, Brown Rice, and Cauliflower (7)

Tabouli Salad with Feta, Brown Rice, and Cauliflower Rice

This tabouli salad is made with brown rice and cauliflower rice, which means it's macro friendly and packed with veggies!

PrintPinRate

Course Salad

Cuisine Mediterranean

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 188 kcal

Ingredients

  • cups cauliflower rice, steamed or raw* (10 oz bag frozen, 280 g)
  • 1 cup brown rice, cooked may sub bulgur, farro, quinoa, etc. (210 g cooked weight)
  • 2 cups English cucumber, diced (315 g)
  • 2 cups tomatoes, seeded and diced (315 g)
  • 2 cups red onion, diced (250 g)
  • 2 cups parsley, minced (65 g)
  • 1 cup arugula, minced or additional parsley (35 g)
  • ¼ cup fresh mint, minced (10 g)
  • cup crumbled, fat-free feta cheese 1 container from Trader Joe's (170 g)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced or frozen cube
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (60 g)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (30 g)
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp cracked black pepper or to taste

Instructions

  • Cook brown rice according to directions and allow it to cool.

  • In a large bowl, combine cooled cauliflower rice, cooked brown rice, diced cucumber, tomato, red onion, parsley, arugula, mint, and feta.

  • Add frozen garlic cube to a small bowl and squeeze your lemon juice into it to help it break down and thaw quickly. If using fresh minced garlic, just toss it in! Pour the garlic/lemon juice over the salad.

  • Drizzle two tablespoons of olive oil over the salad and season with salt and pepper.

  • Toss well and enjoy topped with grilled chicken, fish, shrimp, pork tenderloin, etc.

Notes

This salad is so light, if you’ve got room for more fats, additional olive oil will always make it more delicious! I also love it with some toasted pine nuts, pistachios, or avocado. I never said it was authentic! Haha.

*You can rice your own fresh cauliflower in a food processor and use it raw, or steam it first. I like to buy a 10-oz bag of frozen riced cauliflower, steam it in the bag, and let it cool.

MFP: Search “Lillie Eats and Tells Tabouli Salad”

Nutrition

Serving: 289gCalories: 188kcalCarbohydrates: 23.3gProtein: 11.1gFat: 5.1gFiber: 3.5g

Keywords brown rice, cauliflower rice, feta, salad, tabbouleh, tabouli

Tried this recipe?

Tag @LillieEatsAndTells on Instagram with #LillieEatsandTells! We’d love to see your creations!

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Originally Posted

Last updated

Categories

  • Salads
  • Sides

Tags

  • brown rice
  • cauliflower
  • Cauliflower rice
  • couscous
  • macro friendly
  • Macros
  • salad
  • tabbouleh
  • tabouli
  • tabouli salad

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Tabouli Salad with Feta, Brown Rice, and Cauliflower (12)

Tabouli Salad with Feta, Brown Rice, and Cauliflower (13)

About the Author

Hello. My name is Lillie. I’m not a registered dietitian, or a macro coach, or a public figure or culinary genius. I’m a mommy of four who FOUND macro-counting and fell in love with this balanced approach to food...

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Tabouli Salad with Feta, Brown Rice, and Cauliflower (2024)

FAQs

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.

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 do you keep tabbouleh from getting soggy? ›

Pre-salting the tomatoes and parsley removes excess liquid through osmosis, preventing the salad from becoming soupy later.

What is a tabouli salad traditionally made from? ›

Tabbouleh (Arabic: تبولة, romanized: tabbūla), also transcribed tabouleh, tabbouli, tabouli, or taboulah, is a Levantine salad made mostly of finely chopped parsley, with tomatoes, mint, onion, soaked uncooked bulgur, and seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and sweet pepper.

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 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 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.

How long does tabouli last in the fridge? ›

Letting tabouli sit for a day in the refrigerator may even help the flavors mingle. Because of its ingredients, tabouli will last in the refrigerator for up to four days, so make sure you eat it before then.

Why is my tabbouleh bitter? ›

By lightly salting the vegetables in a colander, you can extract some of the water and get more concentrated veggie flavours in the tabbouleh. Why is my tabbouleh bitter? The most likely sources of bitterness in a tabbouleh are parsley and olive oil. The parsley should be finely chopped to avoid bitter flavours.

Does tabbouleh contain garlic? ›

Tabbouleh is dressed in a simple combination of olive oil and lemon juice. You won't find garlic in every tabbouleh recipe, but I think that one clove makes this recipe extra delicious.

How are you supposed to eat tabouli? ›

How do you eat tabouli? Tabouli is a great side dish traditionally scooped or wrapped in Romaine lettuce. You can also have it with a fork. It makes a great side dish with falafel and also grilled meats.

What is a good substitute for wheat in tabouli? ›

While the classic tabbouleh recipe includes bulgur wheat, alternative versions can be made without it, using substitutes like quinoa, couscous, or even omitting the grain entirely. These variations allow for dietary restrictions or personal preferences while still maintaining the essence of the dish.

Does tabbouleh contain onion? ›

Tabbouleh salad is made of curly parsley or flat-leaf parsley, fresh mint leaves, tomatoes, onion, and bulgur wheat.

What ethnicity is tabbouleh? ›

The name tabbouleh comes from the Arabic word 'taabil' which means to season or spice and tabbouleh is thought to have first been eaten in the mountains of Lebanon and Syria more than 4000 years ago.

Is bulgur wheat good for gut health? ›

Fiber-rich foods like bulgur may reduce chronic disease risk, promote weight loss, and improve digestion and gut health. Plus, bulgur is easy to cook and can be added to many dishes, including salads, stews, and breads. Try eating it as part of a balanced diet to ensure you're getting all the nutrients your body needs.

What cuisine is best for gut health? ›

High-Fiber Foods Like Beans, Oats and Fruits
  • Beans, dried peas and lentils.
  • Bran (oat and wheat)
  • Dried fruits, such as prunes and raisins.
  • Foods made with whole grains, such as whole-grain bread, whole-grain cereal and whole-grain pasta.
  • Whole grains, such as barley, quinoa, bulgur and brown rice.
Jan 9, 2024

Is tabbouleh good for 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.

Why is tabbouleh so important? ›

Its simple combination of ingredients, health benefits, and easy preparation have contributed to its widespread appeal. Today, Tabbouleh is more than just a Levantine salad; it is a culinary link to the region's history and a testament to the enduring nature of its traditional foods.

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