🇱🇧 Lebanon · Food

Authentic Tabbouleh

45 min
A great way to spend your free time
🔥 320 kcal
Nicely balanced
🍽 6 servings
Feeds a crowd

By eatmundo · July 11, 2026

Authentic Tabbouleh🇱🇧 LBPaul Lowry · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

A vibrant Lebanese salad where parsley is the hero, accented by finely chopped tomatoes, mint, and a delicate touch of fine bulgur.

Ingredients

How to Make It

  • 1

    Soak 50g of fine bulgur in the juice of 1 lemon for 20 minutes.

  • 2

    Finely chop 3 bunches of flat-leaf parsley by hand—do not use a processor.

  • 3

    Dice 3 firm tomatoes into very small cubes, removing excess liquid.

  • 4

    Finely mince 1 small onion and mix with a pinch of allspice.

  • 5

    Combine the parsley, tomatoes, and onion in a large chilled bowl.

  • 6

    Add the softened bulgur and 1 cup of chopped fresh mint leaves.

  • 7

    Drizzle with 60ml of extra virgin olive oil and the remaining lemon juice.

  • 8

    Toss gently with two spoons until evenly coated, avoiding bruising the herbs.

  • 9

    Season with salt to taste and serve cold, ideally inside crisp romaine lettuce leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use curly or flat-leaf parsley for authentic tabbouleh?+

Flat-leaf (Italian) parsley is preferred for its superior flavor and texture in this salad.

Do I need to cook the bulgur before adding it?+

No, you should soak fine-grain bulgur in lemon juice or water until it is tender, rather than cooking it on the stove.

What is the secret to preventing the tabbouleh from becoming soggy?+

Remove all the seeds from the tomatoes and ensure the washed parsley is completely dry before chopping to keep the salad fresh.

How finely should the parsley be chopped?+

The parsley should be minced finely by hand using a very sharp knife to avoid bruising the leaves and turning them into mush.

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