Diane’s Friday Foodie Fix for this week inspired me to make a dish I’ve always thought about making—a tabouli made using quinoa instead of bulgur wheat. Yikes, bulgur wheat … not something those of us who are gluten free want to eat. But, quinoa, on the other hand is gluten free, and it’s a nutritional powerhouse. The packaging of the Ancient Harvest Quinoa that I use states that it’s “one of the best sources of protein in the vegetable kingdom” according to the National Academy of Sciences. It provides all the essential amino acids. You can read more about quinoa’s wonderful benefits here. Diane also talks about quinoa’s redeeming qualities and shares not one, but five, of her recipes using quinoa (from salads to desserts). Based on past Friday Foodie Fix events, at least a dozen more great quinoa recipes will be added by other talented bloggers and readers before this weekend is over. So keep checking back at her W.H.O.L.E. Gang site.
Tabouli (also spelled tabbouleh or tabouleh) is a Middle Eastern dish. Wikipedia says it’s a Levantine Arab dish and cites the typical ingredients as bulgur wheat, mint, parsley, tomato, scallion, herbs, lemon juice, olive oil, and seasonings. Sometimes, so much parsley and mint is used in tabouli that the dish looks very green, but most tabouli I’ve seen looks more like a rice pilaf dish. That’s the look I decided to go for with my version of tabouli.
I was first introduced to tabouli back in college. One of my friends had lived in the Middle East with her family as a teenager. She introduced me to both tabouli and hummus. I love good hummus. (It’s a great staple for those of us who are gluten free, and is widely available now.) But, tabouli was, uh, interesting, to me. I decided it was okay, but it was not something I wanted to eat often or in large amounts. Maybe my body was speaking to me (“no bulgur wheat—bad!”) or maybe it was just the mint factor. Actually, I prefer my mint in ice cream …you know, that kind with the chocolate chips. I’ve tried mint in tea (hot and cold) and dishes, but it’s just not my thing, and, honestly, it’s not something I’m going to work on changing. (But, there are other items on my “learn to eat” list as you all know.)
What could I substitute for the mint to get a similar effect with my tabouli? Well, in last week’s shopping trip, I picked up some cilantro to make Melissa’s Spicy Squash Salad. (I had planned to make Melissa’s wonderful salad for our support group meeting, but, alas, I ran out of time before the meeting. So, the butternut squash remains on the counter, as well as the Fuji apples … hopefully, I’ll make the salad this weekend—once I’m done helping my son with his apartment move.) So, I decided to use cilantro in place of the mint. I enjoy dishes with cilantro—when just the right amount is used; otherwise, I find it overpowering. But, used properly, cilantro adds a very nice freshness with its citrus-like taste.
We were having tacos last night, so after I cooked the quinoa I added most of the ingredients I had prepared for the tacos: red pepper, yellow pepper, green pepper, and sweet onion. I skipped the lettuce (Iceberg … hubby’s thing), mushrooms, and cheddar cheese, but I had some broccoli I’d lightly steamed, so I added some of that as well. Of course, garlic was a requirement; I added a clove of garlic (maybe more), minced. I wanted to add some chopped cucumber, but my cucumber was well past its prime … next time on the cucumber.
Quinoa Tabouli (Taboulleh)
Traditional tabouli (aka taboulleh) is made using bulgur wheat, which is off the table for those who live gluten free. However, tabouli can also be made using quinoa and it's lovely! I like to add little bits of veggies to this quinoa--both to add flavor and to clean out my fridge.
Ingredients
- 2 - 3 cups cooked quinoa (I used one cup of the uncooked Ancient Harvest quinoa and prepared it per package instructions; I'm not sure how much it made exactly)
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- ¼ cup yellow pepper, chopped
- ¼ cup red pepper, chopped
- ¼ cup green pepper, chopped
- 1 medium-sized sweet onion, diced
- 1 cucumber, chopped
- some broccoli (either raw or steamed will work)
- 1 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
- seasonings (optional, and of your choice; see notes)
- dressing (optional, and of your choice)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Serve hot or cold.
Notes
These amounts are approximates. Often I add enough of an ingredient until the dish looks “right.” I like colorful and I wanted a taste of all of these ingredients in every bite. “Chopped” means coarsely chopped to me, whereas, “diced” means I went for a finer chopping. When making your own tabouli you can follow these guidelines, but really just add whatever you like and cut your ingredients as fine as you like them. There is no right or wrong way. I didn't add any seasonings or dressing when I served this dish hot; however, when I served it cold the next day, I added some balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and sea salt. (The latter version was consumed very quickly when taken to a family gathering.)
You can eat the tabouli while your quinoa is still hot, right after you’ve added the other ingredients, or you can eat it cold. (Some say that quinoa tastes better after you let it “rest.”) Because we were having tacos, I placed a little taco meat* in the taco shell and then filled it with the tabouli. This tabouli taco was unbelievably good. My usual tacos include cheddar cheese, but I didn’t miss that at all. I ate two tacos! But, they were probably the best and healthiest tacos I’ve ever eaten!
If you are using your quinoa tabouli as more of a cold salad, you can opt for a dressing of some type. It doesn’t have to be anything hard to make—perhaps a mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, and seasonings; or just squeeze some fresh lemon juice or drizzle a little olive oil over your tabouli. My friends, Pete and Kelli, of No Gluten, No Problem shared the basics on a quinoa salad they first enjoyed in Bolivia with another classic, easy dressing. Again, very simple, but delicious—and, naturally gluten free. If you’ve never had quinoa before, give it a try in this tabouli dish. I think you’ll love it! If you’re already a big quinoa and tabouli fan, please share your favorite way to prepare it.
Shirley
Not just gf, but gfe!
*We use ground venison and the recipe from the Betty Crocker cookbook for seasoning … no packaged mixes required with their additives and preservatives.
This post is also linked to Friday Foodie Fix–Balsamic Vinegar, Grillin’ and Chillin’, Whole Food Friday, and Wellness Weekend.
WendyGK says
Yum. My kind of recipe–it should look “right.” That’s how I measure.
Shirley says
Hi, Wendy–You know I haven’t always been that way about measuring and cooking. I think it’s something you grow in to. I used to be a nut about measuring and being sure I had enough of this ingredient and that ingredient, but now I just “go with the flow,” and the results are better and I’m not stressed out about not having “item x” that the recipe calls for. Another benefit of aging, perhaps? LOL
Thanks for you comment!
Shirley
Lauren says
I’ve never had Tabouli, wheat-laden or otherwise, but this looks really good =D.
Shirley says
Hey, Lauren–Happy Saturday! If you like mint, you might want to try a quinoa tabouli made with that first. Or, you could split your batch of quinoa and put mint in half and cilantro in half. I like doing taste test comparisons. 🙂 Let us know if you try either or both, please!
Shirley
Diane-thewholegang says
Very creative way to make tabouli. You always surprise me with your recipes. I love that! Thank you for sharing this on Friday Foodie Fix.
Shirley says
Diane–I can’t believe I’m surprising you of all people. You have some of the most creative recipes around, but I’ll take that as a compliment and keep doing my best. 😉 The FFF is such a fun event … so many wonderful recipes from terrific folks! Thanks so much for hosting the event each week–that’s quite a commitment and we appreciate it!
Shirley
CeliacsTips says
WOW. Love the colors in your photo. Love Friday Foodie Fix. I get to learn new recipes to try on my family. Like the idea of adding broccoli to the recipe. Thanks
Shirley says
Hi, CeliacsTips!–Welcome to gfe! It’s fun to learn new recipes and make them up as one goes. If I hadn’t had broccoli, I might have tried fresh corn or whatever else I had on hand and ready to go. This recipe could be something slightly different each time. Last night, I actually added a little of the taco meat to it, some gf soy sauce, and heated it a bit—making a stir-fry type dish. It was great, too. I like dishes that re-invent themselves easily for leftovers as it’s just hubby and me at home and we don’t want to eat the same thing repeatedly.
BTW, I love the name of your site … we all need great tips. I think it’s the little tips that can make eating gluten free “a walk in the park.” 😉
Shirley
Rachel says
I made something similar to this, yet different. I love how many variations on one dish we the people come up with. Yours look very yummy.
Shirley says
Good morning, Rachel!–I took a quick look at your recipe and it does look very similar … great minds and all that! 😉 But, different, too … this dish can take on so many variations like you said. I like to get input from hubby or son (when he’s home from college), too, sometimes about what I should add.
Have a great weekend!
Shirley
CoconutGal says
You had me at quinoa. Love that stuff!!
Where in the world did you find guar-gum free coconut milk?! I MUST find that! What brand?
Have a great weekend Shirley, xoxo!
Shirley says
Hi, CoconutGal–Happy Saturday! Love them … and we get to eat steamed crabs later today for BIL’s BD–yummy!
Quinoa is so good … I would never have discovered it if I hadn’t gone gluten free!
The coconut milk is Ty-Ling. I bought it at my uh “minimal” Food Lion the other day. Who’d have thunk it? 😉 BUT, when I returned, I just grabbed the can of coconut milk and when I got home, it was Thai Kitchen, which does contain guar gum. So I may never see the Ty-Ling brand again! (That happens at Food Lion all the time.)
xo and great weekend wishes to you, too, dear!
Shirley
Heather @CeliacFamily says
This looks fabulous, love the bursts of bright color. I’ll have to try it next time. Thanks!
Shirley says
Hi, Heather–Thanks so much!! I’m enjoying a scrambled egg with those same bursts of color as we speak. Delish!
Happy Saturday! I’m off to see if you have a quinoa entry for the FFF this week … 😉
Shirley
Melanie says
Wow, Shirley! This looks amazing! Had quinoa for the first time this week – pretty plain though. (I had only used the flour before) Will have to spruce it up a bit now that I have this recipe!
Shirley says
Melanie–Thanks! Yes, quinoa by itself is fairly unexciting. Some flavorings and additions are needed, but that actually makes it a neat grain to use because it becomes so versatile. Check out all the dishes at the Friday Foodie Fix. As usual, there’s great variety in a bunch of wonderful recipes. 🙂
Shirley
Linda says
If I ate the quinoa warm, I think I would want the veggies cooked. I like the idea of having it cold with some type of dressing. Sort of like a pasta salad but with quinoa. Thanks for the ideas.
Shirley says
Hi Linda–Thanks for stopping by gfe and commenting. My original intent was to eat it cold, but the veggies still worked uncooked. It surprised me, too. It’s great warm or cold. Quinoa works many ways. 🙂
Shirley
Ali (Whole Life Nutrition) says
I love quinoa, my kids eat it for breakfast with beans. I usually make a quinoa tabouli in the summer when our cherry tomatoes and cucumbers are bountiful. I will make a dressing of fresh mint, olive oil, lemon, garlic, and sea salt and toss the quinoa with the cucumber and tomatoes and maybe some green onions and parsley. Quinoa is so versatile – there are just endless possibilities. Your recipe looks great and of course easy! GFE!
-Ali 🙂
Shirley says
Hi, Ali–I remember you sharing that your kids eat quinoa for breakfast. And with beans, they are a such a protein-packed way to start the day. 🙂 Your quinoa tabouli sounds really nice–it’s gfe, too. 🙂 I ended up taking my tabouli to my BIL’s BD party this evening. I did add some balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and sea salt as my dressing. The other guests ended up scooping it with Tostito scoops. They liked it better than the cheese dip the scoops were intended for. 😉
Shirley
Nance says
Mmmmmm…cilantro! This recipe would be good with couscous, too, I’ll bet. Is that a gf no-no? For you, perhaps not so good, but for me, a quick and easy tabbouleh copycat.
Shirley says
Hi, Nance–Couscous typically is made from wheat. However, per Wikipedia, couscous can also be made of millet or corn. Couscous made from millet or corn should be gf, unless they contain partial amounts of gluten through cross contamination. I haven’t encounter gf couscous
Anyway, glad you like the recipe–copycatting is a fine way to make good meals. And, of course, the tabouli made from quinoa is a type of copycat. 😉
Shirley
Anali says
I hear you about the mint. I definitely prefer it in ice cream with chocolate chips. This meal looks great! : )
Shirley says
Good morning, Anali–Thank you for understanding about the mint! LOL When we meet one day, we’ll have to head to an ice cream shop for some mint chocolate chip. 😉 Thanks, too, for the feedback on this tabouli … give it a try. As I shared with Ali, it was quite popular at the family crab feast we attended yesterday. 😉
Thanks and happy Sunday!
Shirley
Jenn says
I don’t really measure much either it’s ok 🙂 I love tabouli, and quinoa is perfect to make a gf substitution for it!
Michele says
what a great idea to use quinoa instead of bulger wheat! thanks for posting!
Shirley says
Hi, Michele!–Welcome to gfe! Try it out with quinoa, I think you’ll really like it—either the traditional recipe with mint and parsley or mine with cilantro. 🙂
I’ll have to find my way over to your blog and check it out … I’m intrigued by the title. 😉
Shirley